Soil Testing
SWEP promotes balanced and sustainable soil management. Our main focus is on soil testing.
Regardless of which test you require please download form (below) which includes instructions for taking and sending your samples to us. You can pay online or send payment along with your samples.
Our two main soil test packages provide recommendations for:
- Cation Balance corrections to optimise soil structure and other physical attributes. These are based on desirable percentages of the five major cations (Ca, Mg, Na, K & H) as calculated from the *Adjusted Cation Exchange Capacity. The recommendations are then given in terms of the most appropriate material (Gypsum, Lime, Dolomite, Magnesium oxide or Magnesium sulphate) to provide amounts of Calcium &/or Magnesium needed.
- Plant Nutrient requirements relative to the needs of the land use and what is presently available in the soil
- Balanced Soil Biology is the third set of recommendations given (only in the Complete analysis), using various bioactive materials (e.g. humane, kelp extract, fish emulsion etc.) to help manage the relative proportions of five key active indicator groups of soil microbes – Lactic acid bacteria, Photosynthetic bacteria, Fungi, Yeast & Antinomycetes.
Please choose a test below, download form to fill in and post with your sample/s, have a careful read of how to collect samples, pay via PayPal below, or organise payment with us e.g. EFT or credit card payment.
ST-1 Standard Soil Balance Analysis
Cation Balance, Nutrient Balance & Recommendations (5-page report) (Garden format available). This package includes:
Basic Measures (pH, EC, TSS, TOM, TOC), Exchangeable Cations (Ca, Mg, Na, K, H, CEC, Adj.H, Adj.CEC, Cation %’s of Adj.CEC), Available Nutrients including Trace Elements (Ca, Mg, Na, K, P, N (Nitrate), S, Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, Co, B, Mo), Desirable levels (Exchangeable Cations, Cation %’s, available Nutrients for up to 3 land uses), & Recommendations for Cation balance (lime/dolomite/gypsum), Balanced plant nutrition (NPKS, trace elements).
CT- 1 Complete Soil Balance Analysis
Cation Balance, Nutrient Balance, Microbial Balance & Recommendations (10-page report) (Garden format available). This package includes:
ST-1 + Total Nutrients (N, P), Active Biological Indicators (Lactic Acid Bacteria, Fungi, Yeast, Actino-bacteria & Photosynthetic Bacteria) Recommendations for Cation balance (lime/dolomite/gypsum), Balanced plant nutrition (NPKS, trace elements), Microbial balance (for Biological stimulants – kelp, molasses, worm leachate, fish emulsions, humates).
GL-1 Gypsum & Lime Requirement (CEC test)
Cation Balance & Recommendations, ideal for subsoils – included in ST-1 & CT-1. This package includes:
Basic Measures, Exchangeable Cations, Available Sulphur, Desirable levels (Exchangeable Cations, Cation %’s) & Recommendations for Cation balance (lime/dolomite/gypsum).
SA-1 Short Analysis (N, P, K test)
Included in ST-1 & CT-1. This package includes:
Basic Measures, Available N, P, K, S, Exchangeable Cations, Desirable levels, Recommendations: Cation balance (lime/dolomite/gypsum), Balanced plant nutrition (for NPKS).
Total Element Package
Total: N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, S, Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, Co, B, Mo
Heavy Metals Package
Total contaminant Metals: Cd, Pb, Hg, As, Ni, Cr, Cu, Zn
Bio-hazard Indicators
Ecoli (or Faecal coli forms), Salmonella, Listeria (Legionella may be available on request)
Contaminant Reside Screens
OC/OP Pesticides: Organo-phosphates, Organo-chlorides (includes DDT, Dieldrin etc)
Herbicides and Fungicides
Glyphosate Screen
Organic Producers and Gardeners
For farmers and gardeners interested in converting to Organic production, or existing Organic growers please see our Organic Producers & Gardeners page
An extensive range of optional tests are also available on both soil test packages, making it very flexible and adaptable to a wide range of situations. You can also specify up to three different land uses for each sample at no extra cost.
Important Notes:
We do not consider the preferences of fertiliser manufacturers, spreading contractors or other ‘external’ factors – ONLY what is going on in your soil and what your land-use requires.
Nutrient recommendations cover both major (N, P, K, S) and trace elements (Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, Co, Mo, B) and are provided in kg of the elemental nutrient required per hectare (for garden areas recommendations are given in g/sq.m). This means you can take our recommendations to ANY SUPPLIER for conversion into fertiliser applications and make ‘apples-for-apples’ comparisons of their costs and service.
The recommendations are intended to encourage the microbial activity, in order to help accelerate cation balance changes and optimise nutrient availability.
* for methods and calculations please see our Reading Reports page.
Please download this form, fill in and post along with your soil samples.
Collecting soil samples for analysis
Remember, you are looking for a ‘Representative sample’ of a particular area. Look for changes where the soil varies in colour/texture, land use or fertiliser application. Look for distinct changes, such as pasture on hills, cropping or flats. Most importantly, you need to use the right soil sampling implement and sample to the right depth with every core.
As a general rule;
Each sample area is uniform in terms of: soil type, topography, land use, crop variety & fertiliser history.
One sample can cover up to 40 hectares (100 acres) if irrigated land. For dry land, one sample can cover up to 80 hectares (200 acres).
Samples should cover the root zone in which plants are grown. Samples should be taken from the surface down to the depth indicated below:
– Pasture 0 to 10cm
– Vegetables / Field crops (eg. Wheat) 0 to 15cm
– Tree / Vine crops 0 to 25cm
All cores should be consistent eg. All cores taken to a depth of 15cm from the surface to the bottom of the core and approximately 20-25mm in diameter. If obvious soil differences occur within an area if would be wise to test this separately. If this is not possible leave this area out of the sample as a major soil type variation may alter results significantly.
Use a stainless steel core sampler (other metals produce distorted results for Iron, Copper & Zinc etc.)
Collect 20 – 30 cores in a zigzag path – choose carefully so you can easily go the same way next time, ideally retest every 1 or 2 years following the same path, using the same sample depth, at the same time of the year, this way you can track changes that occur over time.
Avoid patches of very good or very poor growth, areas near fences, gates, troughs, livestock camps, dung or urine patches – anywhere that may distort your results.
Mix these cores very thoroughly in a clean plastic bucket (wear gloves) and remove any growing matter (grass etc), write the relevant information on a sealable plastic bag.
Take 300g of the mixed cores, and fill into the sample bag (excluding as much air as possible) and ensure the bag is tightly sealed. Each sample bag should represent a separate area and therefore will be charged per bag/test.
Complete the soil submission form and ensure sample bags are clearly marked.
Directions on sending in soil samples
Collect your sample/s according to instructions below, and then place 250g to 300g of mixed soil in sealable plastic bag/s.
Note: Each soil sample bag should represent a particular area and therefore charged per sample bag.
Complete all details on soil submission form with as much information as you can provide and enclose the completed form with your soil sample/s.
Include payment with your samples (credit card details, cheque or online payment is available. Please contact us if you would like to pay via EFT).
Samples submitted without payment will not be processed until payment is received by SWEP unless prior arrangement has been made.
Please post to: SWEP Pty Ltd, PO Box 583, NOBLE PARK VIC 3174.
We recommend you use an Express Post satchel – for tracking and timely delivery.
Ordering SWEP Soil Tests Online
Soil Tests – Australian Orders
(Please visit the International Customers page if ordering from outside Australia.)
SWEP offer Secure Online Payment with PayPal for online ordering of the Standard and Complete soil tests and popular optional extras (our usual payment methods are still available too). Please note, not all options are available via PayPal – for our complete range of tests and options please click here and follow the submission directions for other payment methods. For Overseas clients please see Soil tests (Overseas orders) above. NB. Prices below are in Australian Dollars (AUD), and do not include Australian GST. For Australian residents using PayPal, this will be automatically added as you go.
Please note: Since not everyone needs a sample kit to send their samples, we do not automatically send a kit when orders are received. If you are ordering tests from within Australia and would like a sample kit, please contact us to request one.
Ordering Instructions:
After clicking on one of the Add to Cart buttons you will be directed to the PayPal site and a simple 5-step process:
Step 1: Purchase details. The details of your purchase will appear in a new window. Here you have two choices – either proceed with the payment process or (if you want to add more items) continue to select other tests or optional items.
Step 2: Payment method. Once you are ready to proceed you can either use a PayPal account, or your credit card details.
Step 3: Your details. Here you will be asked for your postal address details (the place you want us to send the test report) and either your credit card or PayPalaccount details (depending on your choice in step 2). It is important to complete all details.
Step 4: Review details. Here you can check the details you have entered and make corrections if necessary. Once you click Continue, you will be returned to the SWEP website.
Step 5: Confirmation email. You will receive notification of your purchase details by email.
Important: Please print a copy of your email notification from PayPal and enclose it with the sample(s) as proof of purchase.
NB. Prices above do not include Australian GST. For Australian residents, this will be added during the payment process.