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New and Improved WVU Soil Testing Laboratory Report and Recommendations

In September of 2018, the WVU Davis College Soil Testing Lab in collaboration with WVU Extension changed the Soil Sample Submission Form and Test Report Format. The reason for the new formats is that in our lab, we will officially change extracting soil bioavailable nutrients with "Mehlich 1 extractant" to extracting with "Mehlich 3 extractant". The Davis College Soil Testing Laboratory has been using Mehlich 1 extractant for decades, but it was time for a change. Mehlich 3 extractant is the most adopted nutrient extraction method in the US. It is very useful for nutrient management purposes, and allows our lab to increase the number of nutrients that will be analyzed, and increase the crops that will receive recommendations.

Thanks to adopting the Mehlich 3 etxtractant, and to the instrumental collaboration of WVU Extension, the lab clients will have the possibility to choose soil fertility recommendations for 77 different crops as compared to our previous 18, and in the future, the method will allow to generate soil microelements information to the public. For those clients working with nutrient management issues, the lab will be generating a Phosphorus Saturation Index, which will be used to develop strategies to limit Phosphorus (P) application and reduce to soil test P.

Now You Decide!

This is a unique feature of our new system. The client will be able to choose between two different fertilizer recommendation based on her/his management style. WVU Extension developed the two fertilizer recommendations used by the new system. Both recommendations will improve crop performance, however Soil testing Lab clients will decide how they will manage their land: conservative landowners or renters will prefer to follow the “Sufficiency/Crop Removal” fertilizer rate recommendation, those who want to invest longer term on their soil fertility, will select the “Build and Maintenance” fertilizer rate. It is very important to remind the landowner that the effective results of the fertilization recommendation will depend on other factors such as temperature, rainfall, weeds, pests, amount of topsoil, and other factors.

WVU Extension and the Davis College Soil Testing Laboratory Working Together for WV Residents.

The change that the WVU Davis College Soil Testing Lab is undergoing is product of a joint effort between the Plant and Soil Sciences Division at the Davis College and WVU Extension. The two colleges have been working together for over one year to reach this final product. Hope you will be able to benefit from the work we did for WV residents.

Updated Webpage

Information has been added to make our sample processing, analysis and reports easier to understand by the customers. Please read the new information.

New Laboratory Address Agricultural Sciences Building

The WVU Soil Testing Laboratory has moved to our New Davis College Agricultural Sciences Building. The lab’s physical address is: Agricultural Sciences Building Room 1405, 1194 Evansdale Drive, PO Box 6108, Morgantown WV, 26506-6108. You can call and leave voice messages calling: 304-293-5375 We have two email addresses that can be used to communicate with us: wvu.davis.soiltesting@gmail.com WVUSoilTestingLab@mail.wvu.edu

Thanks for Your Support.

All the personnel working at The West Virginia Soil Testing Laboratory would like to thank all of you for supporting our work. Robert, Erin, and Eugenia.