Soil Biology Testing & Analysis

Soil Food Web Lab Microscopy Soil biology testing looks at the living side of your soil: the microscopic organisms a standard chemistry panel does not measure. Bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and nematodes drive decomposition, nutrient cycling, and soil structure, and seeing what is present adds a layer of information alongside your soil chemistry, crop observations, and management history. We offer three assessments on the same sample, so you can match the depth of information to what you need. They range from a descriptive first look through to a full laboratory analysis that measures biological function and ties it back to your soil chemistry. Each one suits growers at any scale, from home gardens and raised beds to market gardens, orchards, vineyards, greenhouses, and commercial fields. Choose a single assessment, or combine them: a descriptive overview to start, then numerical baselines once you want to track change over time. The Soil Food Web Bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and nematodes make up the core groups of the soil food web. These organisms decompose organic matter, cycle nutrients into plant-available forms, and help build the structure that holds air and water in the root zone. Because this community sits behind how nutrients move and are held, observing it adds biological context to your chemical results. A soil test tells you which nutrients are present; a biological assessment helps you see the living system working on them. Our Assessment Options All three examine soil, compost, or growing media. They differ in method and in how much detail comes back: descriptive observations, direct organism counts, or a full laboratory functional analysis. Qualitative Assessment (Microscopy) A qualitative assessment examines your sample under the microscope and describes the major organism groups and structures observed. Observations may include bacteria, fungal hyphae, protozoa, and nematodes, where present in the material examined. This option suits growers who want to: Get an initial overview of their soil’s microscopic life. Learn which major organism groups show up in a sample. Establish a descriptive reference point for future testing. Add biological observations to existing soil chemistry results. Qualitative results focus on what is observed rather than on population numbers, which makes them a straightforward first look or a descriptive companion to the quantitative options. Quantitative Assessment (Microscopy) The quantitative microscopy assessment counts and measures organisms directly under the microscope to estimate the size of each group in your sample. It reports bacterial and fungal biomass and the fungal-to-bacterial ratio, protozoa (flagellates, amoebae, and ciliates), nematodes, average fungal hyphal diameter, oomycetes, and actinobacteria, each shown against a reference range. This option suits growers who want to: Establish a measured biomass baseline for bacteria and fungi, including the fungal-to-bacterial ratio. Track protozoa and nematode numbers as indicators of nutrient cycling. Compare samples from different beds, growing areas, or production cycles. Monitor changes in measured populations across repeat testing. Because these are direct-count estimates that shift with moisture, temperature, and handling, they are most useful read as trends across consistent, repeated sampling rather than as fixed targets. Quantitative Assessment (Laboratory) The laboratory assessment is processed by an accredited soil laboratory and measures biological function rather than counting organisms. Using a selective carbon-source method, it presents the sample’s microbes with a panel of specific carbon sources and reads how actively each functional group metabolizes them, reporting the result as a numerical functional index for each group against a reference range. It covers 17 microbial functional indices in total: Pseudomonas, nitrogen fixers, and Rhizobium-related organisms; Gram-positive bacteria, actinomycetes, and general bacteria; general fungi and Trichoderma; anaerobes; totals for Gram-negatives, bacteria, and overall microbial activity; and the key ratios between these groups, including fungi-to-bacteria and Gram-positive-to-Gram-negative. This is a standalone biological profile and does not include a soil chemistry analysis, so it is best read alongside a separate soil test rather than on its own. This option suits growers who want to: Measure biological function and activity, not just organism counts. Profile the balance between major microbial groups, including the fungal-to-bacterial relationship. Build a detailed, repeatable baseline for a longer-term soil program. Support management decisions with laboratory-grade biological data. This is the most detailed of the three options, reporting each functional group as an index you can baseline and track across repeat testing. Which Assessment Should You Choose? Choose the qualitative microscopy assessment for a descriptive first look at the organisms visible in your sample. Choose the quantitative microscopy assessment when you want measured biomass, ratios, and organism counts to compare and monitor over time. Choose the quantitative laboratory assessment when you want the fullest picture: functional groups plus indices that tie your biology to your soil chemistry. The options also build on each other. A descriptive overview or a microscopy baseline is a sensible entry point, and the laboratory analysis suits growers ready to track biological function against chemistry over the long term. Understanding Your Results Soil biology varies with sampling location, moisture, temperature, and management. For comparisons that mean something, collect repeat samples using consistent methods and stay with the same assessment type each time. Results are best read within the context of your growing system rather than against universal benchmarks. All three assessments complement soil nutrient testing; they do not replace it. On its own, none establishes nutrient requirements, measures nutrient-release rates, or confirms that soil is free of pathogens.