Soil Testing

09 January 2026

WHY INDEPENDENT SOIL TESTS?

Thinking of planting a crop or a paddock of pasture, or maybe you are just not getting the results from what you are applying to your piece of paradise, then perhaps some money spent on a soil test would be money well spent.

Taking the guess work out of your project will save a lot of stress and the potential for major disappointment if your guesses (or your neighbours suggestions) were wrong.

Marule Lime strongly recommends getting your analysis done by a laboratory independent of any commercial influences.

That is, their recommendations are not driven by what they sell and the profit margins on the different products in their store.  Or that they are getting a commission from a supplier for every tonne of product they recommend.  Once, in the time that I have owned and operated Marule Lime, I have been approached for a commission of $4.00 per tonne from an agronomist and once during the discussion with the owner of a local laboratory I was told he was getting $5.00 from my opposition and if I could not do better I should F_Off.  Never paid a commission /  bribe to anyone to get their sales.  In my other occupation as a farmer, I want my soil analysis and recommendation to be based purely on the science.

WHERE TO FOR INDEPENDENT SOIL TESTS

Marule Lime suggests that you try either

www.scu.edu.au- environmental analysis laboratory

  • The Environmental Analysis Laboratory located in the Southern Cross University in Lismore NSW.  EAL certainly has a lot to pick from

OR

www.apal.com.au

  • The Eurofins APAL Laboratory located in Melbourne.  This lab was known until recently as SWEP Laboratories and were very independent and good.  Time will tell if this continues.

 

A test is going to cost you between $85.00 and $230.00 depending on what you ask for.  You get what you pay for and you pay for what you get...A fertiliser agency may offer you a cheaper in house test but you will end up paying for it in what they recommend.

Marule Lime recommends that you get a test for all the macro and micro nutrients.

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