With an Harris Laboratory soil-analysis report, you'll be able to make the best judgements regarding your turf management program. The following provides you with a sample soil-analysis report, along with an explanation of each item on the report. To understand the data contained in the report, all you have to do is match the numbers on the report with the corresponding information.

A full description of the essential nutrients and other aspects of the data contained on your report can be found at "Understanding a Soil Analysis."

1. Identification of your company name and address along with your client's company name and address.

2. Reporting of laboratory turnaround time. The Harris Laboratory standard is to be less than three laboratory days.

3. Sample Number: This is for your unique identifier for each sample; 6 characters are displayed. If desired, a description code can be incorporated: golf green, GRN, golf fairway, FWY, tee box, TEE, general turf, TRF, commercial sod, SOD, residential lawn, LWN, general ornamental ORN. A number can then be assigned; an example would be: GRN 1 or FWY 12.

4. Analytical data of the extracted nutrients, results are reported in parts per million (ppm).

5. This is where the soil characteristics are reported. These factors have direct influence on nutrient solubility (soil pH, Buffer index, Excess Carbonates, Soluble Salts, and Sodium).

6. Reporting of the Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) and the percentages of base saturations. The unit for CEC is meq/100 grams of soil, and the addition of each of the bases will add up to 100%.

7. This graph is a composite average of your test results. This would be one reason for not mixing greens and fairways on the same report form. It is best to submit each category on separate laboratory input sheets. To interpret this graph, the extracted nutrients should be in the "adequate" category and the characteristics should be "satisfactory."

8. General guideline for plant-food application, reported in pounds per 1,000 square feet. Please keep in mind that these are general guidelines and need to be customized for your specific needs.