MacaulaySoils | The James Hutton Institute

Soil Analysis Service

Whether you are a farmer, gardener or groundsman the condition of your soil is critical to successful cultivation.

If you are interested in high quality soil analysis without being sold anything else, you have reached the right site. For the first time in our 70 year history, we have opened up our world class soil analysis laboratories to the public. MacaulaySoils is part of The James Hutton Institute, created in April 2011 by the coming together of the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute and SCRI.

Here you will find all you need to know about MacaulaySoils.com, including the range of properties we test for, how to take a soil sample, as well as a list of what it costs. Our service lets you decide when and where to sample. We supply you with all you need to take a sample and return it to our laboratories for testing. There is no fiddling about with test kits trying to match colour changes, we send you a comprehensive report – including liming and fertilizer recommendations if required – within 10 days.

Independent - Quality Assured (ISO 17025)
Fast (within 10 days) - efficient analysis and reporting
Convenient - you decide when and where to sample
Online registration - ease of ordering
Result reports - e-mailed or posted on request
Comprehensive kit - includes everything required (you supply the spade!)

How to get started

Request a kit online
- Soil kits can now be paid for online by credit/debit card or your PayPal account
Should you wish to discuss your requirements further telephone 01224 395115 or e-mail
We will then send you a sampling kit by return post.
Follow the instructions in the kit and post your sample(s) back in the pre-paid packaging specifying the analysis you want.
We will email you a comprehensive report within 10 days of receipt of your sample depending on the analysis requested.
An invoice for the analysis will be e-mailed with the report as a copy for your records.

Analysis	Price (per sample)
pH ?Soil pH determines the acidity, or alkalinity of your soil based on the pH scale. Knowing the soil pH of a soil can influence the planting regime and management of that soil, e.g. lime can be added to an acid soil to increase soil pH.	£25.92
pH & Nutrient status (Mg, K & P) ?Nutrient Status (magnesium (Mg), potassium (K) & phosphorus (P), determines the concentrations of major plant nutrients available, e.g. ‘very low’, ‘moderate’, ‘high’. This can help determine a fertiliser regime for your soil.	£36.24
pH, Nutrient status (Mg, K & P) & Organic matter ?Organic matter is a determination of the concentration of organic material present within the soil. Organic matter is an important component of soil, assisting in water retention of sandy soils, and aggregating of particles, thus drainage, in ‘heavy’ clay soils.	£45.36
pH, Nutrient status (Mg, K & P), Organic matter & Nitrate status ?Nitrate, is a major supplier of nitrogen (N) to plants, it is also water soluble and very variable, within the soil system. This analysis varies greatly with water capacity, soil temperature and season, for the majority of gardeners it is probably of limited use. However, horticulturists or competitive growers use the analysis to optimise fertiliser additions.	£52.32

MacaulaySoils are pleased to announce an expansion in the range of analytical services provided to our customers; to include, electrical conductivity, elemental and carbon and nitrogen concentrations present in the soil. These analyses can be ordered in conjunction with any described above.

Analysis	Price (per sample)
Electrical conductivity	£29.64
Total carbon and nitrogen	£17.52

All costs include VAT (20%).

Postage (within the UK) and Package included.

About us

The James Hutton Institute, formerly the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, is synonymous with soils, with over 70 years experience of working with soils and farmers, as well as being responsible for the National Soils Database for Scotland.

"Essentially, all life depends upon the soil ... There can be no life without soil and no soil without life; they have evolved together."

Charles E. Kellogg USDA 1938 .