Soil tests in Germany?

Hi all,

I've had my Kleingarten for a few years now, and it's becoming clear that there's something I'm not understanding about my soil, and I'm unnecessarily killing plants.  In the US I'd call my handy dandy state university Extension Office and arrange for a soil test.  My bf used to work for the Federal Ag Research Center and says my options are several thousand euros for a commercial test... or nothing.  This sounds odd.

Is there anything like that here in Germany?  (Or the rest of the EU - I'll ship!)  I'm willing to pay a reasonable amount for a commercial service, but I'm mentally predisposed that a government office would be cheaper and more objective.  Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I am not an expert on international soil tests, but I did some google searching for you.

I found this article that suggested two different soil test labs https://www.smilinggardener.com/organic-soil-management/soil-testing-labs/

The first suggested lab does international testing http://www.cropservicesintl.com/soil-testing/

"International Soil Samples
Place in zip lock plastic bags and identify as above. Place bags in a plastic snap lid container such as a food freezer box. Ship in a cardboard box or Styrofoam shipping container.  Declare the sample on your customs tag and enclose a copy of our CSI Intl Soil Permit. Send by any carrier that fits your required time frame for the soil to reach us and be processed."

Their tests don't seem to be that expensive - http://www.cropservicesintl.com/product-category/soil-testing/

The second suggested lab-

" International Ag Labs is no longer able to accept foreign soils due to soil permit expiration. We are very sorry for any inconvenience this may cause."

soil testing companies in Europe

This is a list of most of the soil testing labs in Europe so you can select the closest to you or the lowest price. (Holland has some good labs)

Or you could go to Harris Seeds for your own easy test kit Soil test kits

Redhawk

Thanks to both of you!  I'll start contacting companies!

Greetings and hope my mail finds you well.
I am Floris Atehawung Atem, a Cameroonian and current PhD research student in the University of Buea.

My research topic is titled "An assessment of Regeneration potentials in the mangrove ecosystem, Cameroon Estuary"

I have collected all soil samples and all other biophysical and socioeconomic samples and will appreciate if you grant me access into your laboratory for the analysis and interpretation.

I have 9 plots across my study area and in the middle of each plot I collected soil samples at 4 different debts from 0 to 15, 15 to 30, 30 to 50 and 50 to 100. The samples are presently in the refrigerator.

I will need to analyze the following:
Phyical properties
Soil texture, moisture content and bulk density.

Chemical properties
Organic matter, organic carbon, total nitrogen, exchangeable cation, available phosphorus and salinity. EC, PH C/N ratio

The objectives of this study were the following
1. To identify and appraise the challenges of mangrove regeneration
2. To compare the growth performance of mangrove regeneration in natural regenerating areas ( in degraded and in non degraded area) and in  assisted regenerating areas ( in a degraded area)
3. To compare cost and benefits of mangrove regeneration and fuel wood harvesting.
To evaluate coastal community perception of non indirect ecosystem services.

NB

*All species within our plots of 20 by 20 across the Cameroon Estuary has been counted and identified in all nine plots across the study area.

*Challenges has been identified

*All diameter and height of juvenile species within  each of the five 1 by 1 meter plot (Quadrats) curved out from each 20 by 20 meter plots has been measured for the first time (baseline). We shall re-measure after 6 months and subsequently, after the next 6 months giving a total of two 6 months intervals (a period of one year) for remeauring.
Growth , mortality and recruitment will be determined and compared following the naturally regenerating sites in both degraded and non degraded area and the assisted regenerating sites in degraded areas.

* Soil samples have been collected from the middle of each 20 by 20 meters plot and refrigerated.

*All coordinate points of each 20 by 20 meter plot and from each of the five 1 by 1 meter Quadrats has been collected.

* Questionnaires and key informant interviews on Challenges and willingness to pay for ecosystem services have been conducted.

Please,  due to my limited financial resources, I will be happy if you receive me in your lab and provide the necessary funds for data analysis and interpretation.
Thank you very much,
Best regards.

welcome to the forum, Floris.

Does the University of Buea not offer soil testing?  If not seems like a professor would know where to get soil testing.