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Looking for a baseline and ongoing measure for biological soil health?

Soil Monitoring

Earthwhile Australia can assess soil, compost and worm castings. We can provide a qualitative assessment of your sample based on visual microscopy which provides an indication of the microbiology living in your soil.


We can also provide fungal to bacterial ratios and levels of microbial carbon. A written report includes the levels of microorganisms observed as well as photographs from the sample viewed under the microscope. 



Contact Us for Pricing

  • Qualitative Soil Biology Reports

    Qualitative assessment of your soil sample provides an indication of the microbiology living in your soil. Our reports provide the levels of microorganisms observed as well as photographs from the sample viewed under the microscope . You can send your own soil samples to send to us for assessment, or we can arrange site visits as a more comprehensive service. 


    Our assessments are useful to individuals, landholders, project managers and researchers for monitoring baseline and remediation effectiveness. EarthWhile Australia can assess soil, compost, and worm castings along with teas, extracts, and leachates.

  • Physical and Mineral Assessments

    Physical assessments are carried out on site with the option to train landholders to do their own testing.


    Mineral/Nutrient/Element/Chemical assessments are conducted by SWEP laboratories. Our service includes forwarding the samples to the lab and discussing the results by phone with you once received.

FAQ

  • What is a soil test?

    In short, a soil test helps us describe both seen and unseen characteristics of soil.


    When we talk about testing soil we explore physical, chemical and/or biological aspects. Physical tests look at structure, texture, compaction and water infiltration qualities. These are mostly done on site. 


    Chemical analysis is carried out in a lab to determine levels of available (nutrients that plants can easily access), exchangeable (less easily accessible), and total (available, exchangeable, and not available) minerals. Biological assessments report on what is living in the soil.

  • Why is soil testing important?

    Soil testing provides valuable information about the nutrient content and overall health of the soil, which helps farmers, gardeners, and landscapers make informed decisions about fertiliser application, soil amendments, and plant selection.

  • How do I collect a soil sample for testing?

    1. Choose the area to collect the sample based on what you want to know - e.g why is this part of my lawn/paddock etc not growing well.


    2. The aim is to collect a sample representative of the area being assessed.


    3. Take a core of soil approximately 100mm deep from 3 to 4 locations within the area. The aim is to collect about a cupful of soil. An apple corer is useful for this task.


    4. When sampling under plants/trees take the samples from halfway between the stem/trunk of the plant and the dripline (the outer edge of leaves where water runs off to the ground).


    5. Place the sample in a clean glass jar or ziplock bag. Ensure there is some air left in the container. Label it with the sample name and date.


  • How often should I test my soil?

    How long is a piece of string? It depends on what you want to know. For general monitoring of soil health, it is suggested chemical testing be carried out every 3-5 years (unless you are tracking the progress following significant remediation), and physical and biological testing annually (either in late autumn or early spring).


  • What is measured in a soil test?

    Key nutrients are measured in a chemical soil test. 


    A standard soil test typically measures the levels of macronutrients like nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), as well as secondary nutrients and micronutrients, such as calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sulfur (S), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), boron (B), and molybdenum (Mo).


    The absence or presence of microbes (bacteria, fungi, protozoa and nematodes), along with levels of microbial carbon and fungal to bacterial ratios are assessed in biological assessments.


    The rate at which water infiltrates the soil, the levels of compaction (the ease for the roots to get through), and structure (that can impact erosion) are reported in physical testing.


  • Can I test my soil myself?

    You sure can do a lot yourself. Indeed, it is a useful and important skill when looking after your land.

    Chemical analysis is usually performed in a lab but how you take the sample can affect the results.

    There are various visual assessment checklists available online to help property owners understand their own soil.


    Visual microscopy is often performed in a lab (yes, EarthWhile do this) but you can learn how to use a microscope and do your own biological assessments with relative ease.


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