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The LSU Soil Testing and Plant Analysis Lab (STPAL) offers a soilless media test using the Saturated Media Extract (SME) method. The same method is used by most university and commercial labs to test soilless growth media or growth media with very little soil.
Potting Mix, also known as soilless media, is commonly used in greenhouses, raised beds, and container crop production. Our soilless media test is the preferred test not just for potting mixes but also composts, garden soils, topsoil, or any other material that is not primarily natural soil. Please coordinate with STPAL or your local extension office to determine which tests are appropriate for the material submitted to the lab. Soilless media is generally made of less dense, natural and processed materials such as bark, coconut coir, compost, peat, perlite, sand, vermiculite, and other similar materials. These products are mixed in various combinations and usually contain less than 20% field soil. Because of this, testing soilless growth media requires sampling procedures, test methods, and interpretations different from those used for routine field soil testing. A routine soilless growth media test is indispensable to nutrient management for optimal plant performance, problem prevention, or diagnosis.
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