GROWING MEDIA and SOILS
Build a Strong Foundation for Plant Health
Healthy crops start with a healthy root zone. Whether you’re managing field soils or custom-blended media, understanding your growing substrate is critical to successful production. QAL provides detailed analysis of both natural soils and soilless media, giving you the data you need to correct imbalances, guide nutrient programs, and avoid costly production issues.
We serve growers, manufacturers, and consultants who need fast, accurate, and unbiased results delivered with the highest level of care and consistency.
Soilless Media Testing
Complete Soilless Media Package (SME)
Complete Soilless Media Package (SME)
Complete Soilless Media Package (SME)
Service Code: EMM-100
Nitrate Nitrogen, Ammonium Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium, Chloride, Sulfur, Magnesium, Sodium, Iron, Manganese, Boron, Copper, Zinc, Molybdenum, Aluminum,
Electrical Conductivity, and pH.
Physical Properties of Media
Complete Soilless Media Package (SME)
Complete Soilless Media Package (SME)
Service Code: TM-920.1
Total pore space (% by volume), air space, water holding capacity, and bulk density
Media Heavy Metals Package
Complete Soilless Media Package (SME)
Media Heavy Metals Package
Service Code: TM-940.1
Arsenic, Cadmium, Cobalt, Mercury, Molybdenum, Nickel, Lead, Selenium, and
Zinc
Ammonium Nitrogen
Ammonium Nitrogen
Media Heavy Metals Package
Service Code: EMM-100.2
Chloride
Ammonium Nitrogen
Chloride
Service Code: EMM-100.5
Flouride
Ammonium Nitrogen
Chloride
Service Code: EMM-100.6
Nitrate Nitrogen
Carbon / Nitrogen Ration
Nitrate Nitrogen
Service Code: EMM-100.2
Hydration Index
Carbon / Nitrogen Ration
Nitrate Nitrogen
Service Code: TM-921
Carbon / Nitrogen Ration
Carbon / Nitrogen Ration
Prill Count (no. per liter)
Service Code: TM-933
Prill Count (no. per liter)
Prill Count (no. per liter)
Prill Count (no. per liter)
Service Code: TM-935.1
Sieve Fraction (6 sieves)
Prill Count (no. per liter)
Sieve Fraction (6 sieves)
Service Code: TM-930.1
pH and EC
Prill Count (no. per liter)
Sieve Fraction (6 sieves)
Service Code: EMM-100.1
Weed Seed Growth Assay
Weed Seed Growth Assay
Weed Seed Growth Assay
Service Code: TM-854
Seed Germination Assay
Weed Seed Growth Assay
Weed Seed Growth Assay
Service Code: TM-939.1
Seedling Growth Assay
Weed Seed Growth Assay
Seedling Growth Assay
Service Code: TM-993.1
Moisture %
Loose Bulk Density
Seedling Growth Assay
Service Code: TM-932.1
Media Composition
Loose Bulk Density
Loose Bulk Density
Service Code: TM-922
Loose Bulk Density
Loose Bulk Density
Loose Bulk Density
Service Code: TM-920.1
Organic Matter (loss on ignition)
Organic Matter (loss on ignition)
Organic Matter (loss on ignition)
Service Code: TM-933.1
Individual Element
Organic Matter (loss on ignition)
Organic Matter (loss on ignition)
Service Code: EMW-000
Pathology Test of Media
Parasitic Nematode Identification
Parasitic Nematode Identification
Service Code: TM-900.1
Oomycete Detection of Media
Parasitic Nematode Identification
Parasitic Nematode Identification
Parasitic Nematode Identification
Service Code: TM-912.2
Soil Testing
Complete Soil Package (Mehlich III)
Complete Soil Package (Mehlich III)
Complete Soil Package (Mehlich III)
Service Code: EMS-200
Water Extraction: Nitrate Nitrogen, Ammonium Nitrogen, Acidity, Electrical Conductivity, and pH.
Mehlich III Extraction: Phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Iron, Manganese, Boron, Copper, Zinc, Molybdenum, and Aluminum.
Physical Properties of Media
Complete Soil Package (Mehlich III)
Complete Soil Package (Mehlich III)
Service Code: TM-920.2
Total pore space (% by volume), air space, water holding capacity, and bulk density
Media Heavy Metals Package
Complete Soil Package (Mehlich III)
Media Heavy Metals Package
Service Code: TM-940.2
Arsenic, Cadmium, Cobalt, Mercury, Molybdenum, Nickel, Lead, Selenium, and
Zinc
Total Nitrogen
pH and EC (H2O)
Media Heavy Metals Package
Service Code: EMS-200.10
pH and EC (H2O)
pH and EC (H2O)
pH and EC (H2O)
Service Code: EMS-200.1
Flouride
pH and EC (H2O)
pH and EC (H2O)
Service Code: EMS-202.3
Chloride
Particle Size (texture)
Particle Size (texture)
Service Code: EMS-202.2
Particle Size (texture)
Particle Size (texture)
Particle Size (texture)
Service Code: TM-925.1
Loose Bulk Density
Particle Size (texture)
Prill Count (no. per liter)
Service Code: TM-925.2
Prill Count (no. per liter)
Prill Count (no. per liter)
Prill Count (no. per liter)
Service Code: TM-935.2
Sieve Fraction (6 sieves)
Prill Count (no. per liter)
Water Retention (porosity)
Service Code: TM-930.2
Water Retention (porosity)
Prill Count (no. per liter)
Water Retention (porosity)
Service Code: TM-925.5
Cation Exchange Capacity
Cation Exchange Capacity
Cation Exchange Capacity
Service Code: EMS-220
Moisture %
Cation Exchange Capacity
Cation Exchange Capacity
Service Code: TM-932.1
Lime Requirement
Cation Exchange Capacity
Lime Requirement
Service Code: EMS-204
Organic Matter
Individual Element
Lime Requirement
Service Code: TM-933.2
Media Composition
Individual Element
Individual Element
Service Code: TM-922
Individual Element
Individual Element
Individual Element
Service Code: EMW-000
Pathology Test of Soil
Parasitic Nematode Identification
Parasitic Nematode Identification
Service Code: TM-900.2
Oomycete Detection of Soil
Parasitic Nematode Identification
Parasitic Nematode Identification
Parasitic Nematode Identification
Service Code: TM-912.2
Why Test Growing Media and Soil?
Testing your substrate helps ensure that crops are getting what they need, and nothing they shouldn’t.
It allows you to:
- Confirm pH and EC levels are in range for optimal uptake
- Identify toxicities, deficiencies, or salt buildup.
- Verify nutrient availability in new blends or amendments.
- Evaluate media consistency across production runs.
- Support the formulation of custom fertilization plans
For high-value crops or intensive production systems, regular testing is a key component of a proactive nutrient management strategy.
Who We Work With
We partner with a wide variety of clients, including greenhouse growers, field crop producers, compost manufacturers, nurseries, soil blenders, and agricultural consultants. Whether you're growing in containers, raised beds, or acres of open field, QAL delivers results that help you make informed, cost-effective decisions.
The QAL Difference
We understand that every production system is different. That’s why our soil and media testing services are designed to be flexible, fast, and rooted in real-world knowledge. From interpretation to technical support, we help you connect the dots between the data and the product.
If you're looking for reliable data, practical insight, and a lab that understands the complexity of modern growing systems, QAL is ready to help.
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