Soil

Lead contamination in soil

if my soil has traces of lead can I plant an edible plant without testing first? What can happen?

Lead is a potentially toxic material in soil. If you suspect lead contamination, I recommend you do a soil test and find out whether the lead content of the soil is at hazardous amounts. Environment Protection Agency (EPA) defines a soil lead hazard at 400 parts per million (ppm) in play areas and a 1200 ppm average for bare soil in the rest of the yard. If your soil is high in lead content, they will be taken up by the plants that you grow. When growing edible plants in lead contaminated soil, it can end up in the bloodstream of the people who are consuming it.

Information on how to submit a sample and sample information form for lawns and gardens can be obtained from the MU Soil and Plant Testing Laboratory.

Manjula Nathan
Director
Soil Testing and Plant Diagnostic Services

Yellow spots in lawn

For two years my bluegrass lawn has had light green to yellow areas and these patches are getting bigger. They do not change with fertilization or watering. Could it be charcoal residue from a nearby grill?

Yellowing of lawns can be due to many reasons. First check your soil to see whether you have sufficient nutrients and the right pH to grow a healthy lawn. Have you tested your soil and followed the fertilizer and lime recommendations? If not, take a 6-inch-deep sample from 5 or 6 random spots. If the entire lawn looks uniform, then mix these samples well in a clean pail and take one and a half cup full of sample and mail it to the MU Soil and Plant Testing Laboratory. Information on how to submit a sample and sample information form for lawns and gardens can be obtained from the lab's Web site.

Manjula Nathan
Director
Soil Testing and Plant Diagnostic Services

Submitting soil samples

Do I need a kit to send garden soil to the Soil and Plant Testing Laboratory for analysis?

There is no kit with which to collect and submit soil samples. Instructions on taking a representative samples and how to submit them can be obtained from our Web site. Soil boxes for submitting samples are free at the laboratory or MU Extension centers, but aren't necessary to submit a sample. Soil collected can be placed in a zip-type plastic bag. Be sure to write some identification on the bag before mailing to the laboratory or delivering to an MU Extension center or our Campus location, 23 Mumford Hall. Include an information form printed from our Web site.

Manjula Nathan
Director
Soil Testing and Plant Diagnostic Services