
About us
Alluvial Soil Lab was established to meet the rising need for user-friendly and readily available soil testing. Our mission was clear from the start: to make soil testing accessible to everyone, regardless of expertise or background. By offering comprehensive testing services and organic recommendations, we aim to empower farmers, gardeners, and environmentalists alike. Through innovative technologies and a commitment to education, Alluvial Soil Lab seeks to demystify soil science and promote sustainable land management practices for everyone.
Why we started
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We understand the crucial role soil plays in supporting healthy crops, vibrant landscapes, diverse ecosystems, and in addressing climate change. Soil is the foundation of positive change at every level. Through our work, we aim to harness soil's potential to create resilient farming systems, enhance natural beauty, foster biodiversity, and contribute to global sustainability efforts. Our commitment lies in recognizing and preserving the invaluable resource that soil represents, working towards a future where its importance is respected and its potential fully realized.
Who we help
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We assist gardeners, farmers, landscapers, landscape architects, and the public sector. Our analyses provide valuable insights for healthier gardens, sustainable agriculture, and harmonious landscapes. We're grateful to support these dedicated individuals and organizations in their endeavors.
Our favorite quotes
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"The grower of trees, the gardener, the man born to farming, whose hands reach into the ground and sprout, to him the soil is a divine drug. He enters into death yearly, and comes back rejoicing. He has seen the light lie down in the dung heap, and rise again in the corn."
- Wendell Berry
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“...As a farmer, man himself became closely attached to the landscape, firmly rooted to the soil that supported him. At times the soil seemed bountiful and kindly and again stubborn and unfriendly, but it was always a challenge to man’s cunning.”
- Charles E. Kellogg
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“To forget how to dig the earth and to tend the soil is to forget ourselves.”
- Mahatma Gandhi
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"The soil is the great connector of lives, the source and destination of all. It is the healer and restorer and resurrector, by which disease passes into health, age into youth, death into life. Without proper care for it we can have no community, because without proper care for it we can have no life."
- Wendell Berry, The Unsettling of America: Culture and Agriculture
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“...only rarely have we stood back and celebrated our soils as something beautiful and perhaps even mysterious. For what other natural body, worldwide in its distribution, has so many interesting secrets to reveal to the patient observer”
- Les Molloy
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“Essentially, all life depends upon the soil ... There can be no life without soil and no soil without life; they have evolved together.”
- Charles E. Kellogg, USDA Yearbook of Agriculture, 1938
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Articles and Information
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Soil Testing in Altadena, California
Altadena, California, located in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, presents a diverse landscape with varied soil types influenced by both natural geology and human development. With elevations ranging...
Soil Testing in Altadena, California
Altadena, California, located in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, presents a diverse landscape with varied soil types influenced by both natural geology and human development. With elevations ranging...
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12 Things You Should Probably Know About Heavy ...
Heavy metals in soil pose significant challenges to environmental health, agriculture, and human safety. Understanding their sources, impacts, and detection methods is crucial for managing soil quality and ensuring food...
12 Things You Should Probably Know About Heavy ...
Heavy metals in soil pose significant challenges to environmental health, agriculture, and human safety. Understanding their sources, impacts, and detection methods is crucial for managing soil quality and ensuring food...
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11 Things You Should Know About the Haney Soil ...
Soil health is fundamental to sustainable agriculture and the environment. Traditional soil tests often focus solely on chemical analysis, which doesn't fully capture the biological and ecological aspects of...
11 Things You Should Know About the Haney Soil ...
Soil health is fundamental to sustainable agriculture and the environment. Traditional soil tests often focus solely on chemical analysis, which doesn't fully capture the biological and ecological aspects of...
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13 Things You Need to Know About Regenerative A...
Regenerative agriculture is a holistic approach to farming that aims to restore and enhance the health of our ecosystems. Unlike conventional agriculture, which often depletes resources, regenerative farming practices work...
13 Things You Need to Know About Regenerative A...
Regenerative agriculture is a holistic approach to farming that aims to restore and enhance the health of our ecosystems. Unlike conventional agriculture, which often depletes resources, regenerative farming practices work...
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Schedule a Soil Sample Collection for Lab Analysis
Soil analysis is crucial for understanding soil health, fertility, and composition, whether you're a homeowner, farmer, or landscaper. Alluvial Soil Lab offers convenient soil sample collection services across several Western...
Schedule a Soil Sample Collection for Lab Analysis
Soil analysis is crucial for understanding soil health, fertility, and composition, whether you're a homeowner, farmer, or landscaper. Alluvial Soil Lab offers convenient soil sample collection services across several Western...
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Improving Clay Soil: Tips and Tricks for Better...
Clay soil presents unique challenges for gardeners and landscapers due to its dense, compact nature that hinders drainage and root growth. However, with the right strategies and techniques, it is...
Improving Clay Soil: Tips and Tricks for Better...
Clay soil presents unique challenges for gardeners and landscapers due to its dense, compact nature that hinders drainage and root growth. However, with the right strategies and techniques, it is...
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Managing Soil in High-Traffic Lawns/Turf: Strat...
Maintaining a lush, healthy lawn or turf in high-traffic areas such as sports fields, parks, and recreational spaces can be challenging. Frequent use often leads to soil compaction, reduced turf...
Managing Soil in High-Traffic Lawns/Turf: Strat...
Maintaining a lush, healthy lawn or turf in high-traffic areas such as sports fields, parks, and recreational spaces can be challenging. Frequent use often leads to soil compaction, reduced turf...
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Native Plant Landscaping and Soil Health in Cal...
In California’s diverse landscapes, from sun-scorched deserts to misty coastal bluffs, native plant landscaping is transforming how we nurture our environment. Far beyond a trend, it’s a vital strategy to...
Native Plant Landscaping and Soil Health in Cal...
In California’s diverse landscapes, from sun-scorched deserts to misty coastal bluffs, native plant landscaping is transforming how we nurture our environment. Far beyond a trend, it’s a vital strategy to...
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Irrigation Water Testing in California
Irrigation water is the lifeblood of agriculture and gardening, driving plant growth, nutrient uptake, and soil health. However, its quality profoundly impacts these processes. Contaminants, salinity, and chemical imbalances...
Irrigation Water Testing in California
Irrigation water is the lifeblood of agriculture and gardening, driving plant growth, nutrient uptake, and soil health. However, its quality profoundly impacts these processes. Contaminants, salinity, and chemical imbalances...
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Ultimate Guide to Soil Compaction and Poor Drai...
Soil compaction and poor drainage are two of the most common problems faced by gardeners and landscapers. These issues can hinder plant growth, reduce yields, and create waterlogged conditions that...
Ultimate Guide to Soil Compaction and Poor Drai...
Soil compaction and poor drainage are two of the most common problems faced by gardeners and landscapers. These issues can hinder plant growth, reduce yields, and create waterlogged conditions that...
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Soil Testing For Gardeners in California
Soil testing is essential for California gardeners navigating the state’s diverse soils, from the sandy loams of San Diego to the heavy clays of the Sacramento Valley. By assessing...
Soil Testing For Gardeners in California
Soil testing is essential for California gardeners navigating the state’s diverse soils, from the sandy loams of San Diego to the heavy clays of the Sacramento Valley. By assessing...
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Soil and Root Testing for Mycorrhizal Fungi in ...
Mycorrhizae, derived from the Greek words "mykes" (fungus) and "rhiza" (root), represent a symbiotic association between fungi and plant roots. These relationships are ancient, dating back to the early colonization...
Soil and Root Testing for Mycorrhizal Fungi in ...
Mycorrhizae, derived from the Greek words "mykes" (fungus) and "rhiza" (root), represent a symbiotic association between fungi and plant roots. These relationships are ancient, dating back to the early colonization...
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Why Plant Leaves Turn Yellow and How to Fix The...
The sight of yellow leaves on your beloved plants can be distressing. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a novice plant parent, understanding why this happens and how to remedy...
Why Plant Leaves Turn Yellow and How to Fix The...
The sight of yellow leaves on your beloved plants can be distressing. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a novice plant parent, understanding why this happens and how to remedy...
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Soil Testing Before Purchasing a Property in Ca...
Purchasing property in California involves weighing factors like location, price, and amenities, but one critical aspect often overlooked is soil condition. Soil testing is not merely a precaution—it’s a necessity...
Soil Testing Before Purchasing a Property in Ca...
Purchasing property in California involves weighing factors like location, price, and amenities, but one critical aspect often overlooked is soil condition. Soil testing is not merely a precaution—it’s a necessity...
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Understanding Soil Health and Soil Testing in C...
California is known for its diverse landscapes, from the rugged coastlines to the fertile Central Valley. The state's soils play a crucial role in supporting its thriving agricultural industry, vibrant...
Understanding Soil Health and Soil Testing in C...
California is known for its diverse landscapes, from the rugged coastlines to the fertile Central Valley. The state's soils play a crucial role in supporting its thriving agricultural industry, vibrant...
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Soil Testing in California
California’s varied landscapes, from coastal shores to fertile valleys and towering mountains, are underpinned by a rich diversity of soil types. These soils shape agriculture, gardening, urban development, and environmental...
Soil Testing in California
California’s varied landscapes, from coastal shores to fertile valleys and towering mountains, are underpinned by a rich diversity of soil types. These soils shape agriculture, gardening, urban development, and environmental...
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Enhancing Landscape Irrigation Efficiency: Matc...
To determine the best type of irrigation system for various soil infiltration rates, it's essential to understand how different systems interact with soil characteristics. Here's a guide based on the...
Enhancing Landscape Irrigation Efficiency: Matc...
To determine the best type of irrigation system for various soil infiltration rates, it's essential to understand how different systems interact with soil characteristics. Here's a guide based on the...
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Soil and Plant Testing Laboratories in Washington
Understanding Soil Testing in Washington Soil testing is a critical tool for farmers, gardeners, and landscapers across Washington, helping to unlock the secrets of your land for better agricultural outcomes....
Soil and Plant Testing Laboratories in Washington
Understanding Soil Testing in Washington Soil testing is a critical tool for farmers, gardeners, and landscapers across Washington, helping to unlock the secrets of your land for better agricultural outcomes....
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Soil and Plant Testing Laboratories in Pennsylv...
Understanding Soil Testing in Pennsylvania Soil testing is a critical tool for farmers, gardeners, and landscapers across Pennsylvania, helping to unlock the secrets of your land for better agricultural outcomes....
Soil and Plant Testing Laboratories in Pennsylv...
Understanding Soil Testing in Pennsylvania Soil testing is a critical tool for farmers, gardeners, and landscapers across Pennsylvania, helping to unlock the secrets of your land for better agricultural outcomes....
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Soil and Plant Testing Laboratories in New York
Understanding Soil Testing in New York Soil testing is a critical tool for farmers, gardeners, and landscapers across New York, helping to unlock the secrets of your land for better...
Soil and Plant Testing Laboratories in New York
Understanding Soil Testing in New York Soil testing is a critical tool for farmers, gardeners, and landscapers across New York, helping to unlock the secrets of your land for better...
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Soil and Plant Testing Laboratories in Texas
Understanding Soil Testing in Texas Soil testing is a critical tool for farmers, gardeners, and landscapers across Texas, helping to unlock the secrets of your land for better agricultural outcomes....
Soil and Plant Testing Laboratories in Texas
Understanding Soil Testing in Texas Soil testing is a critical tool for farmers, gardeners, and landscapers across Texas, helping to unlock the secrets of your land for better agricultural outcomes....
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Soil Testing in Rancho Santa Fe, California
Soil Characteristics and Management in Rancho Santa Fe Nestled in the rolling hills of North County San Diego, Rancho Santa Fe encompasses 36 square miles of premium agricultural and residential...
Soil Testing in Rancho Santa Fe, California
Soil Characteristics and Management in Rancho Santa Fe Nestled in the rolling hills of North County San Diego, Rancho Santa Fe encompasses 36 square miles of premium agricultural and residential...
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Soil Testing in Sammamish, Washington
Located on the Sammamish Plateau in King County, Washington, the City of Sammamish encompasses 18.6 square miles of diverse terrain shaped by glacial activity and Pacific Northwest climate patterns. This...
Soil Testing in Sammamish, Washington
Located on the Sammamish Plateau in King County, Washington, the City of Sammamish encompasses 18.6 square miles of diverse terrain shaped by glacial activity and Pacific Northwest climate patterns. This...
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Soil Testing in Atherton, California
Complete Guide to Atherton, California Soil Types and Management Nestled in the heart of Silicon Valley between Menlo Park and Redwood City, Atherton encompasses 5.0 square miles of premium residential...
Soil Testing in Atherton, California
Complete Guide to Atherton, California Soil Types and Management Nestled in the heart of Silicon Valley between Menlo Park and Redwood City, Atherton encompasses 5.0 square miles of premium residential...
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Soil Test Kits: Find the Right One for Your Gar...
Soil Test Kits for General Soil Health | Alluvial Soil Lab Healthy soil is the foundation of thriving lawns, gardens, and landscapes. Alluvial Soil Lab’s soil test kit provides the...
Soil Test Kits: Find the Right One for Your Gar...
Soil Test Kits for General Soil Health | Alluvial Soil Lab Healthy soil is the foundation of thriving lawns, gardens, and landscapes. Alluvial Soil Lab’s soil test kit provides the...
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Vineyard Soil Testing for Wineries | Expert Ana...
Vineyard Soil Health Testing with Alluvial Soil Lab Maximize your vineyard’s potential with Alluvial Soil Lab’s comprehensive soil health testing services. Tailored for California vintners, our tests analyze key factors...
Vineyard Soil Testing for Wineries | Expert Ana...
Vineyard Soil Health Testing with Alluvial Soil Lab Maximize your vineyard’s potential with Alluvial Soil Lab’s comprehensive soil health testing services. Tailored for California vintners, our tests analyze key factors...
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Heavy Metal Soil Testing
Protect your crops, garden, and environment with Alluvial Soil Lab’s expert heavy metal soil testing services. Heavy metals like lead, arsenic, and cadmium can pose risks to health and productivity....
Heavy Metal Soil Testing
Protect your crops, garden, and environment with Alluvial Soil Lab’s expert heavy metal soil testing services. Heavy metals like lead, arsenic, and cadmium can pose risks to health and productivity....