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Soil sampling requirements in Arkansas

Soil sampling requirements in Arkansas

State rules: Arkansas Natural Resources Commission Title 22, Rules Governing the Arkansas Soil Nutrient and Poultry Litter Application and Management Program. State guidance: University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension, soil test advice.

Soil sampling in Arkansas: frequency, area, depth and cores

How often do you need to soil sample in Arkansas?

How deep should soil samples be taken in Arkansas?

How many cores go into one soil sample in Arkansas?

Soil sampling rules in Arkansas, with the exact wording of each source
Country / region Purpose / programme Time / frequency Area per sample Method Depth Cores Status and source
United States
ArkansasUnited StatesArkansas only, and within the designated nutrient surplus areas. Other states set their own rules.Soil test before phosphorus fertilizer and in nutrient management plansArkansas Soil Nutrient and Poultry Litter Application and Management Program (nutrient surplus areas)
  • Result valid Soil tests in a nutrient management plan or poultry litter management plan: not more than 5 years old
Not specifiedNot specifiedNot specifiedNot specifiedConditionalANRC Title 22 (PDF, Arkansas Department of Agriculture)
Who it applies to, the exact wording and every source
Who it applies to
Land in a designated nutrient surplus area. A soil test is required before commercial fertilizer containing phosphorus is applied at the protective rate. Nutrient management plans and poultry litter management plans must carry soil tests not more than five years old.
Outside the rule
Commercial fertilizer with nitrogen but no phosphorus may be applied without a soil test.
In force from
1 January 2010
Legal text
Arkansas Natural Resources Commission Title 22, Rules Governing the Arkansas Soil Nutrient and Poultry Litter Application and Management Program, Sections 2202.3, 2202.5, 2203.3 and 2204.2

The wording in the source

Timing

Who it applies to

  • A soil test is required before applying commercial fertilizers containing phosphorus at the protective rate.

    Section 2202.5 B

  • After a soil test with nutrient application recommendations is obtained for lands within a nutrient surplus area, a person may apply commercial fertilizer in compliance with the protective rate.

    Section 2202.3 A.2

  • no person shall apply nutrients to soils or associated crops within a nutrient surplus area unless nutrients are applied in compliance with a nutrient management plan or a poultry litter management plan prepared by a certified nutrient planner or at the protective rate for commercial fertilizers set forth in Section 2202.5.

    Section 2202.3 A

Outside the rule

  • Commercial fertilizer containing nitrogen but not phosphorus may be applied without a soil test.

    Section 2202.5 B

In force

Sources

Sources re-checked every two months, last update October 2026. Reviewed by GeoPard editorial team.
ArkansasUnited StatesArkansas only. Other states set their own rules.Routine soil fertility samplingUniversity of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension, soil test advice
  • Result valid A test guides fertilizer for 3 or 4 years. Resample when tests are over 4 years old.
  • Repeat Consider sampling yearly under intensive management or with several crops a year
Not specifiedZigzag pattern preferred. Sample each field or management unit separately.Crop fields to plowing depth, usually 4 to 6 inches. Pastures about 4 inches.At least 12 random points per areaOfficial guidanceUniversity of Arkansas Cooperative Extension FSA2121 (PDF)
Who it applies to, the exact wording and every source
Who it applies to
Advice for Arkansas fields, pastures, lawns and gardens from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. Not law.
In force from
Under review
Legal text
University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension FSA2121, Test Your Soil for Plant Food and Lime Needs (September 2026)

The wording in the source

Timing

  • Your soil tests can serve as a guide for fertilizer practices for the next three or four years. If you have tests over four years old, take samples again for up-to-date recommendations. If using intensive management or producing several crops per year, consider sampling yearly.

    FSA2121, page 2

Method

Depth

  • Sample crop fields to the depth of plowing, usually 4 – 6 inches (Figure 4). Take samples in pastures, gardens, lawns, around shrubs and golf courses to a depth of about 4 inches

    FSA2121, procedure step 3

Cores

  • Take soil with a soil probe or shovel from at least 12 random points in each area to obtain a representative sample.

    FSA2121, procedure step 2

Sources

Sources re-checked every two months, last update October 2026. Reviewed by GeoPard editorial team.

United States: federal rules and every other state

Soil sampling regulations in every country

Report an outdated requirement: info@geopard.tech

Plan the points to the rule that applies

Set the area per sample, the cores and the depth your rule asks for. GeoPard places the points on a grid or by zone, routes the walk, prints the labels and takes the plan to the field on a phone.

Create a sampling plan See the Soil Sampling Planner

A planning reference built from official sources, not legal advice. Rules apply by jurisdiction, nutrient, land use and programme: check the current official text and your laboratory’s instructions before fieldwork.

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