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Soil sampling requirements in Florida

Soil sampling requirements in Florida

State rules: FDACS Florida Vegetable and Agronomic Crop Operations BMP Manual, 2024 Edition (FDACS-P-01268, rev. 12/24), incorporated in Rule 5M-8.002, F.A.C.. State guidance: UF/IFAS Extension Soil Testing Laboratory, sampling advice.

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

How often do you need to soil sample in Florida?

How many acres can one soil sample cover in Florida?

How deep should soil samples be taken in Florida?

How many cores go into one soil sample in Florida?

How many soil samples does a 100-acre field need in Florida?

UF/IFAS Extension Soil Testing Laboratory, sampling advice: A uniform 100-acre field needs at least 3 composite samples of no more than 40 acres each, and at least 24 cores in all, 8 per sample.

Samples and cores for any field size

Soil sampling rules in Florida, with the exact wording of each source
Country / region Purpose / programme Time / frequency Area per sample Method Depth Cores Status and source
United States
FloridaUnited StatesFlorida only. Other states set their own rules.Soil or tissue tests to plan fertilizer on enrolled vegetable and agronomic crop landFDACS agricultural Best Management Practices, Florida Vegetable and Agronomic Crop (VAC) Operations
  • Result valid Manual Guidance text under BMP 1.2.1, not the checklist BMP: a soil test less than one year old, showing a need for phosphorus, before phosphorus is applied (crops other than multi-year crops). The manual says its narrative creates no obligation beyond the checklist BMPs, and the checklist BMP sets no age for the test.
Not specifiedNot specifiedNot specifiedNot specifiedConditionalFDACS VAC BMP Manual, 2024 Edition (PDF), incorporated in Rule 5M-8.002, F.A.C.
Who it applies to, the exact wording and every source
Who it applies to
Vegetable and agronomic crop producers enrolled in the FDACS BMP Program. BMP 1.2.1 has them perform soil tests, tissue tests, or both to plan and manage fertilizer applications. Enrollment, or water quality monitoring instead, is required by Florida law inside basin management action plan (BMAP) areas.
Outside the rule
In the same Guidance text, multi-year crops may use a calibration curve from the soil test taken before planting for later phosphorus applications.
Laboratory and analysis
An extraction method listed in Appendix 2 for the soil type: Mehlich-3, AB-DTPA, water, Bray 1 or 2, ammonium acetate or Mehlich-1. Other methods need FDACS approval and a documented justification.
In force from
Under review
Legal text
FDACS Florida Vegetable and Agronomic Crop Operations BMP Manual, 2024 Edition (FDACS-P-01268, rev. 12/24), incorporated in Rule 5M-8.002, F.A.C., BMPs 1.2.1 and 1.2.2 (Right Rate), the Guidance text under BMP 1.2.1, and Appendix 2

The wording in the source

Timing

Who it applies to

  • Florida law requires agricultural producers and landowners located within BMAP areas to either enroll in the FDACS BMP Program and properly implement BMPs applicable to their property and operation or to conduct water quality monitoring activities as required by Rule Chapter 62-307, F.A.C.

    Introduction

  • Perform soil tests, tissue tests, or both to appropriately plan and manage fertilizer applications.

    BMP 1.2.1

Outside the rule

  • Multi-year crops can utilize a calibration curve for subsequent application of P based on the soil test taken before planting.

    BMP 1.2.1, Guidance

Laboratory and analysis

  • Use a soil extraction method listed in Appendix 2 appropriate for the soil type to perform soil test in 1.2.1. The use of other soil extraction methods must be approved by FDACS. Maintain documentation to justify using that method.

    BMP 1.2.2

  • Mehlich-3 extraction – Used on mineral or organic soils over most pH levels.

    Appendix 2, Soil Testing

In force

  • Publication No. FDACS-P-01268, rev. 12/24, Incorporated in Rule 5M-8.002, F.A.C.

    Title page

Sources

Sources re-checked every two months, last update October 2026. Reviewed by GeoPard editorial team.
FloridaUnited StatesFlorida only. Other states set their own rules.Routine soil fertility samplingUF/IFAS Extension Soil Testing Laboratory, sampling advice
  • Repeat Soil pH at least once a year, if not every growing season
Up to 40 acres of a field section in commercial agriculture, uniform in management and topographyOne composite per area uniform in management and topography. Separate samples for areas that differ.Top 6 inches for most agronomic uses8 to 15 locations per composite sampleOfficial guidanceUF/IFAS Extension SL547/SS763
Who it applies to, the exact wording and every source
Who it applies to
Advice for Florida growers and landscapes from UF/IFAS Extension (University of Florida). Not law.
Laboratory and analysis
Mehlich-3 extraction for mineral soils up to pH 7.4; AB-DTPA for alkaline soils outside Miami-Dade County.
In force from
Under review
Legal text
UF/IFAS Extension SL547/SS763, How to Read Reports from the UF/IFAS Extension Soil Testing Laboratory

The wording in the source

Timing

  • It is recommended that soil be tested for pH at least once a year, if not every growing season, to ensure that the soil pH remains within the range for the crop/plant/grass species being grown.

    Section 2, Soil and Buffer pH

Area per sample

  • One sample represents an area that is uniform in management and topography, typically up to 40 acres of a field section in commercial agriculture.

    Soil Sampling

Method

  • For areas with different features and characteristics, separate samples should be collected and then submitted to the lab with appropriate identification.

    Soil Sampling

Depth

  • Soil sampling depth should be the top 6 inches for most agronomic and residential applications or 3 to 4 inches for maintenance of frequently mowed lawn or turf.

    Soil Sampling

Cores

  • Soils vary from spot to spot, so each sampled area is best represented by a composite sample collected from 8 to 15 locations.

    Soil Sampling

Laboratory and analysis

  • All mineral (e.g., sandy) soils with water pH up to 7.4 and all samples from Miami-Dade County with a soil pH of up to 8.2 are extracted using the Mehlich-3 extraction procedure.

    Section 3, Extractable Nutrient Test Values

  • Alkaline soils (soil pH >7.4) from all other counties are currently being extracted by a procedure called Ammonium-bicarbonate-DTPA (AB-DTPA method)

    Section 3

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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