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Soil sampling requirements in Georgia

Soil sampling requirements in Georgia

State guidance: University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, Soil Test Handbook for Georgia.

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

How often do you need to soil sample in Georgia?

When in the year should soil be sampled in Georgia?

How many acres can one soil sample cover in Georgia?

How deep should soil samples be taken in Georgia?

How many cores go into one soil sample in Georgia?

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

University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, Soil Test Handbook for Georgia: A uniform 100-acre field needs at least 7 composite samples of no more than 15 acres each, and at least 70 cores in all, 10 per sample.

Samples and cores for any field size

Soil sampling rules in Georgia, with the exact wording of each source
Country / region Purpose / programme Time / frequency Area per sample Method Depth Cores Status and source
United States
GeorgiaUnited StatesGeorgia only. Other states set their own rules.Routine soil fertility samplingUniversity of Georgia Cooperative Extension, Soil Test Handbook for Georgia
  • Repeat Every 2 to 3 years in most situations. Every year for high-value cash crops, fields testing high in P and K with none applied, or over 150 lb N per acre a year.
  • Season One to six months before planting, at the same time each year
Most fields 5 to not more than 15 acres per sample. Smaller areas where soil, slope, drainage or management differ.Cores at random over the area. Precision methods sample field subsections by soil type, topography, or crop growth or yield maps.Plowed fields to plow depth (recommendations based on 6 inches for fertilizer, 8 inches for lime). Pastures and no-till 4 inches.A minimum of 10 to 20 cores per composite. Earlier sampling studies found 20 cores needed for a 20-acre field, 15 for 10 acres and 10 for 5 acres.Official guidanceUGA Cooperative Extension, Soil Test Handbook for Georgia (PDF)
Who it applies to, the exact wording and every source
Who it applies to
Advice for Georgia fields, pastures and orchards from University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. Not law.
In force from
Under review
Legal text
UGA Cooperative Extension Special Bulletin 62, Soil Test Handbook for Georgia

The wording in the source

Timing

  • For most situations soils need to be tested every 2 to 3 years.

    When to Sample

  • Annual sampling is recommended (1) on areas where high-value cash crops such as tobacco and vegetables are grown, (2) on areas testing high in P and K where no phosphate or potash is recommended and none is applied, and (3) on areas where the annual nitrogen application rate exceeds 150 pounds of N per acre.

    When to Sample

  • The best time to sample is one to six months prior to planting.

    When to Sample

  • It’s important, therefore, that samples be taken at the same time each year so results from year to year can be compared.

    When to Sample

Area per sample

  • For most field conditions the size may range from 5 to not more than 15 acres. Variations in soil types, slope, drainage, or past management may require that smaller areas be sampled, resulting in three or more composite samples per field.

    Size of Area to Sample, Traditional Methods

Method

  • The division of field areas that can be sampled separately is typically based on soil type, field topography, or crop growth or yield maps from the previous season.

    Size of Area to Sample, Precision Agriculture Methods

  • The cores should be taken at random over a section of the field or plot, and should be representative of the entire area.

    Number of Cores

Depth

Cores

  • It is recommended that a minimum of 10 to 20 cores be taken for a composite sample.

    Number of Cores

  • For example, 20 cores were required for a 20-acre field, 15 cores for a 10-acre field, and 10 cores for a 5-acre field.

    Number of Cores

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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