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Soil sampling requirements in Colorado

Soil sampling requirements in Colorado

State rules: 5 CCR 1002-81, Regulation No. 81, Animal Feeding Operations Control Regulation (Water Quality Control Commission). State guidance: Colorado State University Soil, Water and Plant Testing Laboratory, soil sampling instructions.

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

How often do you need to soil sample in Colorado?

How deep should soil samples be taken in Colorado?

How many cores go into one soil sample in Colorado?

Soil sampling rules in Colorado, with the exact wording of each source
Country / region Purpose / programme Time / frequency Area per sample Method Depth Cores Status and source
United States
ColoradoUnited StatesColorado only. Other states set their own rules.Soil tests on land that receives CAFO manure or wastewaterColorado Animal Feeding Operations Control Regulation (Regulation No. 81), facility management plan for non-permitted CAFOs
  • Repeat At least once a year for available nutrients, including nitrate-nitrogen
  • Repeat Top one foot for available phosphorus at least once every 5 years, or as section 81.6(2)(b)(v) sets for phosphorus transport risk reassessments
Not specifiedNot specifiedTop one foot for the available phosphorus test. No depth set for the annual test.Not specifiedConditional5 CCR 1002-81, official PDF, Colorado Secretary of State (version effective 31 July 2017)
Who it applies to, the exact wording and every source
Who it applies to
Operators of non-permitted CAFOs in Colorado, on land application sites for manure and wastewater, as part of the facility management plan.
Laboratory and analysis
Available nutrients including nitrate-nitrogen every year; available phosphorus every five years. Results are used to set manure and wastewater application rates.
In force from
Under review
Legal text
5 CCR 1002-81, Regulation No. 81, Animal Feeding Operations Control Regulation (Water Quality Control Commission), Section 81.6(2)(a)(ii)

The wording in the source

Timing

  • The soil of land application sites shall be sampled and analyzed a minimum of once annually for available nutrients, including nitrate-nitrogen.

    81.6(2)(a)(ii)(B)

  • The top one foot of soil of land application sites shall be sampled and analyzed for available phosphorus a minimum of once every five years, or as specified in section 81.6(2)(b)(v), below.

    81.6(2)(a)(ii)(C)

Depth

  • The top one foot of soil of land application sites shall be sampled and analyzed for available phosphorus

    81.6(2)(a)(ii)(C)

Who it applies to

  • The operator of a non-permitted CAFO shall compile and maintain on-site a facility management plan (FMP) that includes, to the extent applicable, the information specified in sections 81.6(1), 81.6(2), 81.6(3) and 81.6(4).

    81.6, opening

  • The operator of a non-permitted CAFO shall develop, document in the FMP and implement the following practices and procedures for land application sites by no later than February 27, 2009 or upon being defined as a CAFO.

    81.6(2)

Laboratory and analysis

  • Manure, wastewater, and soil shall be sampled and analyzed with the following frequency. The results of the analyses shall be used in determining application rates for manure and wastewater.

    81.6(2)(a)(ii)

  • a minimum of once annually for available nutrients, including nitrate-nitrogen.

    81.6(2)(a)(ii)(B)

Sources

Sources re-checked every two months, last update October 2026. Reviewed by GeoPard editorial team.
ColoradoUnited StatesColorado only. Other states set their own rules.Routine soil fertility samplingColorado State University Soil, Water and Plant Testing Laboratory, soil sampling instructionsNot specifiedNot specifiedSystematic or random sampling pattern. Separate samples for areas that differ in crop growth, soil color, or fertilizer and amendment history.Agricultural fields 0 to 8 inches10 to 15 subsamples per composite sampleOfficial guidanceCSU Soil, Water and Plant Testing Laboratory, Soil Sampling Instructions (PDF)
Who it applies to, the exact wording and every source
Who it applies to
Advice for Colorado fields, gardens and lawns from the Colorado State University soil testing laboratory, distributed through CSU Extension offices. Not law.
In force from
Under review
Legal text
Colorado State University Soil, Water and Plant Testing Laboratory, Soil Sampling Instructions (March 2026)

The wording in the source

Method

  • Use either a systematic or random sampling pattern to collect soil samples (Figure 2).

    Sample Collection

  • Submit a separate soil sample for any area that differs in crop growth, soil color, or fertilizer and amendment history.

    Sample Collection

Depth

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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