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Soil sampling requirements in Maryland

Soil sampling requirements in Maryland

State rules: COMAR 15.20.08, Nutrient Management Regulations, and COMAR 15.20.07. State guidance: University of Maryland Extension soil sampling advice.

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

How often do you need to soil sample in Maryland?

When in the year should soil be sampled in Maryland?

How deep should soil samples be taken in Maryland?

How many cores go into one soil sample in Maryland?

Soil sampling rules in Maryland, with the exact wording of each source
Country / region Purpose / programme Time / frequency Area per sample Method Depth Cores Status and source
United States
MarylandUnited StatesMaryland only. Other states set their own rules.Soil analysis results in a nutrient management planMaryland Nutrient Management Program (Maryland Department of Agriculture)
  • Result valid Soil analysis results valid for 3 years, unless a documented exception applies
Not specifiedStandard soil sampling methods acceptable to the Department, per field or management unit. Documented variations: larger uniform fields or a crop rotation as one unit, combined strip-cropped fields, smaller units for specialized production.Not specifiedNot specifiedConditionalCOMAR 15.20.08.05, Required Plan Recommendations
Who it applies to, the exact wording and every source
Who it applies to
Agricultural operations with gross annual income of 2,500 dollars or more, or eight or more animal units, that use chemical fertilizer, animal manure or biosolids, for each field or management unit in the plan.
Outside the rule
The 3-year validity does not bind where documented: a new-technology management system needs less frequent analysis, no nutrient application is needed, or nutrients go on less than once every 3 years.
Laboratory and analysis
Standard soil analysis methods acceptable to the Maryland Department of Agriculture.
In force from
Under review
Legal text
COMAR 15.20.08, Nutrient Management Regulations, and COMAR 15.20.07, COMAR 15.20.08.05D; 15.20.07.05; 15.20.08.03B(2)

The wording in the source

Timing

  • Soil analysis results for a plan are valid for 3 years, except if the following conditions exist and are documented by the consultant or certified farm operator:

    COMAR 15.20.08.05D(3)

Method

  • Soil analysis results for each field or management unit shall be based on standard soil sampling and analysis methods acceptable to the Department.

    COMAR 15.20.08.05D(1)

  • Soil samples collected from larger fields or acreage with uniform characteristics, including soil types, moisture, or fertility management history; crop rotations may be sampled as one management unit;

    COMAR 15.20.08.05D(2)(a)

  • Soil samples from fields, such as those common to strip cropping, which may be combined if the soils, previous cropping history, and soil fertility management are similar; and

    COMAR 15.20.08.05D(2)(b)

  • Any specialized production unit which may warrant smaller sampling units.

    COMAR 15.20.08.05D(2)(c)

Who it applies to

Outside the rule

Laboratory and analysis

  • Soil analysis results for each field or management unit shall be based on standard soil sampling and analysis methods acceptable to the Department.

    COMAR 15.20.08.05D(1)

Sources

Sources re-checked every two months, last update October 2026. Reviewed by GeoPard editorial team.
MarylandUnited StatesMaryland only. Other states set their own rules.Routine soil fertility samplingUniversity of Maryland Extension soil sampling advice
  • Repeat At least once every three years, more often if possible
  • Season Consider the same month each round. Fall after harvest and before nutrient applications is recommended.
  • Wait At least six weeks after fertilizer or manure
Not specifiedSample each management unit separately, cores at random across the unit. Grid or zone sampling where it fits the farm.Fertility, cropland and pasture: 0 to 8 inches. Pasture and continuous no-till: a second 0 to 2 inch sample for pH only.At least 15 to 20 cores for units of about 20 acres or less. At least one per acre for 20 to 30 acres. Less than one per acre is acceptable above 40 acres.Official guidanceUniversity of Maryland Extension FS-1184 (PDF)
Who it applies to, the exact wording and every source
Who it applies to
Advice for Maryland fields from University of Maryland Extension. Not law.
Laboratory and analysis
A regional soil testing laboratory suitable for nutrient management planning in Maryland (UM-ANMP list).
In force from
Under review
Legal text
University of Maryland Extension FS-1184, Soil Sampling for Optimizing Agricultural Production in Maryland (November 2021)

The wording in the source

Timing

  • Soil samples should be collected at least once every three years, more often if possible.

    FS-1184, When to Sample, p. 1

  • For each new round of soil sampling, consider collecting samples in the same month of the year to reduce seasonal effects and associated variability.

    FS-1184, When to Sample, p. 1

  • sampling in the fall after harvest but before any nutrient applications is recommended.

    FS-1184, When to Sample, p. 1

  • Do not collect soil samples within a minimum of six weeks of fertilizer or manure applications to reduce the risk of more variable and non-representative results.

    FS-1184, When to Sample, p. 1

Method

  • Sample a management unit by pulling individual soil cores randomly throughout the entire management unit and mixing those cores into one sample for analysis.

    FS-1184, How to Sample, p. 3

  • Grid- or zone-based precision soil sampling may be appropriate when considering intended farm management, equipment capabilities, and field features.

    FS-1184, Where to Sample, p. 1

Depth

  • For soil fertility assessment of cropland and pasture fields and the Fall Soil Nitrate Test (FSNT), sample to a depth of 0 to 8 inches (see Figures 5 and 6).

    FS-1184, Soil Sampling Depth, p. 3

  • For pasture and continuous no-till cropland fields, a second sample to a depth of 0 to 2 inches is recommended to be taken and analyzed for pH only.

    FS-1184, Soil Sampling Depth, p. 3

Cores

  • Collect a minimum of 15 to 20 soil cores from field management units that are ~20 acres or less. At least one soil core per acre is recommended for management units that are 20 to 30 acres. A sampling intensity of less than one soil core per acre is acceptable for management units exceeding 40 acres.

    FS-1184, How to Sample, p. 3

Laboratory and analysis

  • A list of regional soil testing laboratories suitable for nutrient management planning in Maryland can be found at the University of Maryland Agricultural Nutrient Management Program’s (UM-ANMP) website.

    FS-1184, Sample Preparation, p. 4

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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