University Park, PA—While many universities are cutting back on analytical services offered to practitioners, Penn State is expanding. Beginning this year, the Penn State Agricultural Analytical Services Lab will offer testing of turfgrass irrigation water. Free mailers for submitting your samples are available from the laboratory or from many county offices of the Penn State Cooperative Extension. Alternatively, you may submit a water sample (1 pint) in your own plastic container along with an irrigation water submission form. Payment must be submitted with sample. Please follow sampling procedures provided with the irrigation water test kit instructions.
Two irrigation water test packages are available; a basic and a complete package. The basic package costs $35, and includes pH, total alkalinity, bicarbonates, carbonates, residual sodium carbonate, hardness, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, calcium, magnesium, sodium, sodium absorption ratio, chloride, and boron. The complete package is offered for $55, and includes pH, total alkalinity, bicarbonates, carbonates, residual sodium carbonate, hardness, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, calcium, magnesium, sodium, sodium absorption ratio, chloride, boron, nitrate-nitrogen, ammonium-nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, iron, manganese, copper, molybdenum, and zinc.
For more information on the turfgrass irrigation water testing program, contact Dr. Pete Landschoot at pjl1@psu.edu.