Soil Testing

Soil and Organic Certification Tests

Using the latest technology, Hill Labs offers a complete range of soil tests for evaluating fertility and soil health, as well as tests to meet organic certification requirements.

Hill Labs soil testing services allow measurement of the nutrient status of soil for a whole range of land-use purposes. Understanding the soil nutrient status is important regardless of whether you are a large-scale farming or horticultural operator, recreational turf or garden manager, or small lifestyle block owner. Our soil tests enable you to make sound management decisions for sustainable land use. We also have tests that are required to meet organic certification, as well as environmental soil tests to assess potential contamination.

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Agricultural and Horticultural Soil

Agricultural and horticultural soils are tested to measure the soil fertility and soil quality for monitoring fertiliser programmes and to assist with identifying nutrient deficiency or toxicity.

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Organic Farming

Like routine farm systems, organically farmed soils are tested to measure the soil quality & nutrient levels and can also be tested for contaminants.

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Contaminated Soil

Soil may become contaminated with a wide variety of chemicals, e.g. hydrocarbons, heavy metals, and pesticide residues to name a few.

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Earthworm eDNA in Soil

Earthworms are a crucial component of soil biology, and abundant earthworm populations are recognised as an indicator of healthy soil. Our new Earthworm eDNA test contributes to building a holistic understanding of your soil’s health. 

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Helpful links

Our team of testing experts has meticulously crafted these documents to offer recommendations tailored to your testing requirements.

Latest Stories

Staff Profile: Ester Woollaston - Championing Food Safety and Team Success

With nearly 10 years of experience, Section Manager for Water Microbiology, Ester Woollaston is passionate about public health and leads a busy lab. Learn more about Ester and her time at Hill Labs.
  30 Jun 2025

Expanding Our Dairy and Apiculture Services Through FSQSNZ Acquisition

Following our recent acquisitions of Food and Health Standards (FHS) and Auditing Solutions (AS), we’re excited to announce the next step in our growth journey: the acquisition of Food Safety Quality Solutions NZ (FSQSNZ Limited). This move, part of our joint venture with Sam Brooks, brings a trusted MPI-recognised agency into our fold, with over five years of combined experience in food safety and compliance. 
  24 Jun 2025

Hill Labs at Fieldays – A Look Through the Photo Album

The calendar is marked, and planning is well underway for the Southern Hemisphere’s largest agricultural event – Fieldays. This year marks Hill Labs' 27th year exhibiting at the event, a milestone that gives us a wonderful opportunity to flick through the archives and reflect on our journey and the various looks we've sported over the years.
  20 May 2025

What our customers have to say

"We've always found them to be responsive in getting results back and giving advice on problems we might be facing."

Andrew Hutchinson, Technical Manager, Turners & Growers

"We strongly recommend Hill Labs as a sound testing service provider to the honey industry."

Nick Walker, Technical Manager, Egmont Honey

"Their sample registration system has made things simple and seamless - collect, scan and send!"

Mathew Bannister, Compliance Manager, First Fresh New Zealand

Accreditations

As a New Zealand accredited laboratory by International Accreditation New Zealand (IANZ), Hill Labs' commitment to quality is tantamount to our overall operating philosophy. We pride ourselves on the quality of our work.