Soil Testing & Analysis

STRI’s laboratory, based at our headquarters in Bingley, is recognised as one of the world’s leading evaluation centres for assessing soils for sports surfaces. STRI is only one of three laboratories outside the US to be accredited by A2LA (The American Association for Laboratory Accreditation) for putting green materials testing.

Having a detailed analysis of soil samples for sports turf construction, renovation and management provides vital input into the quality control and development of your sports surfaces.  We offer routine testing to help guide your sports turf management programmes and prevent potential problems and diagnostic testing to pinpoint chemical, biological or physical problems and provide potential solutions.

We offer testing services for all sports surfaces for:

• Construction Testing – our testing of the existing soils on site prior to construction can outline potential problems and determine what soils and other aggregates need to be imported. We also offer materials testing to ensure that only quality soils, sands and materials are selected for the construction of your sports turf.
• Particle Size Analysis – having properly sized sands and aggregates delivers effective drainage, water and nutrient retention in the soil; we provide a particle size analysis which can be used to approve or suggest modifications to your required materials.
• Organic Matter Content – organic matter levels are highly influential in determining the quality of soil structure, water infiltration rates, nutrient and water holding capacities of your sports turf; we can measure the organic matter content in your soil profile from core samples, providing you with percentage concentration at four depths within the soil’s profile. This gives you information on the levels present in your playing surface and whether there is a need to reduce organic matter to enhance the playing qualities on your sports turf.
• Nutrient Testing – we recommend routine nutrient testing to provide an additional insight into the condition of your sports turf and identify the cause of any turf stress. These tests often indicate problem areas that are not yet apparent in the turf and can help save you time and money by identifying and dealing with these before they cause any damage to your sports surfaces.
• Diagnostic Testing – our labs can provide a quick and accurate assessment to discover the cause of any problems on your sports turf and identify potential solutions. We evaluate the physical and chemical properties of your sports turf through core testing, which provides valuable information on the make-up of your turf.
• USGA Materials Testing for golf greens – we offer testing for each of the following individual elements or they can be tested as a complete set at a discounted cost; particle size analysis, saturated hydraulic conductivity, bulk density, total porosity, air-filled & capillary porosity, organic matter content levels and pH values.

We also offer further testing services in addition to those above. Contact us on +44 (0)1274 565131 or info@stri.co.uk to find out more about our STRI testing and laboratory services or click here for our list of testing services and costs.