Guidelines for Submitting Samples to the Agricultural Service Laboratory

Submit all Plant Problem Clinic and Nematode samples to this address:

Plant Problem Clinic & Nematode Assay Laboratory
511 Westinghouse Road, Pendleton, SC  29670

Submit all Soil, Feed and Forage, Animal Waste, Plant Tissue, and Irrigation Water samples to this address:

Agricultural Service Laboratory
171 Old Cherry Road, Clemson, SC  29634

Use the lab supplies for submitting all samples.

Go to http://www.clemson.edu/agsrvlb/ for a list of lab supplies.
Horry and Marion counties must use proper bags for all samples to contain witch weed.

Soil Samples:  Individual soil bags must be filled to the fill to line with soil.  Label the bag with the sample number, name and address information, and crop.  Make sure sample matches with form.  Make sure to include account number, soil code, crop codes, and desired analyses on form.  Fill shipping box completely with individual samples so the bags won’t move around during shipping.  Use newspaper if needed to fill empty spaces.  Double-check and make sure the forms in the shipping box match the samples.
Go to http://virtual.clemson.edu/groups/agsrvlb/soil%20sampling.htm for more details.

Plant Tissue Sample for Nutrient Analysis:  Submit clean undamaged leaf tissue in a paper bag.  Submit at least a half a lunch bag full of tissue.  (Submit at least 25 large petioles or 50 small petioles for NO3-N analysis).  Label bag and make sure form matches with sample.  Be sure to include account, crop code, and desired analysis on form.|
Go to http://virtual.clemson.edu/groups/agsrvlb/Plant%20Tissue%20Sampling%20Guidelines.htm for more details.

Feed and Forage Samples:  Submit about a quart of sample in a plastic bag.  Mailers containing bags and forms are available.  Make sure form matches bag.  Be sure to include account, animal type, feed type, and analyses desired on the form.
Go to http://virtual.clemson.edu/groups/agsrvlb/submittingfeedsamples.htm for more details.

Irrigation Water Samples:  Submit about a pint of water in a plastic bottle.  Plastic drink bottles work best for this.  Fill bottle completely.  Make sure form matches with sample.  Be sure to include account and analyses desired on the form.
Go to http://virtual.clemson.edu/groups/agsrvlb/samplingwater.htm for more details.

Animal Waste Samples: Bags and bottles are available for use for solid and liquid waste samples.  Our lab bags must be used for submitting solid samples to the lab.  Do not use any other bags for submitting solid waste samples.  About a cup of liquid is required for liquid samples.  Make sure forms match samples.  Be sure to include account, manure type, storage, and analyses desired on the form.
Go to http://virtual.clemson.edu/groups/agsrvlb/submittingwaste.htm for more details.

Nematode Samples:  Soil for nematode assays should be neither too wet nor too dry. Do not allow the soil to become overheated or dry out. Place a pint, i.e. 2 cups, of soil in the sample bags provided, and label each sample.   Separate soil samples from both affected and non-affected locations will give a better indication of population distributions in a field, but aren't absolutely necessary.  Limit the weight of sample boxes to 20 - 30 pounds.

Plant Problem Clinic Samples:  Clinic samples for plant problem diagnosis or plant identification should be submitted in plastic bags without adding any additional moisture.  For plant identifications, submit an entire branch or stem and include flowers or fruits, if present. For plant problems, select as much recently affected plant tissue as possible.  If plants are exhibiting wilting, yellowing and general decline, submit the entire plant, if possible.  If not, a handful of fine feeder roots should be collected from around the affected plant(s) and submitted in a separate plastic bag from the aboveground sample.  Fruits and other fleshy organs should be wrapped dry paper prior to being placed in a plastic bag.  Often, such samples can be wrapped and placed in a box, without a plastic bag. Insects to be identified should be placed in vials and enough rubbing alcohol added to fill the vial.  Send all samples in crush proof containers with enough packing material to prevent sample damage during shipment.

Page maintained by: LeAnn Carver, leannc@clemson.edu