Soil Testing

Soil Testing Services

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: Brad Stevens

With more than 25 years in the kiwifruit industry, Brad Stevens leads Hill Labs' Bay of Plenty Branch, overseeing kiwifruit sampling and maturity testing while supporting teams to deliver accurate, timely results.
  16 Nov 2026

Sap and Traditional Plant Nutrition Monitoring: Understanding the Opportunities and Limitations

As growers seek to improve fertiliser efficiency, optimise yields and build resilient production systems, attention is returning to ‘getting the fundamentals right’. The fundamentals are the core principles of nutrient management: understanding soil fertility, monitoring plant nutrient status and applying nutrients at the right rate, time and place.  
  02 Nov 2026

The Expertise Behind Reliable Residue Testing

Behind every pesticide residue test result is a team of experts helping ensure accuracy, reliability and confidence across the food supply chain. Meet some of our scientists whose knowledge, experience and innovation support Hill Labs' pesticide residue testing service and help deliver trusted results for growers, producers and exporters.
  29 Oct 2026

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.