Test & ID - Testing Available

The STRI is an American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) accredited laboratory for USGA Putting Green Materials Testing. For further information please contact Michael Baines (Laboratory Manager).

STRI carry out the following tests:

Tests Covered by the scope of A2LA accreditation

A2LA Certificate & Scope of Accreditation

Full USGA - A complete physical analysis of rootzone material. Including particle size analysis, saturated hydraulic conductivity, bulk density, total porosity, air-filled & capillary porosity, organic matter content by loss on ignition, shape and pH. (pH not within scope of accreditation).

USGA Design Mix - A USGA physical analysis of three laboratory prepared mixes to establish the optimum mixing ratio for a golf rootzone. Includes all tests listed in the full USGA analysis above.

Particle Size Analysis of Rootzones or Top Dressing Materials - Particle size distribution  with silt and clay content. With organic matter content by loss on ignition and sand shape.

Hydraulic Conductivity - Saturated hydraulic conductivity on rootzone mixes.

Hydraulic Conductivity with Porosity - Saturated hydraulic conductivity with bulk density, total porosity, air-filled & capillary porosity and organic matter content by loss on ignition.

Additional Test Procedures

Physical Analysis

Particle Size Analysis of Soil, Rootzones or Top Dressing Materials - Particle Size distribution with silt and clay content. With organic matter content by loss on ignition, textural classification and lime content.

Particle Size Analysis of Sand and Gravel -  Particle size distribution and lime content.

Organic Matter Content - By loss of ignition on soil, rootzone or topdressing mixes. This can also be carried out on in-situ cores from 4 depths. 

Hydraulic Conductivity - Saturated hydraulic conductivity on rootzone mixes.

Hydraulic Conductivity with Porosity - Saturated hydraulic conductivity with total porosity, air-filled & capillary porosity. 

Detailed Assessment of Particle Shape - A comprehensive assessment of particle shape for angular and sphericity, based on detailed sampling protocol.

Motty Test - A test for binding strength of cricket and tennis soils with shrinkage measurement.

Chemical Analysis

Routine Chemical Analysis - Analysis of samples of pH, extractable phosphate and potassium, calcium and extractable magnesium.

pH

Soil Salinity - Electrical conductivity of soil sample

Heavy Metal Analysis - Analysis of atomic absorption spectrophotometry of available Copper, Zinc, Lead, Nickel, and Cadmium.

Trace Elements Analysis - Analysis of atomic absorption spectrophotometry of available Iron, Manganese, Cooper and Zinc.

Analysis of Irrigation Water - Analysis of water sample for pH, alkalinity and salinity.

Growth/Germination Test - Testing Soil for plant toxic materials. 

Soil Sulphate - Analysis for plant available sulphate in soil.

Total Nitrogen - Kjeldahl digest for soil.

Carbon: Nitrogen Ratio - Dichromate oxidation of soil carbon provided indication of the availability of organic nitrogen.

Leaf N, P & K Analysis - Analysed of total leaf N, P & K concentrations by sulphuric acid digest.

Turfgrass Pests, Weeds and Diseases

Visual or Microscopic Identifaication of the Turfgrass Pests, Weeds and Disease.

More Complex Identification of turfgrass Disease (including Isolation and Culturing).

Turf Samples, Weeds and Botanical Tests

Appraisal of Turf Quality - Several Tests for the quality of turf are provided (contact for details).    

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If the laboratory does not receive a sample which is representative of the whole stockpile, misleading results may be obtained.  

Subscribers to the STRI (except Individual, Student and Publication categories) receive a 5% discount. For batches of more than 10 samples, 10% discount will be given to the total cost of the order.    

To send in your sample or obtain further information please contact us