Remember when you needed expensive equipment just to know what’s happening in your soil? Well now that same device you use to scroll social media and read the news can analyze soil health with lab-quality precision.
The Science Behind Your Pocket Soil Lab
Your smartphone possesses something laboratories have relied on for decades: sophisticated optical sensors and powerful processing capabilities. Modern smartphones can detect color variations, light intensity, and chemical reactions through their cameras and built-in sensors. When paired with the right testing reagents and apps, these everyday devices transform into legitimate soil analysis tools.
The principle is surprisingly straightforward. Soil samples react with specific chemical reagents, producing color changes that correspond to different nutrient levels, pH values, or biological activity. Your phone’s camera captures these color variations, while specialized algorithms interpret the data and provide instant results.
What Your Mobile Soil Lab Can Actually Measure
You might wonder what kind of soil data you can realistically expect from smartphone-based testing. The capabilities are more extensive than you’d think:
Real-Time Results That Actually Matter
The game-changer isn’t just the technology—it’s the speed. Traditional soil testing means collecting samples, shipping them to a lab, and waiting days or weeks for results. And by then, growing conditions and microbial communities may have changed completely. Smartphone-based soil lab technology delivers results in minutes, not days. This real-time capability transforms how you can manage your soil health. And the microBIOMETER® can help you do just that.
Notice your tomatoes looking yellow in mid-July? Test the soil immediately and adjust your fertilization strategy that same afternoon. Planning fall amendments for your lawn in Texas? Test multiple spots across your property in a single morning and create a targeted improvement plan.
Getting Started: Your First Mobile Soil Analysis
Setting up your smartphone as a soil lab is simpler than you might expect. The microBIOMETER® includes testing reagents, measuring tools, and a smartphone app that guide you through the entire process step by step. You’ll collect a representative soil sample, mix it with the provided reagents, and use your smartphone’s camera to capture the resulting color changes. The app then analyzes the images and provides detailed reports about your soil’s condition. The testing process is quick and you can see results in 20 minutes.
The Technology Revolution Happening Now
All-in-one smartphone-based devices are becoming preferable for agricultural soil analysis, enabling users to complete self-assessments about soil quality and receive performance reports with actionable insights.
The implications extend far beyond individual gardeners. Extension services at universities across the United States are incorporating smartphone soil testing into their educational programs. Community gardens in both rural and urban areas are using these tools to optimize their growing strategies and share soil health data among members.
Imagine this: The earthy scent of microbes breaking down leaves in the soil fills the air. Your harvest is complete, the season is winding down, and you’re likely looking forward to a well‑deserved break. But before you prepare for winter, seize the opportunity to assess the health of the microbes in your soil. It will pay off next spring! Testing microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and fungal-to-bacterial (F: B) ratios during autumn sets the stage for healthier, more resilient soils next spring. This proactive step is in your hands, and it’s a crucial one.
Here’s why autumn is the sweet spot for measuring soil biology:
1. Post-harvest tests show the real impact of your management
Sampling during autumn captures the “end-of-season report card” for your soil. It reflects how crops and cover crop management shaped microbial life through the growing season. Studies by Cornell University show post-harvest data shows differences between treatments, with diverse cover rotations supporting higher microbial activity compared to standard fallow fields. In other words, autumn tests provide a clear picture of how your decisions paid off biologically.
2. Results guide action plans for the winter
Nebraska Extension notes that low MBC signals low biological activity and carbon availability—exactly the type of challenge that can be addressed when you act ahead of spring. Autumn is your window to respond before soils go quiet in winter. If MBC trends low, you can jumpstart recovery with practices like:
3. Amendments need time to work
If you know your soil is acidic and requires lime, autumn or manure additions, autumn is the best time to make applications and alterations to the microbial ecosystem. Amending now gives the soil several quiet winter months to equilibrate, ensuring pH is in the right range for nutrient availability and microbial activity by the time you plant again.
4. Fall testing builds valuable trend data year over year
Soil health is about direction, not just snapshots. Measuring MBC and F: B ratios every autumn lets you to track whether regenerative practices are truly building biology year after year. That trendline is powerful for farmers, researchers, and anyone looking to prove results.
Final Takeaway: Think of fall microbial testing during autumn as giving your soil a health check before it goes to sleep. You’ll capture a clear understanding of how the season’s management impacts microbes and receive the insights you need to act. When spring rolls around, and microbial life ramps up, you’ll be ready with soils that are biologically prepared for partnering with plants in helping them grow.
Successful composting depends on understanding the microbial life within your compost pile. This is where soil testing kits become invaluable tools for gardeners and farmers alike. Modern testing technology allows you to analyze your compost’s biological activity with scientific precision, ensuring you create nutrient-rich amendments for your soil.
Understanding Compost Biology
The foundation of excellent compost lies in its microbial ecosystem. Billions of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms work together to break down organic matter into valuable nutrients. These microscopic workers determine whether your compost becomes a powerhouse of plant nutrition or simply decayed organic matter with limited benefits. Bacterial populations typically dominate the early stages of composting, breaking down simple compounds like sugars and proteins. As the process continues, fungal networks develop to tackle more complex materials such as cellulose and lignin. The balance between these microbial communities directly affects the quality and effectiveness of your finished compost.
The Science of Compost Testing
Traditional methods of evaluating compost quality relied heavily on visual inspection, smell tests, and temperature monitoring. While these indicators provide useful information, they cannot reveal the true biological potential of your compost. Modern soil testing kits offer scientific analysis that goes beyond surface observations. Microbial biomass testing measures the total amount of living microorganisms in your compost sample. This measurement indicates the biological activity level and helps predict how effectively the compost will benefit your soil. The fungal-to-bacterial ratio represents another critical measurement that influences how compost affects different types of plants. Vegetables and annual crops typically prefer bacterial-dominated compost, while trees, shrubs, and perennial plants benefit from fungal-dominated amendments. Understanding these ratios helps you tailor your compost for specific garden applications.
microBIOMETER® Technology Advantages
The microBIOMETER® advanced testing platform system brings quality analysis to home composters and small-scale farmers. These tools eliminate guesswork by providing quantitative data about microbial populations in compost samples. The testing process involves extracting microorganisms from compost samples and analyzing the color intensity of the solution using specialized reagents, measurement cards, and the microBIOMETER® app. Results appear within minutes, allowing you to make immediate adjustments to your composting process if needed. This standardized approach ensures reliable results that you can track over time to monitor improvements in your composting methods.
Conclusion
Regular testing throughout the composting process helps identify optimal harvest timing. Compost that appears finished may still contain high levels of bacterial activity, indicating continued decomposition. Investing in soil testing kits transforms composting from an art into a science-based practice. Understanding the microbial life in your compost empowers you to create consistently high-quality amendments that maximize plant health and soil fertility. Modern testing technology makes this level of analysis accessible to gardeners at every skill level, building confidence in composting success.
Prolific Earth Sciences is excited to announce the release of microBIOMETER® PRO. This extensive update has been three years in the making and features improved precision, increased consistency between phones, advanced nutrient metrics and sample geolocating. Please update your microBIOMETER® Reader app to 3.8.6 to access the PRO version.
What’s NEW!
• Test card. We redesigned the test card to reduce variance in results between phone models and better adjust for different lighting.
• Results. The results are now expressed as microbial biomass instead of microbial carbon.
• Moisture: We have changed the moisture assumption in our algorithm from 40% to 20% which is more in line with average soils. We also added a feature to allow users to adjust the moisture assumption to reflect soils with moisture contents closer to 10% or 30%. Moisture assumption for compost testing remains at 40%
• Geolocation: This new feature allows users to save the location where their sample was collected and perform the test at a later time while keeping the recorded sample location.
• Advanced Nutrient Metrics: As an understanding of how microbes contribute to nutrient availability increases, we have added calculated metrics to help users understand how their soil microbes are contributing to nitrogen and carbon stores in the soil. These are results extrapolated from microBIOMETER® results and the calculation and assumptions are detailed in the app informational pop-ups and our website FAQs.
• Soil and Compost: The PRO version will test both soil and compost, however, will no longer support direct testing of compost tea or extract.
With the exception of the test cards, all the supplies as well as the instructions will remain the same whether using the Classic or PRO version. The updated app will prompt you to choose a version so you can still use the classic test cards. We will also be selling Classic cards in refills for the foreseeable future. However, all new Starter Kit purchases will now be the PRO version only and contain the new test cards. For customers with ongoing trials, you may want to continue with the Classic test cards to track changes based on historical benchmarked tests.
In the updated app, we have made significant changes to units, underlying assumptions, and calculations. Therefore, we encourage users to continue with one version within a study or experiment since comparing the absolute values of the two is difficult. We have always encouraged using microBIOMETER® as a benchmark test and to focus on the changes over time. We will continue to supply the microBIOMETER® Classic test cards so that ongoing studies and trials can continue. However, we strongly recommend using the PRO version for all new testing and studies.
We would like to thank all of our customers that have given us feedback over the years. Your comments, both good and bad, have helped us improve the microBIOMETER®. Please keep sharing! And as always, we appreciate your continued support.
Bucknell University is a private liberal arts college in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania with excellent research facilities and innovative teaching. Students get the opportunity to work closely with professors in their chosen field.
Students in the Biology 203, Integrative Concepts in Biology, laboratory have a unit all about soil. The students visit the Bucknell Farm to learn about the properties of healthy soil. They then pick a location on campus to study. Students study the health of the soil in different conditions, such as soil with native flowers growing compared to soil under a tree. They measure microbial biomass, soil respiration rate, and various other soil properties to determine the overall health of the soil.
“The microBIOMETER® test allows students to quickly and easily measure microbial biomass and the relative amounts of bacteria and fungi in the soil. It is easy to use for non-experts with very quick results! We have measured huge differences in the microbial biomass at locations across Bucknell’s campus and have been surprised to have very high levels of biomass in the grassy areas, too!” – Rebekah Stevenson, Director of Core Course Laboratories – Biology Department
American BioChar Company is a Michigan-based company run by longtime green industry couple, Mark & Laurie Mann. For more than two decades, they have been researching and developing programs and products to improve soils, root conditions, and plant growth in urban, rural, and agricultural landscapes.
Over the last 3 years, they have conducted trials on blueberry farms in SW Michigan, using the microBIOMETER® and other soil-metric tests. The trials compared soils of blueberry bushes treated with their VITAL Blend soil amendment to those with untreated soil. Data was collected in the spring, summer and fall each year to demonstrate the natural ebb & flow of microbe communities in soils. Not only does the data show the steady increase of soil microbial biomass, but overall the trial sites have improved soil structure and more nutrient dense crops.
“The biggest impact we have in using the microBIOMETER® is demonstrating the successful transformation within the soil, following applications of our different biochar blended soil amendments. It provides confidence in our product and helps move the client conversation toward the biological benefits of our product. When a client is able to see and track the fungal to bacterial ratio for their soil overtime, it is very empowering.”
American BioChar is also undergoing several other trials throughout the mid-west with corn, cannabis, soybeans, and tree rhizospheres, using both their VITAL Blend and their new GRATEFUL Blend living soil. As both blends provide active and fixed carbon to soil, these trials were aimed to enhance and increase soil biology and restore nutrient density. Pre- and post- application photos can show how these products improved overall crop production.
Recently, Laurie Mann and microBIOMETER® president Laura Decker participated in Heart & Soil Magazine‘s Soil Summit discussing “How to Increase the Speed of Microbe Growth”. Click here to watch!
Gurpreet Kaur, a PhD student with the Nutrient Management Spear Program (NMSP) at Cornell University, has been working with microBIOMETER® soil testing kits to evaluate the impact of dairy manure application and field history on soil health and yield in corn fields in New York.
This project is part of a larger “New York Value of Manure Study” funded by New York Farm Viability Institute (NYFVI) and Northern New York Agricultural Development Program (NNYADP).
With support from the Toward Sustainability Foundation and microBIOMETER®, soil health assessments were done for three trials in 2023. The team selected three fields, differing in manure history from no manure history to yearly applications, and took soil samples at three different timesteps during the growing season. Among other measurements, Kaur is valuating microbial biomass and fungal to bacterial ratios using the microBIOMETER® test kit. Preliminary results obtained to date show the impact of field manure history on microbial biomass. As part of the project, several Cornell University undergraduate students are learning how to conduct the microBIOMETER® test as well.
There are many soil tests on the market so it can be difficult for farmers to ascertain whether or not they’re choosing the right one. The truth is, there are pros and cons to every soil test. Therefore it boils down to finding which ones align best with your farming goals and which are easily and readily available to you without needing to stretch your resources too much.
Since microBIOMETER® is a relatively new soil test on the market, a lot of questions are raised on how this test is different from other commonly used soil indicators such as the Haney Soil Test and PLFA test. While all three are soil biological health tests, their methodologies are very different and the tests measure different parameters.
The microBIOMETER® is an on-site soil test that measures the microbial biomass and fungal to bacterial ratio of living and dormant bacteria and fungi. The test process works by measuring the color intensity of the microbial solution created and comparing the color to the test card comparator. This patented, colorimetric analysis process is generated through our microBIOMETER® Reader App and produces results within 25 minutes of starting the testing process. Test prices range from $13.50/sample to $6.75/sample. The low cost, rapid result detection, and on-site testing of living soil are what makes this test stand out against others. The microBIOMETER® has a slightly limited scope, however, as it’s only able to measure the overall biomass of fungi and bacteria. It does not differentiate between microbial species nor does it measure any other parameters.
The Haney Soil Test is a lab test that focuses on assessing a variety of soil parameters such as pH, microbial biomass, water extractable organic carbon and nitrogen, soil respiration, and inorganic plant available nutrients such as NPK. This test uses multiple methods in order to obtain results, including the Solvita CO2 Burst test to indicate soil microbial respiration and biomass, and the use of unique soil extracts to determine organic and inorganic nutrient availability. While this test offers a large array of soil parameters, there is controversy in the science community about using the Solvita CO2 Burst test methodology as a way of accurately predicting microbial biomass. This is because the soil is dried then rewetted to trigger a release of CO2 to measure microbial activity. Drying soil decreases microbial biomass, and while rewetting it will increase biomass again, it doesn’t necessarily repopulate back to the original microbial composition. The Haney Soil test is offered at several labs throughout the country and recommendations are included with results. Generally, this lab test costs about $50/sample and takes about 3-4 weeks to receive results.
The PLFA Soil Test is a lab-based technique that analyzes phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA), which are found in the cell membranes of living organisms, to determine an estimation of living microbial biomass, fungal to bacterial ratio, and to identify the general presence or absence of microbial functional groups in bacteria, fungi, and protozoa. For this test, labs first dry the soil overnight then use multiple solvents to extract fatty acids from the sample. Then, mass spectrometry is used to identify the sample’s microbial composition based on specific PLFA biomarkers. This testing process takes a few days to complete and generally costs about $60/sample depending on the lab. It is one of the most utilized testing methods since it gained popularity in the late 80’s. Since then, it was discovered that some of the PLFA biomarkers used for identification aren’t limited to one microbial group, therefore making it difficult to determine the accuracy of some results.
The value of each of these tests is to determine a baseline assessment of your soil health. The information obtained from any of these tests will help you gain a better and more rounded understanding of what’s happening in your soil.
Kenley Mitchell, a 5th grader at Sargent Elementary School, utilized microBIOMETER® in her science fair project titled “Getting Dirty: Does Soil Affect a Dog’s Microbiome?” Kenley won first prize in her category and received the overall best project award for the San Luis Valley Regional in Alamosa, CO!
Project Abstract:
For my project, I tested a dog’s microbiome and compared it to the health of the dog’s soil. I also looked at the time the dog spends in the soil. I ran two samples. The first sample was a stool sample. The second sample was a soil sample. Both were taken at the same time. I tested dogs that are in the city vs. country dogs. I found out that farm dogs have a healthier microbiome, but city dogs have healthier soil. The farm dogs’ average microbial biomass in the soil is 221.0 ug C/g. The city dogs’ average microbial biomass in the soil is 273.4 ug C/g. Farm dogs average for F% is 20%. City dogs average for F% is 32%. Farm dogs average for B% is 80%. City dogs average for B% is 68%. The farm dogs were outside in the soil for longer periods of time. The farm dogs might be healthier due to spending more time in the soil.
Francis Lawton an 8th grader at St. Timothy School in Los Angeles, CA utilized microBIOMETER® in his science fair project titled “The Effect of Greywater on Plant Growth, Soil Microbial Biomass Carbon, and Soil Fungi to Bacteria Ratio. Francis took first prize at the fair and moved on to the Los Angeles County Science & Engineering Fair where he placed 3rd in his category of Ecology. He also received a special award from USAID (U.S. Agency for International Development). Francis then took part in the California State Science & Engineering Fair in the category of Earth & Environment (Air/Water) and placed 2nd!
Have a science fair project coming up and would like to incorporate microBIOMETER®? Please contact us!
Project Abstract:
This project was designed to find out if greywater and treated greywater can safely hydrate plants, and promote plant growth, just as well as tap water. I live in drought-prone California and it’s important to find different ways of conserving water. My experiment tested the watering of grass pots with three different types of water (independent variable): Tap water, Greywater, and Greywater treated with Activated Charcoal. Over the course of 8 weeks, I measured plant growth, soil Microbial Biomass Carbon (MBC) levels and soil Fungi to Bacteria (F:B) ratio (dependent variables). Many controlled variables ensured a valid experiment. I hypothesized that each of the water types would result in the same growth rate, soil MBC and soil F:B ratio. My hypothesis, however, was incorrect. Greywater resulted in stunted growth and spiked the F:B soil ratio so high that the pot sprouted 13 fungi heads. Tap water and Treated Greywater, however, were equally good in terms of healthy plant growth and both pots had the two best average F:B ratios closest to 1:1 (which is the best ratio for grasses). Neither of these pots produced fungi. Soil carbon levels (MBC) fluctuated for all three plants, however each plant maintained an “Excellent” level. This indicated that each water type was fine for watering grass if you don’t mind stunted grass growth and some fungi in your lawn. My experiment also proved that Activated Charcoal effectively “adsorbs” chemicals in greywater that alter a soil’s F:B ratio.
