On this page
- Which kind of soil testing lab should you open?
- What does a soil health card lab test?
- Is there a government scheme for soil testing labs?
- What tests does a construction soil testing lab do?
- What equipment does a soil testing lab need?
- How should a soil testing lab be laid out?
- What is the soil testing lab setup cost in India?
- How do you get NABL accreditation for a soil testing lab?
- Where Tanush LIMS fits
- Frequently asked questions
- Sources
To start a soil testing lab in India, first choose your scope: agricultural soil fertility, built around the 12 Soil Health Card parameters, or construction soil testing under IS 2720. Then plan the rooms, buy equipment for that scope, train staff, validate your methods and apply for NABL accreditation under ISO/IEC 17025.
This guide covers both kinds of lab: the tests, the equipment list, the government scheme for village-level labs, what drives the setup cost and the NABL route. Scheme figures are quoted from official documents with their dates, because they change.
Which kind of soil testing lab should you open?
Agricultural and construction soil labs share a name but little else. One is a chemistry lab serving farmers and agriculture departments; the other is a mechanical lab serving builders, highway projects and consultants.
| Agricultural soil lab | Construction (geotechnical) soil lab | |
|---|---|---|
| Customers | Farmers, FPOs, state agriculture departments, fertiliser companies | Builders, contractors, consultants, road and infrastructure projects |
| Main tests | pH, EC, organic carbon, N, P, K, S, micronutrients | Moisture, gradation, Atterberg limits, compaction, CBR, shear, consolidation |
| Reference methods | Methods Manual: Soil Testing in India (2011) | IS 2720 series |
| Key instruments | Spectrophotometer, flame photometer, AAS or ICP, Kjeldahl unit | Sieves, compaction moulds, CBR and loading frames, shear and consolidation apparatus |
| NABL discipline (NABL 120) | Chemical, product group "Soil and Rock" | Mechanical, product group "Soil and Rock" |
One lab can do both, but it then needs two sets of equipment, two kinds of staff competence and both disciplines on its NABL scope.
What does a soil health card lab test?
A soil health card lab tests 12 parameters. According to a February 2025 PIB backgrounder, these are N, P, K and S (macronutrients), Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn and B (micronutrients), and pH, EC and organic carbon.
The Department of Agriculture's Methods Manual: Soil Testing in India (January 2011) gives these methods:
| Parameter | Method in the 2011 manual | Instrument |
|---|---|---|
| pH | 1:2 soil to water (or CaCl2) suspension | pH meter |
| EC | 1:2 soil to water extract | Conductivity meter |
| Organic carbon | Walkley and Black wet oxidation | Burette titration |
| Available N | Alkaline permanganate (Subbiah and Asija) | Kjeldahl distillation unit |
| Available P | Bray No. 1 for acid soils, Olsen for neutral and alkaline soils | Spectrophotometer |
| Available K | Neutral 1 M ammonium acetate | Flame photometer |
| Available S | Monocalcium phosphate extraction, turbidimetric | Spectrophotometer |
| Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn | DTPA extraction (Lindsay and Norvell) | AAS |
| Boron | Hot water extraction, azomethine-H | Spectrophotometer |
The 2023 Citizen Charter on the Soil Health Card portal lists some different methods, such as Kjeldahl digestion for nitrogen and digestion followed by AAS for micronutrients. Before you write your SOPs, confirm with the state agriculture department or your customer which method it expects.
The 2011 manual also gives national fertility ratings, which it calls indicative:
| Parameter | Low | Medium | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Organic carbon (%) | Below 0.5 | 0.5 to 0.75 | Above 0.75 |
| Available N (kg/ha) | Below 280 | 280 to 560 | Above 560 |
| Available P, Olsen (kg/ha) | Below 10 | 10 to 24.6 | Above 24.6 |
| Available K (kg/ha) | Below 108 | 108 to 280 | Above 280 |
Is there a government scheme for soil testing labs?
Yes. The Soil Health Card scheme, launched on 19 February 2015 at Suratgarh, Rajasthan, was merged into the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) from 2022-23 as its "Soil Health and Fertility" component. Under it, the government supports Village Level Soil Testing Labs (VLSTL) run by entrepreneurs and groups.
The PM-RKVY operational guidelines (as on 14 November 2024) say:
- Assistance: "Rs.1.50 lakh" total project cost per VLSTL, shared 60:40 between the Centre and states (90:10 in North-Eastern and hilly states), with no beneficiary contribution required.
- Who can apply: individuals, FPOs, PACS, Agri-Clinics and Agri-Business Centres, agri-preneurs, ex-servicemen, SHGs, farmer producer companies, farmer co-operatives, input retailers and schools or colleges.
- Testing rate: the scheme norm is ₹300 per sample.
The VLSTL guidelines of June 2023 add detail:
- An individual entrepreneur should be 18 to 27 years old and 10th pass with science and computer knowledge. SHGs, FPOs and PACS can also enrol.
- Apply to the Deputy Director or District Agriculture Officer with your qualification certificate, PAN and Aadhaar.
- You need your own premises or a rented building with a lease of at least four years.
- The District Level Executive Committee, chaired by the District Collector, recommends; the State Level Executive Committee approves.
- The ₹1.50 lakh covers soil testing machinery, reagents, a shaker and one year's AMC (₹1.00 lakh), plus distilled water, pH meter, conductivity meter, balance, glassware and consumables (₹0.50 lakh).
States implement the scheme through their RKVY annual plans, so check the current terms with your district agriculture office before you invest. According to an August 2025 PIB backgrounder, there were 8,272 soil testing labs in February 2025: 1,068 static, 163 mobile, 6,376 mini and 665 village-level labs.
What tests does a construction soil testing lab do?
A soil testing lab for construction runs geotechnical tests from the IS 2720 series, "Methods of test for soils". These are the parts most labs start with, as listed on the BIS portal:
| IS 2720 part | Test |
|---|---|
| Part 2:1973 | Water content |
| Part 3 (Sections 1 and 2):1980 | Specific gravity |
| Part 4:1985 | Grain size analysis |
| Part 5:1985 | Liquid and plastic limits |
| Part 7:1980 | Compaction, light (standard Proctor) |
| Part 8:1983 | Compaction, heavy (modified Proctor) |
| Part 10:1991 | Unconfined compressive strength |
| Part 13:1986 | Direct shear |
| Part 15:1965 | Consolidation |
| Part 16:1987 | California bearing ratio (CBR) |
| Part 17:1986 | Permeability |
| Part 22:1972 | Organic matter |
| Part 27:1977 | Total soluble sulphates |
| Part 28:1974 | Field dry density, sand replacement |
| Part 29:1975 | Field dry density, core cutter |
| Part 40:1977 | Free swell index |
Several parts show a 2025 reaffirmation decision on the BIS portal. Check the current status of each part before you cite it in your NABL scope.
What equipment does a soil testing lab need?
The equipment list depends on the scope. Below is a soil testing lab equipment list by parameter group, drawn from the 2011 manual (Annexure 6), the PM-RKVY lab lists and the IS 2720 tests.
Agricultural soil lab equipment
| Group | Equipment |
|---|---|
| Sample preparation | Drying trays, grinder or pestle and mortar, 2 mm and 1 mm sieves, sample storage racks |
| General | Analytical and top-loading balances, hot air oven, hot plates, reciprocating shaker, centrifuge, distilled or demineralised water unit, fume hood |
| pH and EC | pH meter, conductivity meter |
| Organic carbon | Burettes, dispensers, glassware for titration |
| Nitrogen | Kjeldahl digestion and distillation assembly |
| P, S and B | UV-visible spectrophotometer or colorimeter |
| Potassium | Flame photometer |
| Micronutrients | Atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) or ICP |
| Records | Computer, barcode labels, GPS for sampling locations |
A village-level lab starts smaller. The VLSTL guidelines fund a basic testing kit, shaker, pH meter, conductivity meter, balance and glassware, and ICAR has validated several mini soil testing labs, such as the PUSA STFR meter.
Construction soil lab equipment
| Test group | Equipment |
|---|---|
| Moisture and specific gravity | Oven, balances, density bottles or pycnometers |
| Gradation | IS sieve set, sieve shaker, hydrometer and jars |
| Atterberg limits | Liquid limit device, grooving tools, plastic limit plate |
| Compaction | Light and heavy compaction moulds and rammers |
| Strength | CBR loading frame, unconfined compression tester, direct shear apparatus |
| Consolidation and permeability | Consolidometer, permeameter |
| Field density | Sand pouring cylinder, core cutter |
| Chemical | Glassware and balance for organic matter, sulphates and free swell |
How should a soil testing lab be laid out?
Keep dusty work away from instruments. The 2011 manual suggests five areas: sample reception, sample storage and preparation, nitrogen digestion and distillation under a fume hood, an instrument room, and a chemical analysis room. It recommends keeping lab air at 20 to 25 °C and humidity at about 50 percent.
A construction soil lab needs a sturdy floor and space for loading frames and compaction work, kept apart from the balances.
What is the soil testing lab setup cost in India?
The setup cost depends mainly on scope and instruments, so we don't quote a single figure. The main cost drivers are:
- The micronutrient instrument. An AAS or ICP is usually the largest purchase in an agricultural lab; the PM-RKVY guidelines allow ₹40 lakh for an AAS or ₹65 lakh for an ICP when strengthening a government lab.
- Loading equipment. CBR frames, shear and consolidation apparatus drive the cost of a construction lab.
- Building work: fume hoods, a dust-free instrument room, a stable power supply and water purification.
- Staff, and their training and competence records.
- Accreditation: NABL fees, proficiency testing, and calibration of balances, glassware and instruments.
- Consumables: reagents, reference materials and glassware breakage.
For scale, the government's own scheme allowances are ₹1.50 lakh for a village-level lab and ₹75 lakh per new static or mobile lab set up by state governments. These are scheme budgets from the PM-RKVY guidelines, not price quotes.
How do you get NABL accreditation for a soil testing lab?
A private soil testing lab is accredited by NABL against ISO/IEC 17025:2017, for each test on its scope. Under NABL 120, "Soil and Rock" is a product group in both the Chemical and Mechanical disciplines, so fertility and geotechnical tests sit on different parts of your scope.
NABL also runs NABL 226 (July 2024), a recognition scheme that "is applicable exclusively to government soil testing laboratories". It is based on proficiency testing and is not covered under the APAC and ILAC MRAs. The PM-RKVY guidelines say NABL accreditation or recognition of soil and fertiliser labs is mandatory and offer up to ₹1 lakh of support for it.
For the steps, documents and assessment, see our guide on how to get NABL accreditation and the ISO/IEC 17025 requirements checklist.
Where Tanush LIMS fits
Tanush LIMS includes a soil, compost and sludge group, with agricultural and industrial soil sample types. Agricultural soil results print on a soil health card layout with Low, Medium and High ratings. For example, an organic carbon titration by IS 2720 (Part 22) with FAS normality typed on the worksheet gives 0.65 %, which prints as "Medium". Soil has no pass/fail specification; it uses the rating scales.
The library also covers construction materials such as concrete cubes, cement, aggregates and bricks. Geotechnical tests your lab runs that are not in the library can be added as your own lab methods. Tanush sets the software up to your NABL scope, including an import of the scope from Excel. See Tanush LIMS or book a demo.
Frequently asked questions
How do I open a soil testing lab under the government scheme?
Apply for a Village Level Soil Testing Lab through your Deputy Director or District Agriculture Officer. The June 2023 guidelines ask for a qualification certificate, PAN, Aadhaar and premises you own or lease for at least four years. The district committee recommends and the state committee approves.
Who is eligible for a village level soil testing lab?
The PM-RKVY guidelines list individuals, FPOs, PACS, Agri-Clinics and Agri-Business Centres, agri-preneurs, ex-servicemen, SHGs, farmer co-operatives, input retailers and schools or colleges. The 2023 VLSTL guidelines set an age of 18 to 27 and 10th pass with science for individual entrepreneurs. States may apply their own conditions.
How many parameters are tested for a soil health card?
Twelve: N, P, K and S; zinc, iron, copper, manganese and boron; and pH, EC and organic carbon. Each result is rated so that the card can carry fertiliser recommendations.
Is NABL accreditation mandatory for a soil testing lab?
The PM-RKVY guidelines make NABL accreditation or recognition mandatory for soil and fertiliser labs under the scheme, and government labs can use NABL 226 recognition. For a private lab, check what your customers and tenders ask for, since many want results from an accredited lab.
Can one lab test both agricultural and construction soil?
Yes, but plan it as two labs under one roof. The equipment, staff skills and NABL disciplines differ, and dusty mechanical work should be kept away from chemical instruments.
What is the soil testing lab setup cost in India?
There is no single figure, because the cost depends on whether you buy an AAS or ICP, loading frames, building works and accreditation. A village-level lab under the scheme is supported up to ₹1.50 lakh, while a full fertility or geotechnical lab costs far more.
Sources
- Press Information Bureau, Celebrating a Decade of Soil Health Cards, 19 February 2025.
- Press Information Bureau, Soil Health Card: Over 25 Crore Soil Health Cards Distributed, 16 August 2025.
- Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, PM-RKVY Operational Guidelines (as on 14.11.2024), section B.4 and annexures.
- Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Guidelines for establishment of Village Level Soil Testing Labs (June 2023).
- Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Methods Manual: Soil Testing in India (January 2011).
- Soil Health Card portal, Citizen Charter for Soil Testing and Issue of Soil Health Card and list of mini soil labs validated by ICAR.
- Bureau of Indian Standards, IS 2720 series, BIS standards portal.
- NABL, NABL 120 Guidance for classification of product groups and NABL 226 Specific criteria to recognise government soil testing laboratories.