What Is Soil Analysis?

Soil analysis is crucial for ensuring the safety, viability, and profitability of any land-based project, whether it involves construction, agriculture, land sales, or environmental management. It measures key elements such as pH levels, organic matter, essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, soil texture (clay, silt, sand), and sometimes the presence of contaminants.

Why Conduct a Soil Analysis?

The primary reason for conducting a soil analysis is to confirm or rule out the presence of pollutants in the soil. Soil testing can be used to verify the safety, quality, and sustainability of a site, whether for businesses, municipalities, or private individuals.

Identify and Manage Soil Contaminants

Before launching a real estate project or selling land, key players need to make sure the soil is free of pollutants. A soil analysis can detect harmful substances such as hydrocarbons, heavy metals, or solvents, which may be traced to past industrial activity, buried tanks, or accidental spills.

If contamination is found, a soil analysis will help pinpoint affected zones and determine the most appropriate remediation method, either excavation or, in some cases, on-site treatment.

Protect Human Health and the Environment

Polluted soil isn’t always easily identifiable, but it can pose serious threats to human health and biodiversity. Toxic substances like pesticides can seep into groundwater, contaminate drinking water, or infiltrate crops.

By identifying these types of risks early, soil analysis makes it possible to take concrete action to protect ecosystems, reduce health risks for residents, and maintain a healthy living environment. It’s a responsible move, both for you and for future generations.

Optimize Soil Fertility

In agriculture, everything starts with the soil. By understanding its composition (nutrients, pH, organic matter, texture), it’s possible to make better decisions about fertilization. Soil analysis can help you adjust fertilizer doses, select the right soil amendments, and avoid nutrient imbalances that can hinder crop growth.

The result? Better yields, cost savings on inputs, and more sustainable land management. Soil analysis is proven to be an essential tool for both prevention and optimization.

Establish Safety for Construction

Before construction begins, it's crucial to confirm that the soil can adequately support the planned structure. This is the purpose of a geotechnical study. Often paired with an environmental analysis, this assessment evaluates the soil's load-bearing capacity and identifies any potential stability issues.

Inadequate soil assessment can lead to cracks, sinking, or even landslides, which will threaten the integrity of your building. A thorough soil analysis helps prevent these types of risks from the early planning stages.

Meet Legal Requirements and Ease Land Transactions

In many cases, particularly when selling or developing a high-risk property, environmental regulations mandate a two-phase site characterization. This is to make sure that there is no contamination that could compromise the land's value or its intended use.

In some cases, banks or other institutions may require a soil analysis before approving financing. It’s best to include this step early in the process to avoid legal delays or complications.

How does a soil analysis work ?

Now that you are familiar with the reasons for conducting a soil analysis, you may be wondering how it actually works.

Typically, a soil analysis is divided into four key phases. Each phase adds another layer of precision to the findings, offering deeper insight into the soil’s composition and potential contaminants. Note that not all phases are always necessary.

Phase 1: Preliminary or Historical Assessment

Phase 1 involves a site visit and data collection to assess the risk of soil contamination. Useful sources include photographs, geological and hydrological maps, studies, reports, interviews, and more.

The cost of this phase depends on factors like the site’s size, whether buildings are present, and local geological conditions.

Phase 2: Preliminary Environmental Characterization

Phase 2 is required if Phase 1 reveals contamination risks. Costs vary depending on the type of soil, the nature of suspected contaminants, and various environmental parameters.

This phase includes soil and groundwater sampling via drilling or exploratory wells, followed by lab testing. It helps confirm or refute the presence of contaminants, as well as identify their type and concentration.

Important: Don’t take samples right after applying fertilizer, manure, or lime. Wait 2–3 weeks. Also, wait about two weeks after the snow melts before collecting samples. Using only one sample for an entire site may lead to misleading results.

Phase 3: Supplemental Environmental Characterization

Phase 3 complements Phase 2 by adding further drilling and sampling to determine the full extent of the contamination, including volume and concentration. It also includes remediation planning.

The cost depends on the number of samples, soil type, and types of contaminants analyzed.

Phase 4: Soil Remediation or Decontamination

Phase 4 involves environmental remediation if contaminant levels exceed the legal thresholds set by environmental authorities.

Remediation may include excavation and transport of contaminated materials to accredited facilities, or in certain cases, on-site (in-situ) treatment.

Costs will vary depending on the contamination level, treatment method, types of pollutants, and distance to disposal sites.

What parameters are analyzed ?

Here is an overview of common parameters tested in a laboratory:

Parameter	Main Purpose
pH	Influences nutrient absorption by plants
Organic Matter	Improves water retention and supports microorganisms
Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium (NPK)	Essential for plant growth
Soil Texture	Affects drainage and load-bearing capacity
Contaminants	Ensures environmental and health safety

This information is vital for determining which actions to take, in what quantity, and within what time frame.

When should you perform a soil analysis ?

The best times to conduct a soil analysis include:

• Before starting a garden or planting beds
• Before building a home or greenhouse
• Before buying or selling a plot of land
• Every 3 to 5 years in agriculture to adjust farming practices

Spring and fall are ideal seasons for sampling, as soil is more workable and less affected by recent treatments.

EBI Enviro Urgence specializes in contaminated soil remediation

There are many reasons to conduct a soil analysis. If it proves that there is no contamination, then you will be able to rest easy. However, if a site contains a large or small quantity of hazardous materials, steps will need to be taken to decontaminate the land.

If that’s the case, EBI Enviro Urgence can help. We offer customized soil decontamination services that meet the requirements of the relevant authorities. Our services include extraction, transportation and disposal of contaminated soil.  

Contact us to find out more or request a quote!