Rhode Island: Soil labs by state

Rhode Island’s official homeowner soil-testing path is through the University of Rhode Island (URI) Cooperative Extension’s Gardening Information and Soil Testing (GIST) service, not a separate state agriculture lab. URI’s current page says residents can use statewide GIST events, campus drop-off, or mail samples to Kingston, and URI directs people needing full nutrient or heavy-metal analysis to UConn or UMass labs. ([web.uri.edu](https://web.uri.edu/coopext/services/gist/))

Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.

Official resources in Rhode Island

URI Cooperative Extension — Gardening Information and Soil Testing (GIST)

Official URI page for Rhode Island homeowner soil testing, including sample collection, drop-off, mail-in instructions, and statewide event schedule. ([web.uri.edu](https://web.uri.edu/coopext/services/gist/))

URI Soil Test Form

Official form that tells residents to bring or mail the sample and form to URIMGP Soil Testing in Kingston. ([web.uri.edu](https://web.uri.edu/coopext/wp-content/uploads/sites/2042/Soil-Test-Report-Form_02.14.24_FINAL-one-page.pdf))

URI Cooperative Extension Contact Us

Official statewide Extension contact page for Rhode Island residents; useful because URI appears to operate centrally from Kingston rather than through a county-office finder page. ([web.uri.edu](https://web.uri.edu/coopext/contact/?utm_source=openai))

Key facts for Rhode Island

URI’s GIST page says Rhode Island residents can submit samples three ways: statewide GIST events, Kingston campus drop-off, or mail-in submission. ([web.uri.edu](https://web.uri.edu/coopext/services/gist/))
Kingston drop-off hours published by URI are Monday–Friday, 10:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. ([web.uri.edu](https://web.uri.edu/coopext/services/gist/))
URI publishes the mail-in address as: URIMGP Soil Testing, 3 East Alumni Ave, Kingston, RI 02881. ([web.uri.edu](https://web.uri.edu/coopext/services/gist/))
URI says samples must be air-dried first because it cannot test wet soil. ([web.uri.edu](https://web.uri.edu/coopext/services/gist/))
The URI soil-testing service shown on the GIST page is free soil pH and texture testing; no routine nutrient-test fee is published there. ([web.uri.edu](https://web.uri.edu/coopext/services/gist/))
For deeper testing, URI officially points Rhode Islanders to the University of Connecticut and University of Massachusetts soil labs for in-depth analysis for a nominal fee. ([web.uri.edu](https://web.uri.edu/coopext/services/gist/))

What to do next

Dry about 1/2 cup of soil from the 4–6 inch root zone, bag it, label it, and include URI’s soil test form. ([web.uri.edu](https://web.uri.edu/coopext/services/gist/))
If you want local handling in Rhode Island, use a GIST event or the Kingston campus drop-off window; otherwise mail the sample to the published URI address. ([web.uri.edu](https://web.uri.edu/coopext/services/gist/))
To find Extension help in Rhode Island, start with URI Cooperative Extension’s statewide contact page; if you specifically need a county office finder, none was found on official Rhode Island Extension pages I located. ([web.uri.edu](https://web.uri.edu/coopext/contact/?utm_source=openai))

Helpful guides

Soil sampling planner →

Do you serve Rhode Island? Get a featured listing for $30/month, clearly labeled as a paid placement.