1.  Use a clean transfer pipette to add 10 ml of sterile water to a 15 ml culture tube. Label the tube “10⁰” along with the label from the soil sample being tested.

2. Use the same pipette to add 9 ml to a second 15 ml culture tube. Label the tube “10^-1" along with the label from the soil sample being tested.

3. Repeat step 2 one more time to 1 additional 15 ml culture tube, only label it "10^-2" along with the label from the soil sample being tested.

4. Place 1cc of the soil from the the sample you are testing into the “10⁰” cultured tube.

5. Cap the tube and shake vigorously.

6. Use a new clean pipette, remove 1 ml of the soil/water mixture from the “10⁰” tube and place into the “10^-1”

7. Cap and shake vigorously.

8.  Use the same pipette in step 6, remove 1 ml of the soil/water mixture from the “10^-1” tube and place into the “10^-2” tube.

9. Cap and shake vigorously

10. Plate 100 µl from each of the culture tube onto their own separate labeled petri plates containing nutrient agar.

11. Allow to grow for 48 to 72 hours.