What tests can be conducted to know the elemental composistion of Soil?

Question

How can analyse the chemical composistion of soil collected from various enviorments?

Answer 1

Xray fluorescence will give you a breakdown of the elements and in their relative ratios.

However, depending on the quality of the instrument, you may not be able to see much below Cl (atomic number) so that's Hydrogen to Sulphur may not be seen.

EDIT

What this will not do is give you the compounds that are there.

For example, there will probably be some iron in the soil, but is it iron oxide, iron sulphate, ferric chloride (unlikely).