How to test soil pH

How to test soil pH - Soil pH Testing

pH of soil can change significantly - from acidic in the coniferous forest or on peat bog, to basic on karst terrain. pH of the soil changes ability of plants to take nutrients from the ground, and some plants will not grow in acidic or basic soils perfect for other plants. Thus measurement of soil pH is very important.

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The soil pH can be test by a normal pH water testing meter via the following soil sample water solution preparation procedure:

Take a sample of the soil, crush any clumps, and close it in a jar filled with 5X distilled water. After some vigorous shaking sample should be left for 5 to 10 minutes to let all soluble substances to dissolve and to let all hard parts to sediment. Then pH of the solution above sediment is measured in a standard way and called "soil pH".

This procedure sounds pretty simple, and in fact it is not very difficult, however, it must be done carefully, if the results are to be reliable and comparable. Sample must be taken with a tool that will not influence final pH readings. Amount of soil sampled must be always the same. Amount of added water must be always the same. Time of shaking and time the sample is left to dissolve and to sediment must be always the same.

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Or the soil pH can be test direct by Milwaukee MI101 + MA918 meter.

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