Soil pH Test

The pH value of the soil measures the acidity and alkalinity of the soil. The soil pH test helps you to know the amount of nutrients required by the plants and the type of plant you can grow in a particular soil. Most plants prefer soil with a pH of 6.5 to 7.2, as this is a good pH condition for a healthy thriving of a plant. Plants like the rhododendrons love to grow in acidic soil conditions, with the presence of sufficient amount of iron in the soil. Testing the pH of the soil helps to check the presence of major and minor nutrients that the plants require. It can help in ascertaining the lack of any nutrient in the soil. Loss of nutrients will prove fatal for the plants. You can add fertilizers in the form of the nutrients to build up a healthy growth for the plants.

Testing Kits

Soil pH testing kits are commonly available in many nurseries and hardware stores. You can get the pH of the soil checked from any good garden center. These kits comprise a test tube, a testing solution and a color chart. Take a little quantity of the required soil sample and put it inside the test tube, then add few drops of the given test solution in the test tube. Shake the test tube thoroughly and keep it aside for about an hour so that the mixture settles. After one hour, you will notice that there is a change in the color of the solution. The change in color shows the pH level of the soil. Now, by the help of the given color chart, you can compare the solution color, with the color on the chart. The color which matches with the solution color, gives you the pH value of the soil.

Soil Testing Methods

It is always recommended to test the soil from a local laboratory, as the local people have good knowledge of the local soil. Soil testing is mostly done to check the presence of certain factors, such as availability of the essential nutrients in the soil, testing the moisture content and organic matter in the soil and also, to check the presence of contamination in the soil. The pH testing procedure, includes the following methods.

First Method
Collect some soil sample from the garden and pour it in a container. To that, add half cup of vinegar and observe the reaction. If the mixture becomes bubbly or frothy, then the nature of the soil is alkaline. If there is no reaction, again scoop out some soil and add half cup of water to it. Add little amount of baking soda to the soil and water mixture. If still it does not fizz, then the nature of the soil is acidic.

Second Method
Make a muddy pool by digging two inches deep in the ground and cover it with distilled water. You can buy a test probe and clean it with a tissue paper. Introduce the test probe in the hole, and hold it for one minute. Take out the test probe and check the readings, after one minute. The test probe may show you a reading of above 7 or below 7, which can be found out from the markings on the test probe. Acidic soil can be identified with below pH 7 levels, while alkaline soil is indicated with above pH 7 levels. A neutral pH is identified, if the reading is exact 7.

Third Method
Scoop out some soil from various regions of your garden and mix it uniformly. Take a newspaper and disperse the soil, and wait till it completely dries out. Then, take half a cup of the mixed soil in a container and add distilled water to it. Mix it thoroughly and leave the mixture aside for settling down the soil particles. Check the acidity and alkalinity of the soil by dipping a litmus paper in the top water portion of the mixture. A red color change in the litmus paper indicates acidic soil, while blue color change represents alkaline soil.

Checking the pH of the soil regularly, is the key to good gardening. This can help in preventing plant diseases and poor yield of crops. Application of organic fertilizers and soil amendments are good ways to replenish the soil which in turn will promote plant growth.