Garden Soil Ph
by John Yazo
Soil ph is a major factor between having good or bad soil in your garden and effects the nutrient availability for good plant growth.Soil ph tells you the amount of acidity or alkalinity in the soil. The ph scale goes from 0-14 with 7 being neutral.0 -7 is the acidic side of the scale and 7 - 14 is the alkalinity side.
Sweet, sour or bitter are common terms that are used to describe soil ph. Sweet is when the ph level is mid-range or idea for most plants, sour soil is when the soil is acidic or has a low ph level and bitter is when the soil is alkaline or has a high ph level.
Soil ph provides clues to the property of the soil. The most accurate method to test the ph is by taking a sample to your local agricultural testing laboratory.Other ways to test the soil is with a electronic soil ph meter or a soil test kit.
Dyes in the test kit change colors with the increase or decrease of ph. This process can estimate the ph level. In making an estimate determination of the ph in the soil the sample is saturated with the dye for a couple minutes and then the color is observed and compared to a color chart in the test kit. This method is accurate enough for most purposes. These kits can be bought at most garden centers.
Soil ph effects the solubility of minerals and nutrients in the soil. Nutrients need to be dissolved in order for a plant to benefit from them. Most nutrients and minerals dissolve in acidic soil better than alkaline soils. Know what soil ph level you need for the type of plant you are planting.
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