Description
The pH of soil is vital for how well it holds minerals. When the soil it too acidic, minerals will be leached out by rainwater before the plants have a chance to use them. Highly alkaline soils are often associated with mineral deficiencies due to the low solubility of minerals under alkaline conditions. Neutral or slightly alkaline soils are ideal for growing plants. However, some plants have very particular pH requirements.
There are many different ways of measuring soil pH. Litmus/pH paper is a quick and inexpensive method to test soil pH when a pH-meter is unavailable or when highly precise values are not necessary. When preparing your soil sample, use a weighing paper to weigh the soil before adding water. Filter papers can be used to remove unnecessary particles from the suspension.
