How to check if the soil is acidic or not. Methods for determining soil acidity

The yield of vegetables and fruit and berry crops on your site depends on many factors. One of them is the favorable composition of the soil, namely its acidity. This indicator can be decisive for the healthy growth and development of garden crops. Therefore, it is important to be able to determine the acidity of the earth yourself.

Types of soil acidity

When analyzing the composition of the soil, first of all, its acidity is determined, which is measured in pH (from the Latin pondus hydrogenii - “weight of hydrogen”). The acidity scale consists of 14 positions.

The acidity level scale will help you determine the pH of the soil in your area as accurately as possible

There are three types of soil acidity:

slightly acidic (soil with a pH above 7);
neutral (soil with a pH value of 7);
acidic (soil with a pH value below 7).

How acidic the soil is is determined by the amount of lime in its composition. If the volume of this substance is small, the soil will be acidic, and vice versa.

Note! Even within the same area, acidity levels often differ, sometimes even at a distance of 1 meter. It is recommended to take soil samples at least every 2 meters to obtain more accurate data on pH levels.

Most cultivated garden plants prefer neutral or slightly acidic soil.

Various ways to independently determine the acidity level

Before planting plants, you need to prepare the soil for them. You can easily find out its pH level in order to correct a possible problem in a timely manner.

Using Vinegar

The simplest method for determining how acidic soil is is to use regular table vinegar. You only need to add a few drops of this product to a handful of soil.

Regular table vinegar will help you determine acidity

Excessive foaming will indicate that the soil is alkaline. Neutral acidity of the soil will give moderate foaming, high acidity will not show any reaction. This means that you can plant plants in such soil without additional measures.

Uses of grape juice

Pure grape juice is highly acidic, so it will also help you with the problem at hand.

Dip a small lump of soil into a transparent container with juice and watch the reaction. When interacting with neutral soil, a reaction will occur with the release of bubbles and a change in the color of the liquid to a lighter color. Alkaline soil will produce more foam, while acidic soil will not react to interaction with juice.

Try to use natural grape juice. The one sold in stores is heavily diluted with water, and it also contains preservatives and stabilizers that will not allow you to get the correct result.

A very simple and convenient method for determining acidity is the use of special indicator strips. They are freely available in all specialized stores and even pharmacies.

Indicator strips are litmus papers coated with a reagent that changes color when interacting with the medium depending on its pH level. The packaging is equipped with a color scale that will help you determine the acidity.

The indicator strips are very easy to use

Take a handful of soil and place it in gauze folded in 4-5 layers. Place in a container with distilled water and shake well so that the salts and minerals from the soil can completely dissolve.
Dip the indicator paper into the prepared water, hold it for a few seconds and remove it. After a little time the strip will change color. Using the table on the package, you can determine the acidity level.

A decoction of red cabbage that changes color upon contact with soil can indicate the level of acidity.

Other methods for determining soil acidity

There are several other methods that can help you draw conclusions about the pH level in your area.

Appearance of the soil

The way the soil looks can also help determine its acidity. For example, pay attention to water stagnant in holes. The following signs will tell you about increased acidity:

rusty liquid color;
the presence of a rainbow film on the surface;
raid Brown on the soil after water has been absorbed.

Another sign of acidic soil is whitish layers at shallow depths.

Take a close look at appearance soil: it can tell a lot about its condition

Note! Soil acidity can be influenced by a variety of factors. It is recommended to check the pH level every season in order to promptly implement the necessary measures to bring it to the desired level.

By the weeds

Common weeds will tell you how acidic the soil is in your area.

When weeding the beds, pay attention to what weeds grow on them

The following grow well in acidic soil:

heather;
plantain;
horsetail;
spikelet;
cornflower;
Ivan-da-Marya.

On slightly acidic soil they develop well:

Highlander;
rose hip;
burdock;
alfalfa;
sow thistle;
woodlice.

Administrator, by watering with kefir we did not destroy the plant, as could have been done not only with sulfuric acid, but also with other chemicals and solutions. But they actually increased the acidity of the soil because the soil was tested using indicators.
Alya Garifullina, Anya, hello! And if on the soil surface (in flower pot in particular) white coating, does this mean the soil is acidic?
In fact, the opposite is true: the higher the pH, the more alkaline the soil; the lower the pH, the more acidic.
The author of the article got everything wrong with the pH of the soil, everything is just the opposite. He also writes that the more lime, the more acidic (Appendix No. 1) the soil is ABSURD! Don't write anymore, but study well!
Yes guys, study. The word TOMATO in plural has the ending -OV, POMODOROV. And there are a lot of commas that are placed incorrectly. Manager, edit the text carefully.
Alexey, the child made a mistake when writing his work. We noticed this ourselves, but it was already too late. The work was already posted on the site.
Martin. We have already written about the error in the RN earlier. And in Appendix No. 1 you obviously misunderstood. I quote - “Slightly acidic soil is better suited for a flower. That is, soil that should contain more lime.”
Galina, of course there are grammatical errors in the work, because the child is just learning. This is his first independent work, as they say, without cuts. We do not pretend to be geniuses and scholars. For me, it’s better to read such a work than an abstract in which there is not a single word of your own, “licked from cover to cover.” I would like a discussion on the topic of work. Can someone share their experience in determining soil acidity. And not just writing something, as long as there is credit for the discussion.
Radmila, if a child had shared _his_ method of determining acidity, then this work would not have been worth it. And because This method was stolen from the Internet, and besides, it contains a fundamental error, then there is still little criticism of this “work”. Where was the “leader” looking? This is our modern education.
And actually, I don’t understand, Radmila - was it you who studied in the second “A” grade a year ago or who? Who is behind the name Radmila?
And the work needs to be removed from the site - otherwise the shame will only increase.
Alexei, which method contains an error?
Both methods are correct. The first one is widely known. I haven't seen the second one. I admit that this is the invention of a second grader. Bravo! I was wrong with my assessment being too harsh. There is know-how.
The words “and also contains a fundamental error” refer to the classification of soil relative to pH.
This needs to be changed, otherwise everything will be turned upside down.
Novel May 16, 2013, 11:31 pm
People purposefully search for information and I am no exception in this case, but unfortunately, instead of finding answers to my questions, I received even more questions than answers. It is impossible to post material on such serious issues for public viewing as if it had been verified, or maybe even without verification at all - the negative impact on the teacher is clear!
I propose to check and work on errors, cross out the erroneous ones in the appropriate places and write the truth. In comments where people point out errors, make a note “corrected in the article”
Victor 3 September 2013, 10:42
Radmila, good afternoon! Regarding the statements of Dear Alexey - alas, he got everything mixed up (sometimes). See. http://www.o-smorodine.ru/kak-virastit-smorodinu/47-kak-opredelit-kislotnost-pochvi.html - it correctly describes acidity indicators - the higher the pH, the LESS acidic the soil (i.e. pH is an indicator of the “alkalinity” of the soil). We won’t talk about the absence of some commas in his comments - this already smacks of flooding. Alechka, good luck in your studies and become a great agronomist!
Hope November 29, 2013, 10:57
I have long been looking for a simple way to test the acidity of the soil without buying special analyzers, and accidentally came across this work. At first I simply skimmed the entire article, focusing in detail only on the verification options. The kefir experiment interested me, and when I saw the signature at the end of the article - honestly! - I almost fell out of my chair in surprise that this was the work of a second-grader girl. I re-read it again and already noticed (I am a philologist by training) some childishness of the syllable and minor errors in this context. But for me this is not important, I emphasize again, in this context, since I finally found the necessary information in a simple presentation. Many thanks to those who teach children in this gymnasium for caring about the future of our country and for the pleasant impressions of work. Well done, Radmila!
Thank you for the article, it was very useful for me!
Dear ones, wonderful article. I didn't notice any discrepancies. And the grown-up uncles and aunties themselves got something wrong...
Read more carefully. I'm glad you're smart! And it is clear that adults have a huge role in the design of the work, but is this really the main thing, since the child is only eight years old!
Yes guys, I’m a newbie, I’m learning a lot on my own and you completely confused me on this issue.
the fact that the work was written by a 2nd grade student should be indicated at the VERY BEGINNING, so that people don’t waste time.... the search engine gives a link in the first pages, and the information in some places in the article is quite primitive and dubious... personally, I’m against it something like that, for children on the Internet there are their own sites and pages, let young naturalists-writers practice there... there are enough adult “wise men”...
Radmila, thank you very much Radmila. Very useful article. The text is easy to read and well remembered.
It is in vain that some readers are unhappy with the article. Well done girl! I read it with pleasure and noted something for myself. I didn’t notice any inconsistencies in the essence of the question, but grammatical errors are the responsibility of the teacher.
Thank you. I emphasized for myself, in particular, checking for soil acidity. Useful article.
With all due respect to the author, pH9 is alkaline soil, but not slightly acidic.
You need to know these things.
complete absurdity. mismatch of chemistry. physics and common sense. I need to study better. and the one who checked along the way did not go to school at all. For the rest, read the comments.
I was looking for an answer to my question for a very long time, because on all the sites, in order to understand something, you either need to be an agronomist, or have a good knowledge of chemistry, and I’m a designer by profession) I’ve been looking for a long time for a way to test the acidity of the soil, but I’ve never even heard of them !but now I’ll try) if you, of course, grow strawberries in the fields, then, of course, this article will not be enough, but if I have 5 rows of strawberries, then, believe me, I have absolutely no time to delve into a bunch of chemical processes . And as for the grammatical errors...how smart you all are here! There are only professors! If this article was on the Russian language, then yes. And in this situation, the information itself is important, and not where the comma is, although grammar is also welcome. If you need a super smart article experienced agronomist- There are a lot of them on the Internet. If your knowledge allows you to understand them - go ahead!) People, be simpler and kinder! Life will be easier, believe me. Thanks for the article!))
For the second grade, it’s simply great that the child has a general understanding of acidity/alkalinity. I personally only learned about this during an agronomy course at the Agricultural Academy.
The article has no scientific value, there are errors, I hope that people will be more careful and see the author before relying on it in their everyday life. It’s still easier to determine pH now with a device or strips, it’s a matter of 200-500 rubles, but the result is verified.
Faith 11 January 2016, 17:28
The comments were confusing, but I was the first to learn that the acidity of the soil can be determined in this way, but I would like to gain experience from a professional, not from a child. I have a problem, I work in winter garden, but there is almost no information on how to care for plants in greenhouses. There is a white-gray coating on the ground, I assume the soil is salinized (it hasn’t changed for 30 years), but what should I do about it?
Baby Radmila, I sympathize with you that you have leaders who fill your head with incorrect information!
Leader Zifa Raisovna, take pity on the children and don’t bother them with your illiteracy! They are drawn to KNOWLEDGE, but you stuff them with nonsense!
oh, this is second grade... And I was preparing to reproach the author for his weirdness.
Thanks for the article! Now I know what kind of soil I have on my site
To passing commentators: It is very unpedagogical to “stab” a student with your “valuable” comments. YOU CAN NOT DO IT THIS WAY!!! There is information on the issue, and thanks for it. The rest is just your bad mood and dissatisfaction with life, raise your spiritual level, because solving your problems at the expense of young people means falling below what is acceptable.
Irina 21 May 2016, 06:19
Alena, it was not pedagogical to post all this on the Internet. Here, you know, adults solve their adult problems. Therefore, in order not to deal a blow to the self-esteem of a child unprepared for the realities, such work had to be placed in Murzilka or somewhere else without the ability to leave comments to other visitors. The result is that the child was simply unlucky with his teachers. Both in terms of education and in terms of preparation for adult life.
I simply don’t have enough words to say, woe to the commentators. In this work, everything is presented at 5++++++.. And you, citizens, need to learn to read more carefully. It seems that you are at odds with the Russian language, and apparently from an early age. It is a fact that it was said above that the acidity of the soil changes with the amount of lime in the soil. But the commentators turned everything upside down. This article correctly states that “Acidity depends on the presence and amount of lime in the soil. If there is little lime in the soil, then the soil becomes acidic.” Who can refute the fact that the less lime in the soil, the more acidic the soil becomes? I understand that if a second grader had written that the more lime, the less acid in the soil, then everyone would understand. And so, if the child wrote it the other way around, then the “smart” uncles and aunties could not turn on their brains and understand what was said in this phrase.. You are all eagerly trying to judge the sins of others,
start with your own people and you won’t get to others... AND A HUGE REPECT TO THE SECOND GRADER. KEEP IT UP..
And in the second grade they don’t teach chemistry yet
Just Zhenya 17 May 2018, 07:28
But I’m just watering the plants in the garden with sulfuric and other acids, because the soil is highly alkaline!

Not everyone has the opportunity to send a sample to a laboratory to find out high-quality composition soil on its summer cottage. However, this knowledge is very important for caring for the land. And here nature comes to the aid of the gardener. The plants that have settled here, as well as the condition of the planted garden crops, will tell you what type of soil your acres are and the presence of the necessary microelements.

In nature, everything is interconnected and harmonious. And each type of soil, be it acidic or alkaline soils, has its own plants that prefer exactly this level of acidity. The acidity level is usually determined by the pH value of the soil:
Soil with a pH value of 4-5 is considered strongly acidic;
Slightly acidic – from 5.5 to 6.5;
Soils with a pH of about 7 are called neutral;
Lands with a pH above 7 are saline or alkaline.

Plantain

How to identify acidic soil

Strongly acidic soils are not the most suitable conditions for growing garden crops. An indicator of such places is the presence of plantain, horse sorrel, and horsetail on the site. Instead of garden beds, it is better to plant a garden here, since some plants, unlike most, even like high acidity. They are treated as ornamental plants(hydrangea, lupine, rhododendron, azalea, ranunculus), and some berry bushes(lingonberries, blueberries).

Plants that love acidic soil

On slightly acidic soils there are wheatgrass, dandelion, clover, coltsfoot, chamomile, bellflower, fern, snowdrop, and cornflowers. Here you can already afford to plant pumpkin and nightshade plants. This a good place for growing cucumbers and zucchini, tomatoes and eggplants, potatoes and pumpkins. In addition, these are suitable conditions for planting currants, gooseberries, lemongrass, and sea buckthorn. If you plan to arrange flower beds and flower beds, choose geraniums, roses, peonies, tulips, and daffodils for this area.

Neutral soil acidity

When nettle, shepherd's purse, and quinoa predominate, this indicates a neutral acid reaction. This soil composition is favorable for growing most cultivated plants. These include: cabbage, beans, peas, carrots, beets, radishes, celery, parsley. This is a good place to plant apple and pear trees, plums and cherries. Planting raspberries will also be successful, garden strawberries. Floriculture lovers will be delighted here lush flowering dahlias and bright irises.

Plants on alkaline soils

The alkaline nature of the soil is indicated by chicory, spotted spurge, thyme, sage, and bergenia. In such conditions, cultivated plants are not very comfortable, and when the pH is above 8.5, the soil is not recommended for use. vegetable beds. In such soils, salinity must be neutralized. Or plant dogwood, barberry, hawthorn, arnica, lilac, juniper on them. Cedar, quince, pear, scarlet, apricot, and mulberry will feel good here. For the flower garden, choose edelweiss, gypsophila, heuchera, delphinium, clematis, saxifrage, and lavender.

Green indicators will tell you what substances are missing in the soil

In addition to acidity, it is useful to have knowledge about the deficiency of certain substances important for the development of vegetables in the soil. This can be determined by external signs plants:
A lack of nitrogen results in pale color and yellowing of the tops, fragile stems and small leaves;
Phosphorus - the color of the leaves acquires a dark green tint with a blue or purple tint, they quickly dry out and fall off;
Potassium - the leaves become brown, their edges wrinkle and curl downwards;
Calcium - the tips of the leaves die, and the apical buds and roots are damaged;
Boron - the apical buds and roots also suffer, in addition, the ovary falls off or there is no flowering at all.

When there is a lack of magnesium, iron, or copper in the soil, plants are more often affected by chlorosis.

Soil acidity is one of its main indicators. Knowing the acidity of the soil, you can plan the planting of certain crops with great success, as well as regulate this acidity using special chemical compounds.

What is soil acidity

Soil acidity is a value that determines the ability of the soil to respond to various properties acids Acidity is determined by the pH parameter, which in Latin means “hydrogen potential strength.” The pH value varies from 0 to 14. In general, the acidity parameter was first introduced into science at the beginning of the 20th century to measure the acidity of alcoholic products. Then this value began to be successfully used in soil science.

Normal soil acidity is 7 pH. Very acidic soil has a pH of up to 4, strongly acidic soil 4-4.5 pH, medium acidic soil 4.5-5 pH, slightly acidic soil 5.1-5.5 pH. Soil acidity above 7 pH causes an alkaline reaction. An example is the acidity of some foods and household substances.

Stomach acid is an example of a strongly acidic substance with a pH of no more than 2.
Lemon juice, vinegar and Coca-Cola have an acidity of 2-3 pH.
The acidity of beer, wine and apple juice is 3.5-4.5 pH.
Milk and pure water have neutral acidity 6.5-7 pH.
Substances with a pH above 7 have an alkaline reaction, such as soap and laundry bleach (pH 9-12).

How soil acidity affects plants

Everyone knows that plants absorb all the beneficial elements contained in the soil. But the content of these elements in the soil directly depends on acidity. Many crops that are grown in our region grow most favorably in slightly acidic or neutral soil. In addition, fruits grown in acidic soil have a pronounced sour taste. There are a few effective ways to determine the acidity of the soil in your summer cottage.

Appearance of the soil
The first and easiest way to determine the acidity of the soil is to carefully examine it. Strongly acidic soil has a red or even rusty tint. Water accumulated in low-lying acidic soil has a thin, iridescent film on the surface.

You can also determine the acidity of the soil by the plants that grow in that soil. After all, every weed grows only where the acidity of the soil satisfies all its needs.

On soil with high acidity grow cornflower, knotweed, spikelet, willow-herb, horsetail, cinquefoil, creeping buttercup, daisy, mint, heather, speedwell, plantain, pickleweed, tricolor violet, horse sorrel. Typically acidic soil has high moisture content.
Slightly acidic soil is characterized by a large number of other plants. Among them are bird knotweed, alfalfa, coltsfoot, alfalfa, woodlice, sow thistle, cornflower, rosehip, burdock, chamomile, and wheatgrass.
The following plants indicate neutral acidity of the soil - nettle, quinoa, red clover. In general, if nettles grow on the site, this is very good. This suggests that the soil contains a lot of organic acids that are beneficial for plants.
If the soil is dense and poor in useful minerals, then plants such as thistle, mustard, spurge, sweet clover, and resin will grow on the site.
In alkaline soil you can find poppy and field bindweed.

In this way, you can determine the acidity of the soil only by those plants that grow on it. Also pay attention to the concentration of plants. Plants thrive in soil of neutral acidity, as well as in slightly acidic soil, so there are a lot of weeds in such an area. And if the greenery is scanty and low, then the soil is most likely alkaline.

Klychnikov method
There is another way to determine soil acidity at home. This is the well-known method of agronomist Klychnikov.

Collect some soil from the area whose acidity you want to determine.
Dry the soil and fill the bottle halfway with it.
Then take some chalk and wrap it in paper, not quite tightly. Place the piece of paper with chalk into the bottle.
Place a compressed fingertip on the neck of the bottle. There should be no air in it, the fingertip should be flattened. Instead of a fingertip, you can use part of a rubber glove, the main thing is tightness.
Then you need to shake the bottle so that the chalk spills out and mixes with the soil. To ensure the purity of the experiment, shake the bottle while holding it with a towel or a cloth glove so that the heat from your hands is not transferred to the glass.
If the soil is acidic, then when it interacts with chalk it will begin to release carbon dioxide. At the same time, the pressure in the bottle increases, and the fingertip fills with air.
The acid level is determined as the fingertip fills with gas. If the fingertip is completely filled and sufficient pressure is felt when squeezing, then the acidity of the soil is high. If the pressure is average, then the soil is slightly acidic.

This simple method will help determine the acidity of the soil without any laboratory tests.

It is a piece of paper impregnated with various indicator substances. Litmus paper has several colors, each of which corresponds to a specific acidity.

The principle of determining acidity is as follows. Soil is collected into a piece of clean cloth, the acidity of which must be determined. The knot is tied tightly and lowered into distilled water. When the water is sufficiently saturated with the soil, litmus paper is lowered into it for a few seconds. After this, one of the colors appears on the paper, which must be compared on a scale. Each color corresponds to a specific acidity. Colors ranging from yellow to red are an indicator of acidic soil, while blue and blue shades correspond to neutral soil. Determining soil acidity using the litmus test method is quite reliable. The set can be purchased in stores for summer residents.

Vinegar
Soil acidity can be determined using vinegar. Sprinkle some of the soil to be tested onto the glass. Water the soil with 9% vinegar. If strong foaming begins, the soil is alkaline. If the soil is moderately acidic, the hissing will be weak. And if the soil is acidic, then there will be no foam at all.

Beet
If beets grow on the site, the acidity of the soil can be determined by the appearance of its tops. When the tops have a red tint, the soil is acidic. If the tops are green with red streaks, then they are moderately sour. Green tops occur in beets grown on neutral soil. Beetroot does not grow in alkaline soil.

How to reduce soil acidity

Acidic soil is not favorable for growing many crops. Therefore, it is necessary to artificially reduce acidity in order to improve soil fertility. You can neutralize acidic soil using slaked lime, dolomite flour, limestone, ground chalk, limestone tuff, cement dust.

The selected substance is best applied to the soil in the spring. Sprinkle lime on the soil at a rate of one cup per square meter soil. Then dig up the ground thoroughly and level it with a rake. However, be careful. Make sure the soil is acidic and only then take action. Because if the soil is alkaline, lime will damage it; plants grow poorly in such soil.

What grows in soil with different acidity

When choosing the plants and trees you want to grow on your property, it is very important to consider the acidity of the soil.

Sorrel grows very well in highly acidic soil.
Slightly acidic soil is well suited for planting pumpkins, cucumbers, spinach, rhubarb, radishes, radishes, tomatoes, zucchini and lettuce.
Neutral soils are favorable for many crops - beets, celery, asparagus, carrots, onions, cabbage.
In slightly alkaline areas you can grow rye, potatoes, and oats.

Agronomy is a serious science that allows you to effectively use land for growing various crops. And soil science and, in particular, determination of soil acidity is the key to successful planning of planting crops in certain areas. Determine acidity correctly and grow a rich harvest!

Video: how to determine soil acidity

It is necessary to study which one will be most favorable for them.

In our article we will tell you how to determine the acidity of the soil yourself, since it is this indicator that has a serious impact on the development of crops.

Types of acidity

Soil acidity is one of the important indicators when conducting soil analysis. It is measured in pH, a scale that ranges from 0 to 14.

There are three types of acidity:

slightly acidic (soil with a pH value above 7);
neutral (soil with a pH value of 7);
acidic (soil with a pH value below 7).

The acidity level is influenced by the amount of lime in the soil. With small amounts of lime, the soil is likely to be acidic.

Important! The acidity level can be different at a distance of even 1 meter. Therefore, before planting, take samples every 2 meters, this will help to more accurately determine the pH level.

For most crops, neutral or slightly acidic soil is more suitable.

How to determine the level at home?

To plant a plant in the “right” area, you need to know how to determine soil acidity.

Vinegar

The easiest way to find out the pH level of the soil is to use table vinegar. To do this, you need to pour a few drops onto a handful of earth.

If you see small bubbles appearing on it, this indicates that it is neutral or non-acidic, that is, it is quite suitable for planting.

Grape juice

To test the pH level this way, you will need a glass of grape juice and a lump of soil.

The soil must be lowered into a glass and observed the reaction: if the color of the juice begins to change and bubbles begin to appear on the surface, this indicates the neutrality of the soil.

Indicator strips

Not everyone knows how to test soil acidity at home using indicator strips. This is a very convenient way, since you can purchase them at any specialty store or pharmacy.

Litmus papers are impregnated with a special reagent, the color of which changes depending on the pH. Usually the packaging shows a color scale that can be used to determine the pH level.

Did you know? The number of microorganisms in one teaspoon of soil is the same as the population of the entire planet.

To conduct the experiment, you need to wrap a handful of earth in several layers of gauze and lower it into a container with purified distilled water. After this, you need to shake the container well so that the salts from the soil are well dissolved in the water.
After this, you need to lower the litmus paper into the container for a few seconds. Soon its color will change, and then it will be possible to determine the pH level using the table.

Red cabbage

Let's look at how to find out the acidity of the soil on a site using red cabbage. To do this, you need to finely chop the head. We will need a decoction, by the color change of which upon contact with the ground, we can determine the level of acidity.

Cabbage must be boiled in distilled water for 10 minutes. After this, the broth is filtered. Purple juice has a neutral pH.

Let's start the procedure. To do this, you need to pour the juice into a cup and place a spoonful of earth there. Then you need to wait about 30 minutes and look at the color of the juice. If it remains unchanged - purple, then the pH of the soil is neutral.
If you purchased the juice pink color, this indicates sour soil. The more saturated the color, the higher. The presence of blue or green color indicates the neutrality of the soil. If the color is bright green, the soil has high alkalinity.

other methods

There are other methods for determining pH levels. Let's look at them.

Appearance

You can try to determine the pH level by appearance. If you notice that the water in the holes has a rusty tint and an iridescent film, and after it is absorbed, there is a brown sediment on the surface, this indicates increased acidity of the soil.

Important! Since acidity is influenced by various external factors that can change it, it is worth checking it every season and, if necessary, taking measures to bring it to the required values.

Also a sign of acidic soil is the presence of whitish layers at shallow depths.