For favorable plant growth, suitable soil is necessary. One of the key indicators of soil mixtures is the acidity. This concept is used to conduct agrochemical analyzes of the substrates, as well as the description of the characteristics of their components (for example, turf land, peat, humus and other components).
What is soil acidity?
Soil acidity is determined by the hydrogen indicator pH. With it, you can establish the content of hydrogen ions in the ground. It is because of suitable acidity that the plant receives the necessary macro and trace elements. At a certain level of pH, the soil can be neutral, alkaline and acidic.
Throughout his life, the representative of the flora grows in certain soil, constantly changing its acidity. Accordingly, the more intense agriculture on the site, the more it is oxidized. Neutral soil (pH is 7.0) belongs to the most favorable for plants.
If representatives of the flora grow in acidic soil (pH less than 5.0), then nutrients cease to be absorbed by biological organisms. Moreover, the effect of fertilizers is not observed, and the action of beneficial bacteria slows down, or completely stops.
If the plants are in alkaline soil (pH more than 7.5), then they slow down their development, which affects the leaves, they begin to turn yellow due to a lack of iron (the trace element is simply not absorbed).
Determination of the level of acidity
There are several methods that will help determine the acidity of the soil:
- Litmus paper is a universal product that is very easy to use. The tester needs to take several soil samples, after which they must be placed in a dense fabric. The material should be dipped in the water (preferably cleaned) and after five minutes lower the litmus paper there. In 2 seconds, the result will be visible. Paper under the influence of liquid changes its color (a scale of acidity is applied to the product).
- Folk method a small amount of soil must be put on a glass surface. Further, the resource is watered with vinegar (9%). If the reaction manifested itself in the form of foam formation this means that the soil is alkaline; If there is very little bubble mass, it is believed that the soil is neutral. The absence of foam indicates the sour upper layer of the earth’s crust.
- The opinion of experts often the condition of the soil can be evaluated visually. So, areas with high acidity have a whitish tint, clover or alfalfa grows poorly on them, and moss sprouts remarkably. In acidic soil weeds, Belous, pike, crawling and other plants feel great.
To understand what soil on your site, you can grow a table beet. With increased acidity of the soil, the vegetable will have red leaves, with neutral green leaves with reddish petioles, with alkaline veins on the leaves of bright shades.
Measurement devices
Manufacturers have developed special devices that help measure the acidity of the soil. These devices are inexpensive and will save the owner of the site from temporary costs and complex procedures. The devices are equipped with a long probe, which allows you to deeply penetrate the soil and check the acidity at different levels. If you need to find out the condition of the soil once, buying a device does not make sense.
What should be the acidity of the soil?
It is important to understand that each plant is individual, and all species need different acidity of the soil. Nevertheless, neutral soil is considered the most favorable option (and permissible for many types of flora representatives) (pH is in the range from 7.0 to 7.3).
