If you have a summer cottage and you enthusiastically begin gardening in the spring, then you are interested in getting a crop from your own beds. There are many articles on the web devoted to the rules of growing a particular crop, and it is written everywhere that you need to select a site with the necessary level of acidity and adjust it if necessary. But how do you know how acidic the soil is? Soil acidity meters will help. Why are they needed?
Why is a meter needed?
Each summer resident is sure that it is very important to know what the main parameters of the earth are, and these are Ph, humidity, temperature and light exposure. If there is a desire to get a good crop, then the culture must be planted and grown in the soil intended for it. Suppose your land is ideal for cabbage, but the carrots on it will no longer be deformed. To know exactly where and what culture to attach, what fertilizers and additives to add, you need to purchase a soil acidity meter. They are liquid, but there are also plastic ones, which is more convenient for use. Such a device does not require a diploma of graduation from an agricultural institute for use, it is quite easy to use.
Today, many specialized meters are sold, which are suitable for a huge industrial economy, and for a small plot near the country house. We will talk about the most popular models, terms of use in this article. Just to get started, we learn about how our ancestors coped in their gardens and cultivated a decent crop. They had their own tricks, so in the absence of a soil acidity meter and its other parameters, you can easily take advantage of the knowledge of grandfathers and grandmothers.
People's councils
We decided to provide some of the most popular methods for measuring the acidity of the earth with improvised means. Having familiarized with them, you will understand that using a professional device is much more convenient. We hope that the people's councils can come in handy if the meter is not at hand or its battery is dead. Everyone who already uses a specialized soil acidity meter knows how inaccurate its indicators are if it's time to change the battery.
So what will help us?
- Every housewife has vinegar and soda in the house, and these products are often in the country. So, to measure the acidity, take two samples of the earth from a hole 25 centimeters deep, place in different containers. Pour one sample with vinegar. If the hiss goes and bubbles appear, then this indicates an alkaline reaction. Now dilute a tablespoon of soda in a glass of water and pour the second sample with this solution. The presence of bubbles and hissing indicates acidity. If both samples behaved well and there was no reaction to watering, you have good land, with a normal level of alkali and acid.
- Chop red cabbage and boil it in water until a purple broth is obtained. In it, put the soil taken from the hole (depth 25 centimeters), shake. If the broth brightens to pink, acidity is increased, if it changes color to green or blue, alkali is increased.
- Place a few sheets of cherries and currants in a small amount of boiling water for 15 minutes. After that pour in the soil. The solution is green - neutral soil, blue - acidified, red - alkaline.
All these indications will be true, but you will not be able to find out how acidified the soil is, or how much alkali exceeds the norm. It is for accurate readings produced soil acidity meter. In addition, it will show the temperature, lighting and other parameters.
How to use the device?
As mentioned earlier, certain knowledge is not required to operate the meter. For each device, a detailed instruction is mandatory attached by the manufacturer.
But we still decided to suggest methods in which the readings will be more accurate:
- if you have fertilized, then take measurements no earlier than three days later;
- do not forget to water the site that you will check;
- around the probe, the soil must be well tamped;
- it is necessary to make three measurements, and then calculate the average;
- the meter core should be kept clean and wiped with a cloth after each check.
When buying, ask the seller if the soil acid meter is calibrated. If not, you need to purchase a buffer solution and calibrate yourself. Further we suggest to get acquainted with the most popular and inexpensive models.
Soil Acidity Meter Green Belt
Gardeners liked this device for its ease of use, accurate measurements, and an affordable price tag. A 3 in 1 soil acidity meter will help you find out not only Ph, but also the moisture and lightness of your soil. The main advantage of the device is the lack of batteries, which allows you to find out more accurate parameters and provide the most comfortable growth conditions for the plants on the site. This will only affect your crop in a positive way.
To use a moisture meter, soil acidity, as well as its illumination, no skill is required, even a child will cope with it.
Instruction manual
If you purchased this device and lost the instructions, we will help you remember the rules of use. We measure illumination:
- Set the switch to Light mode.
- Place the probe in the ground near the plant.
- The solar battery built into the device is directed towards the light source.
- Do not block the light.
Soil Acidity Meter (Ph):
- Turn the switch to Ph, dip the probe into the soil sample from which the slurry was previously made. The probe should be polished with a piece of sandpaper and wiped with a cloth.
- The meter is placed vertically to the base of the housing. The soil should be slightly moistened.
- After a minute, read the readings on the screen.
We measure humidity:
- Switch to Moist, insert the probe into the ground.
- Indications are: red - dry or slightly moist soil, suitable only for growing thorns and cacti; blue - waterlogging, do not water the plants until the soil dries a little; green is perfect hydration.
Using all the measuring instruments is exactly the same. We suggest considering other models.
KS-300
This is also an electronic soil acidity meter of type 3 in 1. With the help of KS-300 you can also measure moisture and light. What are its advantages and disadvantages? This device has a fairly wide range of effects. It is also important that it has a rather long service life, as gardeners note.
Among the shortcomings in this model, it was found that the batteries are not enough for a long time, even the most expensive and high-quality. If the food is hooked, then the measurement error will be very large.
"Megeon 35280"
With this device, you can also measure the light and humidity. The model has a rather lightweight case made of plastic, but very durable, which is important when working in the garden area. The great advantage of the meter is that it does not need to be replaced by batteries. Among the shortcomings, a small range of action was noted. Also, its solar panels do not allow measurements of illumination in protected ground or in a shady area.
ZD-06
This electronic soil acidity meter is not so popular. With it, you can find out the humidity, but you will have to forget about the light. Of the advantages, durability, the absence of the need to change batteries, strength and a long probe (30 centimeters) are distinguished.
The disadvantages of this model was the high price and too small a range of work.
Soil acid meter: reviews
Many gardeners who bought devices for personal use left their comments on the Web. They write that they did not regret the acquisition, as it was possible thanks to him to increase productivity. Plants now feel more comfortable, and do not have to "puzzle" over what fertilizers to put into the ground. There were no negative comments, definitely all summer residents recommend using such devices, they write that working on the site is now much more interesting, because you know that the works will not be in vain.