What Is a Soil pH Meter?
A soil pH meter is an instrument used to measure the pH value of soil.
Soil pH is an indicator of whether the soil is acidic or alkaline, and the appropriate pH value depends on the type of crop. In the past, soil improvement was done by relying on intuition cultivated over a long period of crop production and repeated failures.
In recent years, with the development of such instruments, it is now possible to quantify soil conditions and play a part in soil improvement.
Uses of Oil pH Meters
Soil pH meters are used for soil diagnosis. Their purpose is to measure the pH of the soil and then improve the soil to make it suitable for crops. The pH of soil suitable for growth (optimal soil pH) differs depending on the crop. Most vegetable species prefer slightly acidic soils (pH 5.5 to 6.5).
In addition, depending on the type of soil pH meter, some products are capable of measuring liquid pH and can be used to check the pH of fertilizers.
Features of Soil pH Meters
Advantages
Easily available at home improvement stores, etc., they can be used not only by farmers, but also home gardeners. There is no need to dig up the soil, so there is no risk of damaging crops.
Disadvantages
The larger the area to be measured, the more measurement points are needed. Also, if the measurement is easy to take, it often does not give correct readings.
If you ask an institution to take a soil sample back to you and have it measured, you will get an accurate value, which will help you make more appropriate soil improvement decisions.
Types of Soil pH Meters
Some soil pH meters measure only pH, while others can measure illuminance, soil moisture content, and soil temperature.
1. Classification by Display Method
The display is mainly digital or analog. Digital types can take 1 minute to a few minutes to measure, while some analog types can take 20 to almost 30 minutes.
In addition, digital systems need to be corrected periodically because errors will appear as they are used. In contrast, analog has almost no error and is relatively accurate.
2. Classification by Meter Orientation
There are various types of meter orientations, such as upward-facing or front-facing. Upward-facing meters are convenient because they can be checked from above even when inserted in the ground, but the meter face is smaller, resulting in less detailed accuracy. The front-facing type allows the meter to be larger, but makes it more difficult to check.
How to Select Soil pH Meters
If you are gardening at home, you can use an easy-to-use meter sold at a gardening center. However, when harvested products are distributed to the market, it is important to choose a highly accurate one, because the harvest can vary and the fertilizer design can have a significant impact on the annual cropping plan.
As introduced in the types, each has different features, so it is recommended to confirm the necessary functions that suit you and purchase the right one.
How to Use Soil PH Meters
Soil pH meters vary in type, but basically, the sensor is inserted into the soil to measure the pH of the soil. If the soil in the area to be measured is dry, stable values cannot be measured, so the soil should be well moistened with water. In addition, the soil should be compacted to an appropriate level of hardness so that the soil and the analyzer are in contact with each other. The standard hardness is about the same as that of mud dumplings.
Insert the measuring section (metal part) into the soil as vertically as possible at a depth of about 10 cm. If the soil is tilted, the indicator may be tilted and correct measurement may not be possible. If there is a gap between the soil and the indicator, the measurement will not be correct, so step on the soil again to fill the gap. For power-operated models, press the switch to start measurement.
Even in the same field, conditions vary from place to place, such as fertilizer content and soil dryness. It is important to divide the measurement location into several places and determine the average value. Soil fertilized with lime, which is alkaline, takes 1 to 2 weeks to acclimate. When it has acclimated, the acidity is measured. After use, soil and other contaminants on the measuring section should be removed and stored in a dry place.