Question Re: Testing Soil PH Levels

[Andrew]

Does anybody know how to test their soil for PH levels.

1. What items do you need for the testing.
2. Where is the best place to go to get those items (hopefully for cheap).
3. How the test is done.

Thanks in advance.

Andrew

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[StillHope]

Andrew,I am assuming you need this information for growing certain plants.So if you find the result,anything you can do to change the PH level of your soil? (Except for bringing several truckloads of the new one ).

[Andrew]

Hi Still:

I'm in the process of reading a book called Square Foot Gardening which JayJay recommended on the "tomatoes" thread. (Kudos JayJay - Excellent book).

In that book the author espouses using much smaller areas for gardens with the claim that you can achieve as good or an even better harvest than the traditional huge garden. So to answer your question it wouldn't be necessary to correct the PH of an 80' x 40' piece of ground which would be a huge job and need a lot of material. Correcting the PH for a garden the size of what the book recommends is not that big a deal and wouldn't require a huge amount of material.

If you soil is acid then it needs lime. If it is alkaline it needs sulfur. Most plants grow well with a neutral PH of between 6 and 7.

Andrew

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[StillHope]

Thank you,Andrew!
Keep us posted on your garden.Very interesting.

[gtill]

You could take a random sample of all the dirt in a given area, and submit to UH for free sampling, getting an overall view. then as you set your boxes, fertilise each by quantity used per box. All ballpark estimates.
For lime use dolomite, it has magnesium, needed in all soils, doesn't burn and lasts long.
A simple ph test kit is available cheap at any garden store.

[Guest]

Andrew -

If I have time in the next couple weeks, I can bring over an PH Soil testing device and we can get the acidic levels documented.

I'll Email you more in a few.

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It is the way, the way it is

[csgray]

There are two kinds of PH: PH in solution which tells you the PH when water comes in contact with the soil, and the buffered PH which is a measure of the long term PH of the soil. The soluble PH can be changed easily in the short run, changing the long term PH takes more effort and best practices depend on the composition of your soil. The Agricultural extension agent, or UH can hook you up with a real soil test and results for a reasonable cost. Worth every penny if you are careful in how you do your sampling. I love that square foot garden book; got a copy as a wedding present and I think it was one of the many books we sold or gave away when we moved here. It is the best method for those of us who hate weeding!

Carol

Here is a link to the Hawaii County extension agents contact info: http://www.ctarm.hawaii.edu/staff/county...aii+County

[Guest]

quote:

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Originally posted by csgray

The Agricultural extension agent, or UH can hook you up with a real soil test and results for a reasonable cost. Worth every penny if you are careful in how you do your sampling.

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FYI - the PH tester is the same that UH uses... and I won't charge nothing. [8D] Someone I'm very close to works for that extension program your talking about[] and has purchased their own PH Tester [^]

But if you insist on paying.... go for it [] Andrew, You should have gotten my email in the mail by now.

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It is the way, the way it is

[Andrew]

Damon:

I'd like to take you up on your kind offer. I'm out of town for a week or so and will email you about when I'm back in town and a time that best suits your schedule. Yes I am near Pahoa. A few minutes drive. I will respond to your email.

Thanks again,
Andrew

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[Andrew]

gtill:

" For lime use dolomite " Thanks for the tip. If I can find some I will use that if needed.

Mahalos,
Andrew

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