What is the pH of Soil - Essay Example

Determining the pH of Soil Soil is the earth crust’s top layer where organic matter grows according to Conklin (19). The type of soil would be determined by many components including pH, organic content and nutrient level. Further, these factors would vary according to the plant type growing on the soil and on the geographic location. To determine the quality of soil, soil test should be conducted.Among the components of soil earlier mentioned, pH is important and can be modified by addition of various chemicals.

The pH of soil gives an indication as to how alkaline or acid the soil is. This is determined on a pH scale that ranges from 0 to 14. A substance with pH nearing the scale’s lower end is considered very acidic while those on the upper range would be considered basic or alkaline. The neutral on the scale is at ph 7. Pure rainwater has pH of 5.6 or thereabout, but it changes when it enters the soil depending on the soil’s chemical characteristics. Nutrients such as phosphorous and calcium are more soluble in slight acidity.

In this experiment, the objective is to determine the pH of soil sample provided. Just as is the case with rain water, these nutrients can be dissolved in distilled water. When litmus paper is immersed in the clear solution after the soil settles down, acidic soil with pH less than 7 will cause blue litmus paper to turn red while basic soil with pH greater than 7 will cause red litmus paper to turn blue. Neutral soil will have no effect on both red and blue litmus papers.It is crucial to know the pH of soil as crops grow best within a narrow range of pH varying from one crop to another.

For example, blueberries grow best at pH 5.5 or lower while potatoes do best at 5.5 to 6.0. The 5.5 to 7.5 range is favorable because it accommodates microorganisms which are important in breaking down organic matter and also provides the necessary condition for nutrient availability (Conklin 21).Work CitedConklin, A. R. Introduction to Soil Chemistry: An Analysis and Instrumentation. New York, USA: John Wiley and Sons, 2005, pp. 19 – 22.