Soil acidity is one of the key factors affecting plant growth and development. Some crops prefer an acidic environment, while others grow better in neutral or alkaline soil. If the pH level does not meet the needs of plants, their growth slows down and nutrients are absorbed worse.
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How Baking Soda Helps Determine pH Levels
Baking soda is a simple and affordable way to determine the acidity of the soil without complex tests and laboratory studies. It reacts with acid, forming gas bubbles, which helps you quickly understand what the pH level of your soil is.
Step-by-step instructions for testing soil with baking soda
- Take a small amount of soil from the area you want to test. It is advisable to take samples from different places for accuracy.
- Place a handful of soil in a clean glass or plastic container.
- Add a little distilled water and stir until it becomes a paste.
- Sprinkle 1-2 teaspoons of baking soda on top.
- If the soil is acidic (pH below 7), a reaction will occur – bubbles and hissing will appear. If there is no reaction, then the soil is neutral or alkaline.
How to adjust soil acidity
- If the test shows high acidity, wood ash, lime or dolomite flour can be used to lower the pH.
- If the soil is too alkaline, adding peat, sulfur or organic fertilizers will help.
Conclusion
Determining the acidity of the soil with soda is a quick and affordable method that will help gardeners choose the optimal conditions for plants. Regularly checking and adjusting the pH will help increase yields and improve crop growth.
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