Soil Testing

Testing soil is an essential step to understanding its condition and determining what adjustments might be necessary for healthy plant growth. Here’s a simple guide on how to test your soil:

1. Visual Inspection

• Texture: Grab a handful of soil and squeeze it. If it forms a ball that easily crumbles, it’s loamy and ideal for most plants. If it feels sticky and holds its shape, it’s clay. If it doesn’t form a ball, it’s sandy.
• Colour: Dark soil typically indicates organic matter, while light soil may need more nutrients.

2. Soil pH Testing

Soil pH affects how well plants can absorb nutrients. You can test it with a DIY method or a store-bought kit.

DIY Vinegar and Baking Soda Method:

• Materials Needed: Vinegar, baking soda, two cups, water.
• Procedure:
  1. Place a small amount of soil in one cup and add a few drops of vinegar.
     • Reaction: If it fizzes, your soil is alkaline (pH above 7).
  2. In another cup, mix soil with water until it’s muddy. Then add baking soda.
     • Reaction: If it fizzes, your soil is acidic (pH below 7).
  • If neither reacts, the soil is neutral (pH around 7).

Store-bought Soil pH Test Kit:

• You can purchase a soil pH test kit from a gardening centre.
  1. Collect soil samples from different spots in your garden.
  2. Mix the soil with water as per kit instructions and add the testing solution.
  3. Compare the colour change to the provided chart.

3. Professional Lab Soil Testing

• Contact your local cooperative extension office or a commercial soil lab for a detailed analysis.
  1. Collect soil samples from various spots in your garden (dig 4–6 inches deep).
  2. Mix the samples to get a representative composite.
  3. Send it to the lab for testing.
• A lab will test for pH, nutrient levels (like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium), organic matter content, and more. You’ll receive specific recommendations for improving your soil.

4. Texture Test (Jar Method)

• This test helps identify soil components like sand, silt, and clay.
  1. Fill a jar halfway with soil and then fill the rest with water.
  2. Shake the jar vigorously and let it sit for 24 hours.
  3. The soil will settle into layers:
     • Sand: Will settle at the bottom.
     • Silt: Forms a layer in the middle.
     • Clay: Sits on top.
  4. Measure the layers to estimate the soil composition and type.

5. Nutrient Testing Kits

• These kits are available at garden centers and will measure the levels of key nutrients like nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K).
  1. Collect a soil sample, mix it with water, and add a testing solution.
  2. Compare the colour of the solution to the chart provided with the kit.

6. Drainage Test

• Dig a hole about 12 inches deep and fill it with water.
• Let it drain completely, then refill it with water.
• Measure how long it takes for the water to drain:
  • 1-3 hours: Well-drained soil.
  • Longer than 3 hours: Poor drainage, meaning clay-heavy soil or compaction.

Regularly testing your soil helps you better manage plant nutrition and optimise growth!