Soil pH impacts a plant's ability to absorb nutrients, making soil pH monitoring a vital part of growing healthy and thriving plants. If you are a budding green thumb or a keen gardener and are interested in soil pH but often become lost in wordy and overcomplicated specifications – look no further. Read on to become familiar with key terms and definitions used in soil pH tester specifications. It will help you select the best meter for your needs and to get the most from your current soil pH tester.
pH
'pH' stands for potential of hydrogen and is the measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a substance measured on a scale of 0 to 14,with pH 0 being highly acidic, pH 7 neutral, and pH 14 alkaline. Differing varieties of plants have their own 'ideal' pH range, but many plants fall into the soil pH range between 5.5 and 7.5.
pH Electrode
A pH electrode is a type of electrode that is sensitive to hydrogen ions. pH meters are designed with the electrode built into the meter itself or supplied separately from the meter. Many soil pH tester electrodes have a conical or 'spear' tip; this is to aid in soil penetration.
Automatic Temperature Compensation (ATC)
The temperature of soil or soil solution has a significant effect on the accuracy of pH results. Devices with ATC have superior pH measurement accuracy and ensure the calibration of the pH electrode regardless of temperature. With automatic temperature compensation (ATC), the signal from the buffer solution measured by a separate temperature probe (sometimes built into the electrode) is fed into the pH meter so that the meter can adjust readings, accurately determining the pH value of the sample at that temperature.
Calibration
Device specifications will outline whether or not the meter can be user-calibrated and to how many calibration points. Instrument Choice recommends calibrating your meter to a minimum of two buffer points for enhanced accuracy. To explain, when calibrating, you should calibrate to neutral pH 7, and have a second buffer that shoulders your expected values. So, when looking for a soil pH tester, ensure it has a minimum of two-point calibration, and its calibration points are shouldering your expected pH readings.
pH Range
"pH Range" refers to the span of pH that a device can accurately measure. When selecting a soil pH tester, ensure that the instrument's range is suitable for your requirements.
Accuracy
Accuracy is the closeness of a measurement to a specific value. Specifications will express the accuracy of a device as plus or minus a set amount.
Sample Rate/Time
The sample rate or sample time is the amount of time taken for the pH meter to obtain a stable result.
Conclusion
When searching for a soil pH tester, it's essential to understand a soil pH tester's specifications to select the best product for your needs and budget.
Need a bit more help with finding the perfect soil pH tester, want to see more terms and definitions? Contact one of the Instrument Choice Scientists. We're here to help!
Call 1300 737 871 or email customer-service@instrumentchoice.com.au