Digital Soil pH Testers; The Secret To Growing Healthy Plants

A digital pH meter is an essential tool for any keen gardener or professional grower. A simple pH measurement gives you a wealth of information about your plant’s health and growth potential. It is our experience that reading taken by digital soil pH testers are simpler to interpret thanks to their LCD screens, generally easier to use, and more accurate than their analogue counterparts. 

In this article, we investigate why digital pH meters are so important is gardening, agriculture, and horticulture, and we provide some exceptional examples of products.

About Soil

Three main components comprise soil:

1. Inorganic materials, such as minerals and water
2. Organic materials, such as the broken-down remains of plants and animals; and
3. Microorganisms that live in soils and help breakdown organic materials.

Soil composition varies between locations because factors such as geology, topography, climate, organisms, time, and usage affects soil composition.

Soil pH

pH is a measurement of the alkalinity or acidity of substances or samples. The pH scale ranges from zero to 14. Zero to 6 on the pH scale is acidic, pH 7 is neutral, and pH 8 to 14 is alkaline. The ideal pH range for individual plant species will vary. However, most plants thrive somewhere in the field of pH 5 to 7.

Why measure soil pH?

Soil pH plays a critical role in both the absorption and utilisation of vital trace elements that are essential for plant growth.

Figure 1 (below) demonstrates how soil pH will determine whether a particular nutrient is more or less available to plants.

 Figure 1 Demonstrates how soil pH will determine whether a particular element is more or less available to plants.

Testing soil pH is essential for the following reasons:

1. The determination of pH will determine whether a soil’s acidity or alkalinity suitable for a particular plant or crop. If your soil is not within the ideal pH range, necessary nutrients will be less available for plants, which will result in slow growth and reduced yields.
2. A pH meter can help you decide which fertilisers or soil pH adjusters you require for your plants to thrive.
3. Surveying soils in a plot or region can help to determine what plants are best suited for that area.

Digital pH Soil Tester Examples

Instrument Choice Scientists have selected four of the best digital pH testers for obtaining fast and accurate soil pH measurements. To help you evaluate the differences, we have listed each device’s range, accuracy, calibration points, and unique features.

GroLine Soil pH Tester 
Product Code: IC-HI981030

The IC-HI981030 GroLine digital soil pH tester is a soil-specific pH tester. The meter features a single-button operation and a large LCD screen that provides results from any angle, at a glance.

Specifications

pH Range: 0 to 14.0 pH

Accuracy: ±0.2 pH at 25°C

Calibration Points:Automatic one or two-point calibration

Special Features:An open junction with a removable sleeve makes for easy cleaning and supports the extended life of the tester.

Soil pH Meter with Separate Electrode 
Product Code: PH220S

The PH220S is a highly accurate soil pH meter supplied with a separate electrode for superior measuring and usability. The spear tip electrode features a rugged epoxy body with a durable glass tip. The meter is capable of taking direct soil pH measurements with ease.

Specifications

pH Range: 0 to 14 pH

Accuracy: ±0.07pH (pH5-pH9)

Calibration Points: Automatic calibration for pH4, pH 7 and pH 10

Special Features: 0.8-second sampling rate and automatic calibration buffer recognition make this pH meter fast and reliable.

Spear Tip Waterproof pH Tester 
Product Code: pHSpear

The pH spear can be used for soil testing by simply wetting your soil with some distilled water and inserting the probe of the pHSpear to obtain a reading. The pH Spear is simple to maintain with an open-pore reference junction to minimise clogging, and a double junction sensor to prolong the useful life of the electrode.

Specifications

pH Range: -1.00 to 15.00 pH

Accuracy:±0.01 pH

Calibration Points:Up to 3 points

Special Features:The pH Spear features a user-replaceable robust, spear tip electrode and large customisable dual-level LCD screen.

GroLine Professional Portable Soil pH Meter 
Product Code: IC-HI98168

For professional users or home users wanting professional accuracy and functionality, the IC-HI98168 will bring simplicity to soil pH testing. This pH meter can store up to 100 data points and show you information, including sample date, time, pH calibration buffers, offset, and slope.

Specifications

pH Range: -2.00 to 20.00 pH;

Accuracy: ±0.1 pH

Calibration Points:Up to five-point calibration, seven standard buffers available (1.68, 4.01, 6.86, 7.01, 9.18, 10.01, 12.45) + five custom buffers

Special Features: A CAL check feature alerts you to potential problems during calibration, including when to clean the electrode and the possibility of buffer contamination. The meter also displays the overall condition of the pH electrode after calibration based on the offset and slope characteristics.

Conclusion

The range of digital pH meters available is enormous, and devices for applications that suit everyone from avid home gardeners or professionals are available.

Want more information about any of the digital soil pH testers described above? Need help finding the pH meter that’s just right for your needs? Contact an Instrument Choice Scientist. We’re here to help! Call 1300 737 871 or email [email protected].

Multimedia

Watch an Instrument Choice Scientist Prepare a Soil Slurry for pH Measurement;

Watch an Instrument Choice Scientist Unbox the pH220s Soil pH Meter;