critch

Where can I buy an electronic soil tester? First I suppose I should ask if they' re dependable, are they?
I haven' t seen an add for one for quite some time now. I need one pretty darn soon.

Thanks in advance, critch.

timbercruiser

One source you can check is Forestry Suppliers at www.forestry-suppliers.com or call 1-800-647-5368. They are expensive for their products, but offer very good equipment. If ph is all you need just go by your local agriculture office and get a soil sample kit. Our local office will run ph for free and they have results in a couple of days.

critch

Thanks TC.............critch.

Uncle Al

try your local garden center. i got a complete soil test for $14.00.

Dan O.

The electronic testers only give an actual pH, not a buffer pH which you need to work out the amount of lime required.

Dan O.

red rooster

I think these testers can be used to moniter soil ph over time. I bought one just to check different areas out of curiosity. Maybe Dan O would elaborate on the difference between actual and buffer ph and how this is determined?
Thanks

Dan O.

The buffer pH is titrated with a buffer solution to raise the pH to a certain point. Two soils can have the same actual pH but one soil could need 10 times more buffer to raise the pH to the same point. That' s why some soils may need 10 tons of lime per acre and others need 1 ton when they both have the same pH.

The meter can be used to monitor the pH but you never know how much lime you' ll need until you get to the final pH. You' ll also have to put on many additions over a long period of time to get to the end point.

Dan O.