How to Test Soil pH Using Natural Indicators at Home.

How to Test Soil pH Using Natural Indicators at Home.

Soil pH in simple terms is the measure of the alkalinity or the acidity of the soil. A pH value measures the hydrogen ion concentration in the soil. Acidic soils have low pH and have high hydrogen ion concentration, while a high pH value shows the soil is alkaline with low pH concentration.


Soil pH mostly ranges between 3.5-10; in areas that receive high rainfall, the pH of the soil is in the range 5-7, in drier areas, it ranges from 6.5-9. We classify soil as either neutral, acidic, or alkaline depending upon their pH value:


Neutral-6.5-7.5

Acidic- less than 6.5, soils with a pH value below 5.5 are highly acidic

Alkaline-above 7.5


Why measuring soil pH is important.

A desirable pH range is important for the optimal growth of the plants, some crop plants grow best at pH values ranging between 6-7, while others prefer slightly acidic soils. When elements like Ca (calcium), Mg (magnesium), Na (Sodium), and K (potassium) gets replaced by hydrogen ions, the soil becomes acidic. Areas that receive high annual rainfall are characterized by acidic soils in compared to arid regions.

Measuring pH

Materials required for soil testing

1) Soil samples: Two soil samples were collected from two different sites. The soil samples were collected in a clear transparent bag and were labeled as A and B, respectively. Stones and clumps of soils were discarded during the collection of the sample to get better results.

2) Turmeric indicator (prepared by dissolving a pinch of turmeric in an alcohol-based sanitizer)

3) Deionized water and dropper.

Procedure:

1. An equal amount of soil was taken with the help of a spoon (or if you have a weighing balance, weigh 5g of soil sample) in a glass.

2. About 20 ml of deionized water was added to each glass and the soil sample was stirred continuously for about 2-3 minutes to form soil suspension.

3. Let it stand for about 5 minutes.

4. With a help of a dropper, the supernatant was collected for the experiment.

5. Add 5-6 drops of the supernatant to a bowl and add 2-3 drops of the turmeric indicator.

6. Turmeric is yellow with acidic soils while turns bright red with alkaline soil.

IMPORTANCE OF BIOLOGY IN OUR DAILY LIVES

Biology is associated with our lives and bears a high impact on our everyday lives, varying from the food we eat to the management of diseases. Thus, its role in our daily lives can be summed up as follows:

Increase in food production.

Agriculture is a branch of biology in which we cultivate plants as crops and animals are raised for food production. Biology is the study of plant life and animal life, therefore both agriculture and biology are strongly linked to each other and entwined as agricultural practice makes the usage of biology lessons. The application of biology in agriculture has lead to a significant increment in food production to meet the growing demands of a growing population. Advancements in biology and technology have aided us to realize this dream, which was unfeasible with conventional modes of farming. Tissue culture has made feasible to propagate many plants within a brief period, and the production of seedless fruits like papaya and watermelon is attainable.

Diagnosing and treating diseases

Biology has enabled us to figure out the functioning of the human body in greater depth and how it could be kept healthy. Advancement in medication has made it possible to understand, and cure disorders in both humans and animals. Besides that our knowledge of heredity and inheritance of genetic diseases has also increased. We are now familiar with the role of hygiene maintenance in the avoidance of disease.

Management of environmental problems. 

Our awareness of ecology has elaborated considerably and therefore we understand ourselves, and surroundings better. As a result, humans are striving hard to further manage environmental problems and are determined to conserve it for our future generations. Hence humans have appreciated nature and the diversification it holds. So biology has helped conserve our endangered species and how to handle our limited resources.

Origin of life and its evolution.

Biology also made us find out how life came into existence on the earth and how it evolved.

Leisure activities. 

We can apply our knowledge of biology in recreation activities like gardening, fishing, and cooking as well.