How to determine the acidity of the soil at the site

The acidity of the soil area
You have decided to engage in the cultivation of a new site, or decide to plant new plants to the already objhostname? Then you should determine what is in your area the soil and whether it is suitable to new plants. The main criterion that should be determined before planting the plants is the acidity of the soil on the site.
Most plants, whether trees or shrubs, vegetables or berries can not tolerate high soil acidity. And if you plot this indicator is quite high, should, in advance will take care of neutralizing acidic soil.

Most of the plants for successful growth and development needs neutral soil. The acidity of the soil depends on how much lime is in the soil, if this component is little or not enough, the soil becomes acidic.
If your site is chosen such weeds as wild Pansy, horsetail or buttercups, the acidity of your soil is quite high, since these plants only grow successfully on acid soils. But before the end of relying on all these plants, it is not necessary, it is best verify the condition of the soil for sure, and check it several methods.

Here are some improvised ways of determining soil acidity
Litmus paper
The easiest and most accurate way is to buy a special litmus paper to determine acidity. This paper can be purchased in stores chemical reagents, specialty stores for gardeners. It is a few paper strips impregnated with a special solution-reagent strips change color depending on the acidity of the medium in which they are immersed. On the packaging, usually printed table with the colour and pH.
For a reliable result you should take some soil from different depth at the site for which you are defining acidity. Next, the sample needs to be folded in several layers of clean gauze or cloth and put it in a container with distilled water as this water does not contain salts or impurities. Then the solution is kept at the time and put in him the litmus paper for a few seconds. Then, we only compare the result with the table on the packaging.

Leaves of currant, cherry or cherries
For this method, use any of the existing listed plants currants, cherry or cherries. You should rip a few leaves to throw into a container, for example in a jar and pour boiling water. When the solution has cooled you need to throw in a small amount of soil from the site that you want to validate. After the soil is stirred with a stick and then you can determine the acidity. The solution will change color and depending on that is determined by the acidity of the soil.
The solution turned red – the soil is acidic, blue – acidic, green – neutral.

Lime cocktail

To create this cocktail you need to take two tablespoons of soil and pour into the bottle. Next you need to pour water to five tablespoons, it is advisable to use distilled water at room temperature. Then in the solution add a teaspoon of chalk. On the throat of the bottle put a fingertip or you can simply cut off the unnecessary gloves one finger before putting his squeeze, releasing the air.
The bottle a few times need a good shake, and then observe the fingertip.
If the soil is acidic fingertip will rise well, slightly, half, neutral — do not straighten up at all.

Vinegar
To determine acidity, you can use ordinary vinegar, which is available in any home. Take a handful of earth and sprinkled it with a small amount of vinegar, rather than 1 teaspoon.
If the ground started bubbling, formed foam with small bubbles, it means that the soil contains sufficient lime is a normal and non-acidic. If the ground nothing happens, it means that your land requires liming.

Source: www.art-pen.ru