Back when I was actively gardening and maintaining an acre of land I neglected to do these tests, despite plenty of evidence that it was necessary. I wonder how many of the plants we lost could have been saved? The process isn’t long or complicated, Those are simple 3 DIY soil tests.
The Earthworm Test to Gauge Organic Matter
The best time to check the earth is in the spring, when the soil temperature reaches 50°F and the surface is moist. Dig about 1 cubic foot of soil with a shovel. Put the soil on a piece of cardboard, take it apart, and look for for.
If your soil is healthy, you’ll find at least 10 earthworms!
If your soil has fewer than 10 worms, add more organic matter—compost, aged manure, leaf mold. Organic matter improves structure, slowly releases nutrients, and increases beneficial microbial activity.
The Pantry pH Test for Soil Acidity or Alkalinity
Put 2 tablespoons of soil in a bowl, then add ½ cup of vinegar. If the mixture foams, you have alkaline soil.
Put 2 tablespoons of soil in a bowl and moisten it with distilled water. Add ½ cup of baking soda. If the mixture foams, your soil is acidic.
If it does not respond to any of the tests, the pH of the soil is neutral.
Very high or very low soil pH values can cause plant nutrient deficiencies or toxicity.
The pH value of 7 is neutral; when the pH value is in the range of 5.5 to 7, the activity of microorganisms is maximum, and the ability of roots to absorb nutrients is the best.
The Peanut Butter Jar Soil Test for Sand, Silt, and Clay
The setup process takes about 1 hour and takes a whole day to complete. Find an empty straight-sided jar with a lid, such as a peanut butter or glass bottle, and prepare a ruler. Dig about 6 inches of root level in the area you want to test and remove enough dirt to fill the jar to make it one-third to one-half full. Next, fill the jar with water, then set the jar aside to allow the soil to absorb the water. Put the lid on the jar and shake it vigorously for about 3 minutes.
Put down the jar and look at your watch. Within 1 minute, use a ruler to measure the amount of sediment collected at the bottom. This is the sand in your soil.
Wait another 4 minutes. Measure the sediment again: the difference between these two numbers will be the amount of silt in the soil.
Take the third measurement within 24 hours. The difference between the second and third number will be the amount of clay in your soil.
