[CH] pH meters final thoughts
Byron.Bromley (Byron.Bromley@Gsd-Co.Com)
Wed, 31 Mar 1999 22:21:26 -0500
After a bunch of websites and private mail. I am going to stick
with the cheapy meter. Lets look at the practical side.
For a particular soil and lime, the recommdations are
to raise the pH 1 point, add 7.5 oz of lime per sq yd.
Lets assume we want to raise it 10% or 0.1 pH.
this means 0.75 oz per sq yd. ie 3/4ths oz.
I can not fathom trying to spread 3/4 of an oz evenly over 1 sq yd.
Now to accurate to 1%, means .075 oz or roughly 1/8th tsp.
over 1 sq yard. I think the cost of doing this is beyond what the
average gardener wants to spend.
Also what is recommened doesn't always work.
Example last fall I measured my pH to be 7.0, I added 3/4 lb of sulfer
per 100 sq ft. This should have brought it down 1/2 pH point. Instead
it brought it down 1/4 th pH point. In my thoughts this is ideal. a pH
of 6.75, Tested with 3 different cheapy meters and confirmed by
my extension office.
Why do I do it in the fall ? It takes 2 to 3 months for lime or sulfur
to fully disolve. Subtract frozen time. I am ready to go in the spring.
Byron
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