pH Testing

Discussion in 'Gardening Other' started by Daniel W, Dec 7, 2021.

  1. Dirtmechanic

    Dirtmechanic Young Pine

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    It is not. Looks like the results on that last one are inert for some reason. A null result is also a valid result. pH related probably. Did you use distilled or tap water and are you on a well if so?

    I ask because distilled water or pure rain water is a pH of 6 where tap is nuetral 7 so it does not eat the metal pipe parts by being acidic. Each decimal after the pH number is 10. They call it logarithmic. Those tests are rather specific.
     
    Last edited: Dec 27, 2021
  2. Daniel W

    Daniel W Young Pine

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    @Dirtmechanic, thanks for your wisdom!

    I used distilled water. The instructions called for distilled water, so I assume the manufacturers calibrated their tests using that. My other thought is, the garden is watered with rainwater, so maybe that factors in somehow?
     
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  3. Dirtmechanic

    Dirtmechanic Young Pine

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    I would think the test parameters would be discoverable or even published but danged if I can find them with my lame searching. It makes sense about the rain.
     
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  4. Daniel W

    Daniel W Young Pine

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    Just for fun, here is distilled water vs. tap water. Our tap is well water that goes through a purifier and softener.

    DC37C779-E682-466C-9A9C-6CD84BF71BBA.jpeg


    My eyes are not that good. I think the chart looks almost the same for pH 5.5 vs. 6.5. Here the distilled looks like pH 5.5 and the tap looks more like 7.5 or even 8.5. I can't say for certain.

    I'm glad I checked the soil. My soil is known to be calcium deficient, so I usually add lime or wood ashes. I don't wan't to make it alkaline. Based on this, I think what I have been doing is OK.

    I also add about a half pound of eggshells to each bed every year.
     



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