Before planting trees or trees, it is necessary to study which soil will be most favorable for them.
In our article we will describe how to determine the acidity of the soil independently, since it is this indicator that has a serious impact on the development of crops.
Types of acidity
The acidity of the earth is one of the important indicators in the analysis of soil. It is measured in pH, the scale ranges from 0 to 14. 
There are three types of acidity:
- slightly acidic (soil, which is higher than pH7);
- neutral (soil, which is equal to pH7);
- acidic (soil lower than pH7).
Important! The acidity index can be different at a distance of even 1 meter. Therefore, before planting, take samples every 2 meters, this will help to more accurately determine the pH level.For most crops, neutral or slightly acidic soil is more suitable.
How to determine the level at home?
To plant the plant on the "right" site, you need to know how to determine the acidity of the soil at home. 
Vinegar
The easiest way to find out the pH of a soil is to use vinegar. To do this, pour a few drops on a handful of earth.
If you see that small bubbles appear on it, this indicates that it is neutral or non-acidic, that is, it is quite suitable for planting plants. 
Grape juice
To check the pH in this way, you will need a glass of grape juice and a lump of soil.
The ground should be lowered into the glass and the reaction should be observed: if the color of the juice begins to change, bubbles will appear on the surface, this indicates the neutrality of the soil. 
Indicator stripes
Not everyone knows how to check the acidity of the soil at home with the help of indicator strips. This is a very convenient way, since they can be purchased at any specialized store or pharmacy.
Litmus paper impregnated with a special reagent, the color of which varies with pH. Typically, the packaging shows a scale of colors, on which you can determine the pH level.
Did you know? The number of microorganisms in one teaspoon of soil is the same as the number of the population of the entire planet.For the experiment it is necessary to wind a handful of earth in several layers of gauze and put it in a container with purified distilled water. After that, it is necessary to shake well the container so that the salts from the soil are well dissolved in the water.
After that, it is necessary to lower the litmus test for several seconds into the container. Soon its color will change, and then it will be possible to determine the pH level from the table.You will also be interested to know about the importance of soil acidity, the fertilizer system of various soils, the decontamination of the soil before planting, and how to deoxidize the soil.
Red cabbage
Consider how to find out the acidity of the soil on the site with the help of red cabbage. To do this, finely chop the cabbage head. We need a decoction, by changing the color of which upon contact with the ground, we can find out the level of acidity.
Cabbage must be boiled in distilled water for 10 minutes. After that, the broth is filtered. Violet juice has a neutral pH.
We proceed to the procedure. To do this, pour the juice into a cup and place a spoonful of earth in it. Then you need to wait about 30 minutes and look at the color of the juice. If it remains unchanged - purple, then the pH of the soil is neutral. 
If the juice has become pink, it means sour soil. The richer the color, the higher. The presence of blue or green color indicates the neutrality of the soil. If the color is bright green - the soil has a high alkalinity.
other methods
There are other methods for determining the pH level. Consider them.
Appearance
Try to determine the level of pH can be in appearance. If you notice that the water in the pits has a rusty shade and a rainbow film, and after it is absorbed, there is a brown precipitate on the surface, this indicates a high acidity of the soil.
Important! Since acidity is affected by various external factors that can change it, it is worth checking it out every season and, if necessary, taking measures to bring it to the required indicators.Also a sign of acidic land is the presence of whitish layers at shallow depth.
Over weeds
You can determine the pH level by weeds that grow on the soil. On the sour soil, plantain, spikelet, ivan-da-maria, horsetail, cornflower, heather feel well.
Weakly acidic soil allows well to develop such weeds: alfalfa, mountaineer, wood lice, burdock, sow thistle, dogrose.
Nettle, clover, quinoa and bindweed grow well on alkaline soil.
Acid meter
You can determine the pH level using the device. You can buy it in special stores.
Depending on the level of acidity, the arrow will show certain data. Features of the device are presented in the instructions. 
Acidity adjustment
If you want to reduce the acidity of the soil, it is necessary to dig up the earth in the fall and add lime or wood ash to it.
To reduce alkalinity, it is necessary to add a little organic matter to the ground: peat, rotted leaves, pine needles.
Did you know? In just 1 day, the field can lose 5 cm of its upper layer. This is due to strong winds.There are a number of plants that feel more comfortable not in the soil with an average acidity. For example, for conifers, it is better to choose the soil more. That is why in the summer cottage it is necessary to artificially create sectors of a certain acidity for different plants.
After reading the article, you know how to determine the acidic soil or not. Pay special attention to this moment, since the efficiency of cultivation depends largely on the quality and compliance of the soil with the requirements of the plants.
