Without your lunch lady in the school cafeteria, you’d probably go hungry. And if a soil doesn’t have the right “pH,” then growing plants can go hungry as well. An ideal pH makes it easier for plants to take in food.
Soil pH is a measurement of how “acidic” or “alkaline” a soil is. Acidic soils have a pH less than 7.0, while alkaline soils have a pH over 7.0.
The ideal pH for plants is between 6.0 and 7.0. This is a slightly acidic soil.
A scientist tests the soil to find out its pH level.
Photo: USDA NRCS