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market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] pH testers

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  • From: Rik Smith <riksmith AT uwyo.edu>
  • To: Market Farming <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] pH testers
  • Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 15:47:02 -0600

I haven't used a Hanna pH meter, but the similar Oakton meters I have used are reliable, accurate enough for field testing (if I need more accuracy, I bring a sample back to the lab), and easy to use. I could not agree more with what Bill, Allan, and Shawnee said about checking against plant performance. We tend to have pretty high pH (7.5 - 8.5) in our soils and have grown some reasonable crops.


Rik Smith, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Agroecology
ACRES Student Farm Advisor
University of Wyoming
Department of Plant Sciences
1000 E University Ave
Laramie, WY 82071-3354

riksmith AT uwyo.edu
307/766-3238

On May 13, 2008, at 5:51 AM, Bill Shoemaker wrote:

While I've had limited experience with the Hanna hand-held pH meters, my
experience has been pretty good. If you accept their limitations, they are
very nice because they are easy to use (should say easy to lose!). If you
try not to impose too much accuracy on them, you'll get useful information
out of them. You can look at their readings as an indicator of the range of
pH the sample is in, then decide whether it is too far out of the optimum
range or not. If it is, act on it. If not, live with it. I like Allan and
Shawnee's approaches. Check your meter reading against plant performance. If
the plants, or sprays, are doing fine, accept it. If not, tweak it.

Bill Shoemaker, Sr Research Specialist, Food Crops
University of Illinois - St Charles Horticulture Research Center
www.nres.uiuc.edu/faculty/directory/shoemaker_wh.html



I use a Hannah (?) 'waterproof' from Johnny's

Yes, the electrode is fragile, but, so far, Hannah has replaced them for
free.

Finding out about my soil pH and my irrigation pH has been
illuminating but, as someone else mentioned, not consistent with the
growth I get in those beds or from that water. However, my foliars
are FAR more effective since I started adjusting pH. FAR more
effective.

-allan
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