Plants are an important part of the earth, and we need to take care of them actively. Most people don’t understand how hard it is to grow plants and care for them.
Different plants need specific conditions to thrive. For instance, some do well in highly acidic conditions and those that thrive in alkaline conditions.
To succeed as a farmer (commercially or not), you need to ensure that the conditions set are right. You can achieve this by using soil testing kits. Below are some of the best kits on the market.
Best Soil Testing Kit UK Review
Morthan New 4-in-1 Soil Tester Kit
Best Choice
Rating: 5.0/5.0
Pros
- It has an LCD screen on which the test results are displayed.
- It tests PH soil, sunlight, moisture and temperature levels of the soil.
- It has a long probe that easily reaches deeper parts of soil when testing.
- Effortless switching between the four elements.
- It is easy to use and can be used both indoors and outdoors.
Cons
- It requires a battery that has to be bought separately.
- It is costly.
What stands out?
This 4-in-1 soil tester performs four main functions hence is the best and top soil tester in this write-up. These functions include monitoring of sunlight, amount of moisture in the soil, PH levels of the soil, and the temperature of the soil. The sunlight measuring element can test up to nine levels. On the other hand, the tester can also test up to five levels of soil PH, and the temperature is presented in both degrees Celsius and Fahrenheit. Therefore, this soil measuring kit will help you determine the best location to plant your vegetables and flowers, how often to water, and whether or not to adjust the alkalinity of the soil. Additionally, the soil tester has a large LCD screen that will help you to read the test results easily.
Abafia Soil Testing Kit
Budget Pick
Rating 4.5/5.0
Pros
- Its probe is made of metal hence its durability.
- It tests PH, sunlight levels and PH levels.
- It is the most cost-efficient.
- It can be used both indoors and outdoors.
- It is very scientifically accurate.
Cons
- The metal probe is shorter than most in the market.
- The probe does not rotate if the soil is dry.
What stands out?
This is a 3-in-1 testing kit. At only £8, this is perhaps the top soil measurement kit in terms of cost. It can be used to measure the amount of light that reaches the plants, the level of moisture in the soil, and the PH levels. It is, therefore, an essential item for maintaining the health of plants. Additionally, the tester does not require a battery. All you have to do is insert its probe inside the soil and read the results. However, before using the device, you have to wet the soil because it is the only way the probe will rotate. It also comes with a metal probe that lasts for a long time.
Garden Tutor Soil Ph Test Strips
Paper Option
Rate 4.0/5.0
Pros
- It produces very accurate results.
- It comes with enough test strips for up to 100 PH tests.
- It produces results very fast.
- It comes with a full-colour testing handbook.
Cons
- It is only designed as a PH meter.
- Considering the fact that it only has one function, it is costly.
What stands out?
This tester is designed primarily for testing the PH levels of the soil. It is known to be very accurate. The soil testing kit also produces results very fast. You can use the soil PH testing kit to optimize the soil PH to the specific needs of a particular plant. The product can be used for about 100 PH tests. It also comes with up to 16 pages full-colour PH testing handbook that features both lime and sulfur application charts.
Luster Leaf 1601 Rapitest Soil Test Kit
Rating: 4.0/5.0
Pros
- It is very easy to use.
- It produces fast and accurate results.
- It comes with complete instructions for use and adjusting soil conditions.
- It comes with a chart for more than 100 plants.
Cons
- It is only suitable for outdoor use.
- It doesn’t do any good for phosphates.
What stands out?
This luster leaf soil testing kit features four individual colour-comparing features for PH, N, P and K. It is one of the best innovative and budget-friendly testing kits. It also features a capsule system and a colour comparator that is both easy to use and to understand. Additionally, the kit comes with a chart for both PH and NPK levels for at least a hundred plants. This test is fast and straightforward, and it produces very accurate results. Instructions that come with the kit are very easy to follow, and you do not need the experience to use the kit.
Bosmere k182 Soils Test Kit
Ratings: 4.0/5.0
Pros
- It comes with instructions.
- It can be used for up to ten tests, including PH level, N, P and K.
- It is accurate for both indoor and outdoor use.
- It provides very accurate readings.
Cons
- It is comparatively costly.
What stands out?
This testing kit contains all the necessary reagents to perform up to ten tests on the soil. Such tests include PH tests that help to ensure that the acidity levels in the soil are perfect for specific plants. It can also be used to test the nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium levels in the soil. Bosmere offers clients 3 comprehensive ranges of this product (premier, cover-up, and protector), all of which are designed for some of the harshest weather conditions. The kit can be used for both indoor and outdoor purposes. It provides accurate readings and comes with useful instructions.
4-in-1 Soil Test Moisture Meter Ph Levels Grandbeing
Rating: 4.0/5.0
Pros
- It can be used to measure up to 4 elements.
- It is easy to read (comes with an LCD screen).
- It can be used both indoors and outdoors.
- It comes with a 20cm long probe that can reach deep into the soil.
- It is easy to use.
Cons
- It is not very accuracy of the PH meter.
What stands out?
This test kit can be used to monitor up to nine sunlight levels, 5 soil moisture levels, up to 12 PH levels, and temperature in both Celsius and Fahrenheit. These four elements are essential to the health and growth of your plants and flowers. The tester helps you to adjust these elements to the needs of different plant types. Using this tester is very easy as all you need to do is insert it into the soil and read the results on the LCD screen or green screen. It can be used both indoors and outdoors.
Wallfire Digital Ph Soil Tester 3-in-1
Rating: 3.5/5.0
Pros
- It is very easy to read.
- It produces very accurate results.
- It can be used for a wide range of applications.
- It is cost-efficient.
Cons
- Some elements are not functional.
What stands out?
This testing kit is used to measure three main soil features essential for plant growth. The features are moisture content, light amount, and PH levels. It is very easy to use, mostly because it comes with an instruction handbook and does not require batteries to run. It also produces very accurate readings that can easily be read from an LCD screen. Finally, it can be used for both indoor and outdoor purposes.
Trixes Litmus Ph 1 to 14 Test Paper Book 80 Strips
Ratings: 3.5/5.0
Pros
- The kit comes with more than 80 litmus paper strips.
- The strips are made of high-quality material.
- It comes with a full PH meter.
- It is very affordable.
- The litmus papers are easy to dispose of.
Cons
- It can only be used to measure PH levels.
- It can only test liquids.
What stands out?
This soil testing kit is designed in such a way that it resembles a book. Each product, selling at only £2.99, comes with up to eighty litmus strips. The kit contains a full PH taste range from the most acidic to the most alkaline. The strips are colour-coded to allow for effortless reading. They are also made of high-quality material that does not spoil when introduced to water. The results obtained from the strips are extremely accurate and can be used for multiple purposes. The dimensions of the strips are small enough for easy storage and readability.
Amtast 4 in 1 Soil Ph Instrument Garden Lawn Plant Pot Soil
Rating: 3.0/5.0
Pros
- It features an LCD screen that displays results.
- It is used for up to four elements.
- It has a low-battery indicator that helps with energy preservation.
- It is accurate.
Cons
- It cannot run without a battery.
What stands out?
This instrument for soil survey is suitable for testing moisture content, PH value, temperature and environment sunlight intensity ranges. It comes with a 200mm-long probe that is easy to use. Also, it comes with an oversized LCD display that displays the readings. The unit uses a battery which has in indicator for low battery levels and an automated shutdown function that helps to prevent battery wastage.
Understanding Soil Test Results
Now that you have all the above tools and many other for testing different elements of soil, you need to know how to interpret the results. The following information would come in handy:
Acidic Soil
Soil acidity levels are measured using PH tests. The test helps to determine whether the soil is acidic, neutral, or alkaline in nature. Soil is considered acidic if its PH test results read below 7.0. The most acidic soils are normally between 4.0-5.0 PH. These soils are suitable for the growth of few types of plants. Litmus papers can be used to perform such tests. On the other hand, slightly acidic soils feature a PH of between 5.5- 6.5. These are the most ideal conditions for most plants in different parts of the world. NH soils are referred to as the most acidic kinds in the area. Plants that survive in such acidic conditions include blueberries, mountain laurel and azaleas.
Neutral Soil
A PH test that reads at exactly 7.0 means that it is neutral. If the soil PH test reads as neutral, it means that it is neither acidic nor basic.
Alkaline Soil
Soils can be referred as alkaline if their PH test results read above 7.0. Alkaline soils are suitable for non-acid loving plants. This happens to be most plant categories in the agriculture industry.
How To Change Soil pH Levels
The most effective method of raising soil pH is adding lime to the soil. Lime is a very acidic fruit. Therefore, adding lime extracts acids to the soil. You can also choose to add pulverized limestone to the soil or add compost and manure because they decrease the level of Nitrogen in the soil.
On the other hand, if you are looking to reduce the acidity of the soil, the best option would be to add pulverized limestone to the soil. The limestone acts as a soil neutralizer because it consists of calcium, calcium carbonate or magnesium carbonate.
Conclusion
Each of the testing kits above is impeccable. However, we have found the best test kit to be Morthan 2019 4-in-1 Soil Test Kit. The reason for making this conclusion is that the kit can be used for a variety of tests including, moisture, light, PH, and temperature. It produces instant results which are easy to read and very accurate. It is also suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.