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2. Soil Fundamentals
Supplies
•
Dry soil sample
•
Vinegar
Instruction
1.
Pour some vinegar onto your dry soil sample.
Observations
Does the soil fizz with tiny bubbles?
Interpretation
Soil with a pH above 7 (i.e. alkaline soil) will react with vinegar (an acid), causing it to fizz.
High soil pH (alkalinity):
Activity – Fizz Test
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Note: pH can affect the availability of nitrogen, potassium, and sulfur through interactions with
biology, such as favoring nitrogen fixing plants or not.
Limits the availability of
•
Phosphorus (P)
•
Iron (Fe)
•
Manganese (Mn)
•
Boron (B)
•
Copper (Cu)
•
Zinc (Zn)
Increases the availability of
•
Calcium (Ca)
•
Magnesium (Mg)
•
Molybdenum (Mo)
Has no direct effect on
•
Nitrogen (N)
•
Potassium (K)
•
Sulfur (S)