Ph question

[William1976]

If I take a soil sample at the surface of my outdoor grow, will it test the same as several inches down in the root zone? Just curious if since the roots are using up the nutrients and there are no roots on the surface, will I get an accurate ph test or do I need to take a core sample and test deeper down?

 

[William1976]

If I take a soil sample at the surface of my outdoor grow, will it test the same as several inches down in the root zone? Just curious if since the roots are using up the nutrients and there are no roots on the surface, will I get an accurate ph test or do I need to take a core sample and test deeper down?

Can't really test runoff because they are in the ground.

 

[Los Reefersaurus]

test it , then you will know, no one can give you the answer you are looking for.

 

[William1976]

No one? So you speak for everyone?

 

[Los Reefersaurus]

well I guess of the folk that are on line and reading you post, yes I am.

 

[Cubes15128]

well I guess of the folk that are on line and reading you post, yes I am.

I would assume the top layer of soil to be slightly different in ph, but your roots are mostly farther down so I'd personally take a tube sample like 6in down, or just stab a soil ph meter down in there!

 

[William1976]

I would assume the top layer of soil to be slightly different in ph, but your roots are mostly farther down so I'd personally take a tube sample like 6in down, or just stab a soil ph meter down in there!

I think I will try the tube idea. O I have a PH meter but I don't think it's accurate. Everywhere I probe I get the same reading of 7.

 

[Xs121]

Look up "how to do a slurry test"

Thing is, to be accurate, you have to dig up your sample at the root level.

 

[ANC]

Roots can be 3 points lower than surrounding soil. Unless you are feeding something really on the outlier range, a healthy plant in soil can cope with most.

 

[Cubes15128]

I think I will try the tube idea. O I have a PH meter but I don't think it's accurate. Everywhere I probe I get the same reading of 7.

I've never used a soil ph meter so idk xD I just test runoff and go from there

 

[William1976]

Roots can be 3 points lower than surrounding soil. Unless you are feeding something really on the outlier range, a healthy plant in soil can cope with most.

What do I mean by 3 points? On the ph scale? Seems like a lot.

 

[ANC]

Yes, it seems like a lot, but plants are cool that way. They can use chelates, simple transpiration and ionic charge to get food in.

 

[hotshotisdashit]

Every since I switched to subcools super soil I haven't had to worry about pH. I'm greatful.

 

[Weed-noob]

Spill beer on ph pen if it's ph 69 then it's calibrated #beer69

 

[William1976]

Yes, it seems like a lot, but plants are cool that way. They can use chelates, simple transpiration and ionic charge to get food in.

So your saying from a 7 (neutral) to a 4? Nah, can't be, that's way acidic.

 

[ANC]

https://books.google.co.za/books?id=7NbGsXg96OAC&pg=PA171&lpg=PA171&dq=roots+can+be+lower+ph+than+surrounding+soil&source=bl&ots=q_5U3HMPzx&sig=iK0gWhrdVu1g2ifuT2-vZyr9aHg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjWnufF_OnVAhXmDMAKHdwGBfkQ6AEIOjAD#v=onepage&q=roots can be lower ph than surrounding soil&f=false

Check 3rd paragraph n the left for the mechanism this works through.

The short answer is
Rhizosphere (area adjacent to roots) pH can be modified through root secretions.