pH
pH is a measurement, not a disease.
Also called: acidity, water pH, 1:2.5 pH, pH 5.2
- pH is a measurement, not a disease.
- Acidity and water pH on the sheet are the same cell.
- Read the soil to water ratio before you compare labs.
- On grain land, lime only below about 5.5.
- Do not push tea to neutral.
- Above about 8, iron often locks.
- Rates live in the acid-soil and lime guides.
How it appears on the sheet
The sheet may say pH, acidity, or water pH. Read the soil:water ratio first. Different ratios are not the same number.
A sketch. Do not fertilise from the picture alone.Common units
Dimensionless. Soil:water is often 1:2.5 or 1:1 — read the note, don’t mix labs.
Soil:water ratio · 1:1, 1:2.5 and 1:5 pH are not the same number.
How to read the number
pH is a measurement, not a disease. Lime or alkali amendments aim at this number. Grain land and tea have different targets.
If the number and the field disagree, read the soil:water ratio first. Rates live in the field guide.
Thresholds only, not a prescription. Rates live in the field guide. This page does not hand you a bag count.
| Cell | Low | Mid | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grain, water pH (sketch) | Below about 5.5, root tips brown | About 6.0–7.5 for most grain and veg | Above about 8, iron locks |
| Tea | Too low hurts roots | About 4.5–6.0 is the tea window | Do not push tea to neutral |
Regional classes differ. This table is a comparison, not a prescription.
What it looks like in the field
Brown bald root tips often match low pH on grain land; yellow new leaves with green veins often match high pH. Tea uses a different range.
Don’t do this
- Don’t mix labs or soil:water ratios.
- Don’t push tea to neutral.
- pH is not a nutrient name.