DIY extended: What else could you measure at home?

Your soil testing toolbox

Texture is only one piece of the puzzle. Soils have many other measurable properties that reveal how they function as living systems. You could explore chemical properties, such as acidity (pH), carbonate content, or nutrient availability. You could investigate biological properties, including soil organic matter content, soil respiration, or the presence of soil organisms. There are also other physical characteristics to observe, such as soil colour, aggregate stability or moisture content. Each test provides a different perspective on soil and helps you understand how your soil supports life. Check the video instructions or linked resources for simple, DIY methods you can try at home.

Click on the titles of the tests to watch instructional step-by-step videos on YouTube.

• Sedimentation — Have you ever put soil and water in a jar and waited for 24 hours?
• Slake test — How stable are your soil’s aggregates? Compare two soils and find out.
• Soil pH — Is your soil acidic, alkaline or neutral? Prepare baking soda and vinegar.
• Nutrient status — Is your soil a nutrient buffet — or running on empty? Test for N, P, K.
• Pitfall trap — Do you want to get to know your neighbours from the soil surface?
• Teabag index — What happens with a teabag when you bury it in soil for quite a while?

Which test has caught your interest? Are there any other experiments you would like to try? Share in the Forum or note them in your Soil Diary.