Hello Permies community! I'm posting this topic for anyone who, like me a couple of months ago, was unaware of how to best test soil pH and enhance it's fertility for a better veggie harvest. I wasn't able to find anything more recent and helpful on other forums but when i came across
https://www.milkwood.net/2014/03/17/how-to-test-your-garden-soils-ph-and-balance-it-for-a-better-veggie-harvest/ I was able to get all my answers. This is for all those permies who are resolved to grow the best darn vegetables ever. If, like me, you're on a mission to feed your family nutrient-dense, organic, home-grown food, to stick it to the supermarket, and to hopefully have enough to share with friends and neighbours too.
In a nutshell:
"Healthy plants should be able to get all (yep, ALL) of the nutrients they need from the soil.
But if your soil is too acidic or too alkaline, those nutrients won’t be available, no matter how much fertiliser you add.
Acidity has a strong effect on the ability of plants to take up soil nutrients as well as upon the wellbeing of soil organisms.
Most nutrients that plants need can be chemically assimilated when the pH of the soil solution ranges from 6.0 to 7.5.
Below pH 6.0, some nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, are less available.
When pH exceeds 7.5, iron, manganese, and phosphorus are less available."
For better step by step details i suggest you visit the link i provided, helped me out a lot.
Cheers from Australia!
