10 Best Soil Test Kits to Check pH, Nutrients & Moisturers
Soil is an important aspect for those that want to reap agricultural benefits. So before sowing that crop, it’s better to test the quality of your soil to ensure that your efforts are fruitful. Most would choose to hire a professional for the task. However, you can do it yourself for the purpose of convenience and economy.
In this article, we’re going to review the best soil test kits you can use. This will help you save a lot of time, and possibly, get more yields from each crop you sow.
Image | Product Name | Rating | Current Price |
---|---|---|---|
1. Luster Leaf 1601 Rapitest Soil Test Kit | 4.0 | ||
2. Environmental Concepts 1662 Professional Soil Test Kit | 4.0 | ||
3. HealthyWiser 3-in-1 Soil Test Kit For Moisture | 4.0 | ||
4. MoonCity 3-in-1 Soil Test Moisture | 4.0 | ||
5. Luster Leaf 1612 Rapitest pH Soil Tester | 3.9 | ||
6. Dr.meter S30 3-in-1 Soil Moisture Meter | 4.3 | ||
7. Soil Savvy Soil Test Kit | 4.6 | ||
8. KKmall 3-in-1 Soil Test Kit | 3.9 | ||
9. MoonCity 4-in-1 Soil Test Kit | 4.0 | ||
10. Mudder Soil Test Kit | 3.9 |
10 Best Soil Test Kits - Reviews
#1. Luster Leaf 1601 Rapitest Soil Test Kit
Editor's Rating: (4 / 5)
Luster Leaf 1601 is one of the top rated kits. It gives gardeners the convenience of a unique, patented color comparator and capsule system. The kit includes 4 individual color comparators designed to test soil pH as well as the level of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium minerals in the soil. This gives an easy-to-use system that has lots of fun in it.
The kit comes with an eye dropper that allows for easy solution transfer. With this kit, you can carry up to 40 tests in total: 10 for pH, 10 for Nitrogen, 10 for Potassium and 10 for Phosphorus. What’s more, you get a reference list of at lease 450 plants. The whole process takes only a few minutes to accomplish.
Instructions are included for adjusting soil conditions. That said, you actually need no experience to use this test kit. Included in the kit is a chart comprising of pH and NPK levels of more than 100 plants. The kit is inexpensive and makes a nice option especially for beginners who want something that’s not too complicated.
#2. Environmental Concepts 1662 Professional Soil Test Kit
Editor's Rating: (4 / 5)
Environmental Concepts enters our list with its 1662 Professional Soil Test Kit. This easy-to-use kits is designed for both classroom and field testing. The kit provides a low cost solution to testing pH and NPK levels in the soil. It comes packed in a sturdy case for easy access and worry-free transportation wherever you go.
The tests are done quick to save you precious time. Not only is it quick, but you also get the convenience of accurate results. The kit is designed to do a total of 40 tests. And to make it even much easier to use, it comes with a comprehensive instruction booklet. That means that you don’t need to have lots of experience in order to use it.
Based on the results, the booklet provides recommendations on how to amend soil conditions. The liquid reagents and equipment pack well in the case and are safe from children. This soil test kit makes a nice choice for a low cost kit that comes portable and ready for the go.
#3. HealthyWiser 3-in-1 Soil Test Kit For Moisture
Editor's Rating: (4 / 5)
Testing the soil can be done in the digital way; and that’s exactly how this test kit works. It provides a time-saving and cost effective method that makes gardening a simple and fun experience. This digital soil meter sports a 3-in-1 design. That said, it can be used to measure pH level, moisture content and light.
In short, this test kit lets you know when you need to adjust the lighting condition, amend the soil pH or water your crops. The result is a well-maintained garden that is always in a tip-top condition. This kit eliminates any guesswork in the process. It sports a rare combination of accuracy and precision to ensure that you’ll never have to take a reading more than once.
HealthyWiser test kit is durable, practical and much easy to use. What’s more it doesn’t need any batteries to work. All you need to do is just stick it into the soil and get an instant reading that’s accurate and precise. With this soil test kit, you get to buy with confidence knowing that it has a 90-day money back guarantee to offer.
#4. MoonCity 3-in-1 Soil Test Moisture
Editor's Rating: (4 / 5)
Regardless of whether you are conducting your soil test indoor or outdoor, MoonCity 3-in-1 kit is a tool that makes that happen. This soil meter gives a versatile solution for testing moisture content, lighting and pH level. It looks more like HealthyWiser 3-in-1 kit, but with some differences in packaging.
At a glance, you might assume that this test kit works on some batteries. However, that’s not the case since it doesn’t require batteries to work. The only thing that is needed is to plug it in the soil and obtain the reading for moisture, light and pH. This makes it a cost-effective solution for keeping your soil in check.
Readings are easy to view on the user-friendly display and are accurate enough to eliminate the need for doing it twice. This three-way meter comes in a compact size that lets you take it wherever you go. It has a pH range of 3.5 - 8, a moisture range of 1 - 10 and a relative light of 0 - 2000 lux.
#5. Luster Leaf 1612 Rapitest pH Soil Tester
Editor's Rating: (3.9 / 5)
To provide more flexible options, Luster Leaf has another economical soil tester designed just for testing the pH level. This is none other than Luster Leaf 1612 soil tester. This is a tester that takes simplicity and ease-of-use to a whole new level. What’s more, you don’t have to dig much deeper in your pocket to get one.
This soil tester comes with capsules designed to do a total of 10 tests. Making color comparisons is made much easier with a color comparator that’s vivid enough for easy viewing. The simplicity of this soil meter doesn’t compromise its accuracy. With it, you get accurate results obtained in just a single reading.
Experience is nothing to worry about, something that might come in handy for beginners. You get simple instructions to guide you through the process. The instructions come along with a recommendation for over 400 plants.
#6. Dr.meter S30 3-in-1 Soil Moisture Meter
Editor's Rating: (4.3 / 5)
Again we have a 3-in-1 soil meter designed by Dr.meter. The meter pays close resemblance to the 3-in-1 meters designed by MoonCity and HealthyWiser. However, this particular soil meter has something extra to offer in terms of accuracy and respond time.
Even before getting a hang of how it works, you’ll notice that this meter comes in a compact and lightweight size. This is a feature that makes it portable enough so that you can conduct soil tests while on the go. What’s more, it can be used both indoor and outdoor for added convenience. The meter is specially designed for three different tests: moisture, light and pH.
There is a setting dedicated to light, moisture and pH. Results are viewed on a display screen. The pH level ranges from acidic to alkaline, which is from 3.5 to 8. On the other hand, the moisture content ranges from dry, moist to wet and is represented with a reading of 1 to 10. Light ranges from dark to light and is represented with a reading of 0 to 2000 lux.
The meter comes in an eco-friendly design that doesn’t need the use of batteries. It’s easy to use since all you have to do is plug the two 20 cm probes into the soil and you get an instant reading that is accurate.
#7. Soil Savvy Soil Test Kit
Editor's Rating: (4.6 / 5)
Here’s a budget-friendly soil test kit available to the general public. It provides the convenience and reliability of a professional-grade soil tester. The kit lets you garden like a pro and comes ready to use. This means that there is no need for the stressful assemble process.
Soil Savvy kit is specially designed to test pH level and the level of 14 nutrients present in the soil. That includes the main nutrients of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium.apart from its versatile use, this kit provides a truly sustainable approach when it comes to fertilizer management. It provides fertilizer recommendations for your plants, both organic and synthetic fertilizers.
#8. KKmall 3-in-1 Soil Test Kit
Editor's Rating: (3.9 / 5)
Sometimes, the world of digital soil test kits come with some inconvenience where you need to buy one kit for every test. However, that’s not the case with KKMall 3-in-1. This is a 3-in-1 product that lets you test for moisture, light and pH. These are done all at once to save you time without sacrificing on accuracy.
This soil test kit comes in a compact design sporting a lightweight construction. This creates a perfect size that can be used indoors and out. What’s more, you can comfortably take it with you wherever you go. The meter lets you know the right time to add water, change light or adjust the pH level.
It might come as good news that this kit doesn’t require batteries or electricity to operate. All it needs is just plugging into the soil via the included probes and you get your reading in an instant. This small tester is a time saver since it gives accurate readings that eliminate the need for repeat tests.
#9. MoonCity 4-in-1 Soil Test Kit
Editor's Rating: (4 / 5)
MoonCity enters our list once more, but this time with a more advanced and versatile soil meter. This is a meter that provides more than that of the 3-in-1 design. It comes in an impressive 4-in-1 design that measures virtually anything in the soil.
This test kit measures moisture, light, pH and temperature. The moisture is measures up to 5 different levels while the pH ranges from 3.5 to 9. The amount of light is measures to 9 different levels and temperature from -9 to 50 degrees Celsius.
Despite the many readings it offers, this soil test kit is easy to use. What you need to do is just insert the battery, plug in and obtain the reading. A large LED display comes in handy to provides user-friendly display for easy reading. What’s more, it provides night visibility to enable you carry out the tests at any time.
The meter comes compact enough for use indoors and out. It is scientifically accurate to provide readings that are reliable. Note that the 9V battery is not included in the package so you’ve got to get one for your meter.
#10. Mudder Soil Test Kit
Editor's Rating: (3.9 / 5)
Do you experience difficulties when it comes to timely watering of your plants? Well, Mudder Soil Moisture Sensor Meter might just be what you’re looking for. This hydrometer is specially designed to measure moisture content in the soil. The moisture is measured at the root by plugging in the probe.
The moisture levels are displayed on a user-friendly screen for easy reading. A reading of 1 to 3 represents dry, 4 to 7 represents moist and 8 to 10 represents wet. This scale of 1 to 10 is color coded to make reading even much easier.
Mudder moisture meter doesn’t require batteries nor electricity. Just plug in the probe and obtain the reading. It comes in a compact and portable design for use indoors and out. It’s accurate on point and lets you regulate soil moisture with ease.
What Soil Test Kit is Used for
Now that you’ve familiarized yourself with one of the best soil test kits on the market, it’s now that that we get down to the functions of a soil test kit. But before, we look into that, remember that these kits are made different and may include one or more of the functions we’re going to outline below.
#1. pH Readings
pH is one of the must-have functions in a soil test kit. This is because it’s one of the most commonly tested thing in the soil. Knowing the pH is of great importance as it helps you determine the optimum amount of nutrients for your plants.
The pH level ranges from acidic to alkaline and the scale might vary depending on the type of kit you buy. Levels below seven indicates that the soil is acidic while those over seven shows that the soil is alkaline. At seven, the soil is of neutral pH.
#2. Nutrient Readings
This measures the amount of nutrients you have in the soil, or rather, the amount of total dissolved solids contained in the soil. Knowing the amount of nutrients present in the soil helps you determine how much fertilizer you’re going to use. The most common measures nutrients are Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium.
#3. Temperature Readings
Most professional-grade soil kits provide the convenience of a temperature reading. This helps much since different crops do well in different amounts of temperature. With it, you get the best temperature for each specific plant.
#4. Moisture Readings
A soil kit can measure the amount of water locked in the soil. With different scales of dry, moist and wet, you’ll be able to know how to regulate the amount of water tailored for the specific needs of your plant.
#5. Light Readings
Light is a very important factor during the growth of plants. That’s why you need to ensure that it’s just the right amount to keep your plants healthy. A soil test kit helps in that by measuring the intensity of light over a given scale.
Conclusion
The above reviewed kits are our best recommendations for garden soil test kit. These kits give a perfect balance of accuracy, precision and ease-of-use, something that matches the needs of just about any gardener. So, which one has impressed you most? Well, that’s your decision to make.
Read More: 10 Best Potting Soils
Last Updated on June 5, 2019 by Tom Bradly