A simple method for the determination of the pH values of turbid soil and other solutions

Abstract

In the course of investigations into the cause of an obscure pathological condition of the tea bush, it became necessary to make pH determinations of certain soils. Electrometric apparatus and a suitable centrifuge for clearing the solutions were not available. Considerable difficulty was experienced in making the determinations with accuracy by indicator methods owing to two causes. First, the turbidity of the soil solutions made comparison with standard buffer solutions somewhat difficult; secondly, the colours developed in the soil and buffer solutions with some indicators were different in hue, as distinct from shade or tint. This rendered exact matching quite impossible. The latter difficulties also arose when the drop ratio method was used instead of standard buffer solutions. The errors resulting from these causes were believed to be unduly large, and it was felt that greater accuracy would be attained if these difficulties could be overcome.