Suggest why it is important to know the pH of soil.

• A. To see which is the best place for growing, and what kind of base to use for neutralising it.
• B. To determine soil texture.
• C. To predict rainfall.
• D. To measure soil moisture.

Answer: (A)

Knowing soil pH tells you how acidic or alkaline the soil is, which directly affects how available essential nutrients are to plant roots. If the pH is not right for a crop, nutrients may become less available or even toxic elements may become more soluble, limiting growth. So, testing pH helps you decide which plants will grow well in that soil and whether you need to adjust the pH, for example by adding lime to raise acidity or other materials to lower it. This is about growing conditions and soil chemistry, not about soil texture, rainfall, or moisture.