From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Ohio

What do you think about this soil tester meter?

http://www.outsidepride.com/store/catalog/4-Way-Analyzer-p-17835.html

thanks,
Brooks

1/5/2005 8:19:27 AM

Hilpoltstein, Bavaria, Germany

A neighbor of mine has one. I used it a few times and got different readings all the time - I must assume they are not very accurate.

Martin

1/5/2005 8:29:27 AM

Follansbee, Wv

I have one very similar to that Brooks. It was a waste of money. Like Martin said, different readings every tims and not even close to the lab reports.

1/5/2005 8:43:21 AM

New Hampshire

I have one - I don't trust it

1/5/2005 9:02:51 PM

Puyallup, WA

I put much more faith in the Kelway pH tester.

1/5/2005 11:17:18 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

I had a Kelway & still use a friends occasionally. It's the best of the hand held units *IF* the user has a lot of hours comparing the field results of the unit to lab test reports. Like all other meters, moisture content of the test soil makes a critical difference in the reading.

1/6/2005 7:29:39 AM

Cologne / Germany

What do you think about the test kits using different chemicals to analyze your soil? Over here the garden stores sell them, ranging between 20 and 60 bucks for up to 100 tests. It´s still a lot cheaper than a lab test and gives you that alchemist feeling :)
(german link) http://www.agrartronic.de/de/dept_9.html

1/6/2005 10:56:35 AM

Puyallup, WA

I believe that the units that are used in a Professional Laboratory cost at least $1500 and need recalibrating frequently. My advice...send your soil to a lab for testing and while taking a sample, use your "hand held" unit to get a reading. Compare the results. My Kelway unit was within .2 last year...close enough for me.

1/6/2005 10:36:28 PM