New York Associate Public Health Sanitarian Practice Test

Soil pH influences how readily plants can take up nutrients. A broad middle range is often acceptable for many garden plants because it keeps the availability of most essential nutrients reasonably high across a wide variety of species. If the soil becomes too acidic, some nutrients are not as available, and at the far acidic end or the far alkaline end, several nutrients can become limited or imbalanced, leading to deficiencies or poor growth in many plants. The middle range thus offers the best balance for a diverse garden, which is why it’s considered acceptable for a wide group of plants. If your soil falls outside this range, you can adjust it with appropriate amendments to bring it toward that comfortable zone.