On a soybean and corn farm in Illinois, we noticed that despite applying fertilizers and following crop rotation practices, yields were declining. The root cause was identified using a digital pH meter: soil acidity had dropped to a level where nutrients were no longer accessible to the roots.

Thanks to regular pH monitoring with a digital device, we adjusted our field's agrochemical map, applied lime, and brought the pH level back to the optimal range (6.5–6.8 for soybeans). Yields increased by 12% in the very next season.

A study in the Agronomy Journal confirms that pH influences the availability of phosphorus, nitrogen, and other nutrients, and that correcting pH levels has a direct impact on crop yields (Agronomy Journal, 2016).