---
title: "Soil pH — AP Environmental Science Definition & Exam Guide"
description: "Soil pH measures how acidic or alkaline soil is on a 0-14 scale. It's a chemical soil property in APES Topic 4.3 that controls nutrient availability and links to acid rain."
canonical: "https://fiveable.me/ap-enviro/key-terms/soil-ph"
type: "key-term"
subject: "AP Environmental Science"
---

# Soil pH — AP Environmental Science Definition & Exam Guide

## Definition

Soil pH refers to the measurement of acidity or alkalinity in soil. It is a scale that ranges from 0 to 14, with values below 7 indicating acidic soil, values above 7 indicating alkaline soil, and a value of 7 being neutral.

## Related Study Guides

- [4.3 Soil Composition and Properties](/ap-enviro/unit-4/soil-composition-properties/study-guide/ya8tnaBt6cwl7GR6WYuQ)

## Review

### Related Terms

- Nutrient Availability: The amount of nutrients that can be absorbed by plants depends on the soil's pH level.
- Lime Application: Adding lime to acidic soil helps raise its pH level towards neutrality.
- [Acid Rain](/ap-enviro/key-terms/acid-rain): Acid rain can lower the pH of soils over time, making them more acidic.