So you are right, dirt is not a very good conductor, by itself, and therefor by itself not a good ground. Dry sand & rock are poor grounds too. In fact PURE liquid water is not a conductor at all. It’s the mineral contaminates in water that conduct electricity, or rather the ions in those minerals.

Soil can be used to generate electrical power in microbial fuel cells (MFCs), which convert chemical energy from soil organic compounds into electricity via catalysis by soil source exoelectrogenic microorganisms. MFCs do not need energy input, instead, a small amount of electrical power is generated.

Soils provide anchorage for roots, hold water and nutrients. Soils are home to myriad micro-organisms that fix nitrogen and decompose organic matter, and armies of microscopic animals as well as earthworms and termites. We build on soil as well as with it and in it. Soil plays a vital role in the Earth’s ecosystem.

Soil serves as a:

• medium for plant growth,
• regulator of water supplies,
• recycler of raw materials,
• habitat for soil organisms, and.
• landscaping and engineering medium.

Soil is made up of mineral particles, organic matter (living and non-living), water and air. All soil is made up of inorganic mineral particles, organic matter (including living things), air and water.

Soils provide habitat for animals that live in the soil (such as groundhogs and mice) to organisms (such as bacteria and fungi), that account for most of the living things on Earth. Soils absorb, hold, release, alter, and purify most of the water in terrestrial systems.

Several studies have evaluated some of the various test kits available to home gardeners and have found that some are more accurate than others, and that accuracy can vary depending on which nutrient is being tested for. It’s also important to note that test kits may not be using the most accurate tests for NH soils.

Accuracy will depend on the range they cover, the number of colored spots, and the general quality of the product. Because the important pH range for soil is between 5.0 and 8.0, test strips covering this range are better than ones covering a wider range. A product with a range of 0.0 to 14.0 is quite useless for soil.

Add 1/2 cup of water to the soil sample and mix. Then, add 1/2 cup of vinegar. If the soil shows a visible bubbling or fizzing action, then it has an alkaline pH. The chemical reaction that you’re seeing occurs when an acid (vinegar) comes into contact with something alkaline (soil).

Accuracy of meters generally range from ±0.1 pH to ±0.001 pH. An important point is that very low cost meters often don’t last and often need replacement after a very short period of time.

The only sure way to tell if soil is contaminated is to sample the soil and have a certified laboratory test it. A certified local soils engineer or professional should be employed to conduct soil sampling.

Options for treating contaminated soil include:

1. Biological treatment/bioremediation uses bacteria to break down substances in the soil.
2. Chemical oxidation converts contaminated soils into non-hazardous soils.
3. Soil stabilisation involves the addition of immobilizing agents to reduce a contaminants’ leachability.

Glyphosate testing is conducted via the ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay) method, which utilizes an antibody specific for glyphosate. EnviroScience biologists provide comprehensive monitoring plans and rapid turnaround, with most samples being completed within 2 business days.

Potting mix is known to carry harmful bacteria and fungi. And there have been reports of deaths from diseases, such as the Legionnaires’ disease (a lung infection), that have been attributed to bacteria in potting mix. Many bacteria and fungi that can cause infections in people live in soil and water.