Luster Leaf Rapitest Electronic 4 Way Analyzer #1880

Customer Rating:
Summary: okay otherwise but ph testing feature useless
Comment: This unit is very useful for measuring soil moisture and sunlight. While I wasn't in a position to evaluate the fertility feature, I do know that the ph testing is useless.

When I tested the commercial soil in my potted plants, I noticed that they all indicated a ph of 7. To my surprise, my yard and garden soil also indicated 7. Since I have heavy clay soil in my yard I began to suspect that the Rapitest was inaccurate.

I took a couple 1/2 cup soil samples out of the garden and put them in small seed pots, carefully followed the Rapitest instructions for ph testing and still came up with a ph of 7. I added two tablespoons of vinegar to one of the samples and two tablespoons of baking soda to the other. Results? You guessed it--ph of 7.

I found a study on the Journal of Extension ([...]) that evaluated ph testing methods for field testing by extension agents which found the Rapitest to be useless.

I would have given this unit an even lower score, but at least two of the functions worked.

Customer Rating:
Summary: Does what it's meant to do
Comment: Isn't quite as easy to use as you are led to believe, but if you follow the instructions, you get reasonable results. It's not substitute for a good soil test, but I've found it to be a good indicator of when a soil test might need to be done.

Customer Rating:
Summary: Cheap and useless.
Comment: The one I have doesn't work at all, so I opened it up. The total price of all the components has to be less than $5, which makes $35 a rather outrageous purchase price. The components are the case, the probes, the meter, a 50 Cent rheostat, a switch, a small photo cell, and a resistor. I can't see how that meager melange is supposed to produce meaningful results.

Customer Rating:
Summary: all 4 in one
Comment: A very good device for the price. The only thing that I didn't realize at first was that the NPK numbers are not specifically given. Rather, the device gives you an overview of whether the nutrients are balanced or not. If the nutrients are not in the "ok" range, then you'll need to do a seperate nutrient test to find out exactly what the levels are.

Customer Rating:
Summary: rapitest electronic 4 way analyzer
Comment: it did what it's suppose to do I just don't use it like I thought I would