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AQUACULTURE
First Quarter – Week 3
ANALYZING SOIL pH
AQUACULTURE – Grade 12
Most Essential Learning Competency (MELC) – Based Exemplar
Quarter 1 – Week 3: Analyzing Soil pH
First Edition, 2020

Republic Act 8293, section 176 states that: No copyright shall subsist in any
work of the Government of the Philippines. However, prior approval of the
government agency or office wherein the work is created shall be necessary for
exploitation of such work for profit. Such agency or office may, among other
things, impose as a condition the payment of royalties.

Borrowed materials (i.e., songs, stories, poems, pictures, photos, brand

names, trademarks, etc.) included in this exemplar are owned by their respective
copyright holders. Every effort has been exerted to locate and seek permission to
use these materials from their respective copyright owners. The publisher and
authors do not represent nor claim ownership over them.

Development and Quality Assurance Teams

Writers: DIANA S. CORVERA

Illustrator:
Layout Artist:
Language Editor:
Content Evaluator: SANDY G. SAPONG, JR.
Layout Evaluator:
Management Team: PSDS/DIC
___________________

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Rationale

Project PPE (Portfolio Predicate on Exemplar) is a backup contingency response of

the Schools Division of Surigao del Sur for learning delivery and learning resource
which parallel to the on-going endeavors of the higher offices in the Department. It
is the utilization of a lesson exemplar that is streamlined in a teacher-and-learner-
friendly format to cater to the new classroom setup in light of the COVID-19 health
crisis. These exemplars will be paired with a self-contained and self-instructional
portfolio.

The portfolio is a deliberate collection of works that highlight a learner’s effort that
would enable the him/her to see his/her growth and achievement, ability to reflect
on his/her own work and ability to establish goals for future learning.

Introductory Message

For the teacher:

Welcome to the TLE_AQUACULTURE - 10 – First Quarter Exemplar on Prepare Grow-

Out Facilties -Analyze Soil pH

This exemplar was collaboratively designed, developed and reviewed by educators

from different schools in the Division to assist you in helping the learners meet the
standards anchored on Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELC) set by the
Department while overcoming the constraints in schooling brought by the COVID-19
pandemic.

This learning resource hopes to engage the learners into guided and independent
learning activities at their own pace and time. Furthermore, this also aims to help
learners acquire the needed 21st century skills while taking into consideration their
needs and circumstances.

As a teacher, you are expected to orient the learners on how to use this exemplar in
the most fit modality. You also need to keep track of the learners' progress while
allowing them to manage their own learning through portfolio assessments.

For the learner:

Welcome to TLE_AQUACULTURE - 10 – First Quarter) Exemplar on Prepare Grow-Out

Facilities!

This exemplar was designed to provide you with fun and meaningful opportunities for
guided and independent learning at your own pace and time. You will be enabled
to process the contents of the learning resource while being an active learner, either
at home or in school. To help you with this, this exemplar comes with a Weekly

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Portfolio Assessment. Your teacher will provide you with a template and you will be
given a privilege to organize the portfolio in your own creative way.

This exemplar has the following parts and corresponding icons:

This will give you an idea of the competencies

you are expected to learn in the exemplar and
What I Need to Know the objectives you are expected to realize.

This part includes an activity that aims to check

What I Know
what you already know about the lesson to
take.
This section provides a brief discussion of the
lesson. This aims to help you discover and
What is It understand new concepts and skills.

This section provides an activity which will help

you transfer your new knowledge or skill into real
life situations or concerns.

What I Can Do (1,2 & 3)

This task aims to evaluate your level of mastery

What I Have Learned
in achieving the learning objectives.

This contains answers to all activities in the

module.
Answer Key

This contain instructions about recording your

Portfolio Goal Setting
positive, realistic goals before going through this
exemplar.
This contain instructions about completing the
Portfolio Completion -Your
components of the portfolio. This also includes a
Growth Clue!
rubric to guide you of how your portfolio will be
assessed.
At the end of this module you will also find:

References This is a list of all sources used in

developing this exemplar.

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 What I Need to Know

Most Essential Learning Competency:

LO 1. Grow-Out Facilities (TLE_AFGOO9-12GF-Ia-j-1)

Sub-competency:

1.1.3 Analyze Soil pH

Objectives

After going through this exemplar, you are expected to:

A. Knowledge: Define soil pH and describe the method of measuring

soil pH
B. Skill: Enumerate the descriptive terms commonly associated with
certain ranges in soil pH

C. Attitude: manifest appreciation of the importance of analyzing soil

pH.

Portfolio Goal Setting

Using the Portfolio Assessment Template provided by your teacher along

with this exemplar, accomplish now your weekly goal setting. Refer to the
objectives above. Think of positive and realistic goals that you can considerably
achieve with this exemplar. List them as your plans. Remember: Do not proceed
with this exemplar unless you have accomplished your goal setting.

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 What I Know

Multiple Choice.
Direction:
Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a
separate sheet of paper.

1. It is defined as the negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration.

A. Soil pH
B. Soil Salinity
C. Soil Turbidity
D. None of the above

2. As the amount of hydrogen ions in the soil increases the soil pH decreases thus
becoming more _________.
A. Acidic
B. Basic
C. Neutral
D. None of the above

3. _________ is never readily soluble in the soil but is most available in soil with a
pH range centered around 6.5.
A. Nitrogen
B. Phosphorus
C. Potassium
D. Zinc

4. The soil pH can also influence plant growth by its effect on activity of
beneficial microorganisms ___________ that decompose soil organic matter
are hindered in strong acid soils.
A. Bacteria
B. Predators
C. Weeds
D. None of the above

5. From pH 7 to 0 the soil is increasingly more acidic and from pH 7 to 14 the soil is
increasingly more__________________.
A. Alkaline or basic
B. Extensive
C. Intensive
D. Organic

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6. Extremely and strongly acid soils (pH) can have high concentrations of soluble
aluminum, iron and manganese which may be toxic to the growth of some
plants. Which of the following is acidic level of pH.
A. 4.0-5.0
B. 7.0-7.5
C. 7.6-8.5
D. 8.5-9.0

7. ___________ is a scientific instrument that measures the hydrogen-ion activity in

water-based solutions, indicating its acidity or basicity expressed as pH.
A. D.O Meter
B. pH Meter
C. Refractometer
D. Secchi Disc

8. A pH range of approximately ______________promotes the most ready

availability of plant nutrients.
A. 6-7
B. 7-8
C. 8-9
D. None of the above

9. What is the neutral level of soil pH?

A. 5
B. 6
C. 7
D. 8

10. This property of soil provides various clues about soil properties and is easily
determined
A. Soil Color
B. Soil pH
C. Soil Texture
D. All of the above
11. What method of measuring soil pH is describe as simple and easy but less
accurate?
A. Using Dye method (indicator)
B. Using pH meter
C. Using Refractometer
D. Using Secchi Disc
12. Which of the following level of pH is slightly alkaline?
A. 5.5
B. 6.8

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 C. 7.4
D. 9.0

13. The following level of soil pH are acidic except

A. 3.0
B. 4.5
C. 5.0
D. 7.0

14. Lime is used in the pond to enhance the activity of fertilizer since it has the
pH level of 12. Therefore lime is considered as____________.
A. Strongly Acidic
B. Neutral
C. Slightly Alkaline
D. Very Strongly Alkaline

15. There may be considerable variation in the soil pH from one spot in a field or
lawn to another. To determine the average soil pH of a field or lawn it is
necessary to collect soil from several locations and combine into one sample.
A. True
B. False
C. Neither True nor false
D. Either True or False

What is It

Grow-Out Facilities
Soil pH Analysis

Soil pH or soil reaction is an indication of the acidity or alkalinity of soil and

is measured in pH units. Soil pH is defined as the negative logarithm of the
hydrogen ion concentration. The pH scale goes from 0 to 14 with pH 7 as the
neutral point. As the amount of hydrogen ions in the soil increases the soil pH
decreases thus becoming more acidic. From pH 7 to 0 the soil is increasingly more
acidic and from pH 7 to 14 the soil is increasingly more alkaline or basic.

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 pH Meter
The most accurate method of determining soil pH is by a pH meter. A
second method which is simple and easy but less accurate then using a pH meter,
consists of using certain indicators or dyes. Many dyes change color with an
increase or decrease of pH making it possible to estimate soil pH.

ANALYZING SOIL pH

A. Different pH Level
Descriptive terms commonly associated with certain ranges in soil pH are:
● Extremely acid: < than 4.5; lemon=2.5; vinegar=3.0; stomach
acid=2.0; soda=2–4
● Very strongly acid: 4.5–5.0; beer=4.5–5.0; tomatoes=4.5
● Strongly acid: 5.1–5.5; carrots=5.0; asparagus=5.5; boric acid=5.2;
cabbage=5.3
● Moderately acid: 5.6–6.0; potatoes=5.6
● Slightly acid: 6.1–6.5; salmon=6.2; cow's milk=6.5
● Neutral: 6.6–7.3; saliva=6.6–7.3; blood=7.3; shrimp=7.0
● Slightly alkaline: 7.4–7.8; eggs=7.6–7.8
● Moderately alkaline: 7.9–8.4; sea water=8.2; sodium bicarbonate=8.4
● Strongly alkaline: 8.5–9.0; borax=9.0
● Very strongly alkaline: > than 9.1; milk of magnesia=10.5,
ammonia=11.1; lime=12

B. Measuring of Soil pH

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 Soil pH provides various clues about soil properties and is easily
determined. The most accurate method of determining soil pH is by a
pH meter. A second method which is simple and easy but less accurate
then using a pH meter, consists of using certain indicators or dyes.
Many dyes change color with an increase or decrease of pH
making it possible to estimate soil pH. In making a pH determination on
soil, the sample is saturated with the dye for a few minutes and the color
observed. This method is accurate enough for most purposes. Kits (pH)
containing the necessary chemicals and color charts are available from
garden stores.

There may be considerable variation in the soil pH from one

spot in a field or lawn to another. To determine the average soil pH of a
field or lawn it is necessary to collect soil from several locations and
combine into one sample.

C. pH Affects Nutrients, Minerals and Growth

The effect of soil pH is great on the solubility of minerals or nutrients.

Fourteen of the seventeen essential plant nutrients are obtained from the
soil. Before a nutrient can be used by plants it must be dissolved in the soil
solution. Most minerals and nutrients are more soluble or available in acid
soils than in neutral or slightly alkaline soils.

Phosphorus is never readily soluble in the soil but is most available in

soil with a pH range centered around 6.5. Extremely and strongly acid soils
(pH 4.0-5.0) can have high concentrations of soluble aluminum, iron and
manganese which may be toxic to the growth of some plants. A pH range
of approximately 6 to 7 promotes the most ready availability of plant
nutrients.

But some plants, such as azaleas, rhododendrons, blueberries, white

potatoes and conifer trees, tolerate strong acid soils and grow well. Also,
some plants do well only in slightly acid to moderately alkaline soils.
However, a slightly alkaline (pH 7.4-7.8) or higher pH soil can cause a
problem with the availability of iron to pin oak and a few other trees in
Central New York causing chlorosis of the leaves which will put the tree
under stress leading to tree decline and eventual mortality.

The soil pH can also influence plant growth by its effect on activity of
beneficial microorganisms. Bacteria that decompose soil organic matter
are hindered in strong acid soils. This prevents organic matter from breaking
down, resulting in an accumulation of organic matter and the tie up of
nutrients, particularly nitrogen, that are held in the organic matter.

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 What I Can Do 1

Activity I – Matching Type

Direction:
Match the descriptive terms commonly associated with certain ranges in
soil pH in Column A with the appropriate pH values in Column B.

Column A Column B
1. Extremely acid a. > than 9.1
2. Very strongly acid b. 6.6–7.3
3. Strongly acid c. 5.1–5.5
4. Moderately acid d. 8.5–9.0
5. Slightly acid e. 4.5–5.0
6. Neutral f. 6.1–6.5
7. Slightly alkaline g. < than 4.5
8. Moderately alkaline h. 7.9–8.4
9. Strongly alkaline i. 5.6–6.0
10. Very strongly alkaline j. 7.4–7.8
Activity II – True or False

Direction:
Write TRUE if the statement is true about analyzing soil pH and FALSE if the
statement is false about analyzing soil pH.

1. The effect of soil pH is great on the solubility of minerals or nutrients.

2. Soil pH provides various clues about soil properties and is easily

determined.

3. As the amount of hydrogen ions in the soil increases the soil pH decreases
thus becoming more acidic.

4. Phosphorus is never readily soluble in the soil but is most available in soil
with a pH range centered around 4.0.
5. Refractometer is an instrument used to measure pH level of the
substance.

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 What I Can Do 2

Activity: Discussion

Direction:
The following situations talk about analyzing soil pH in Grow-Out Facilities in
pond. Provide necessary information on the following given conditions. Give brief
and concise answer. Write it on your activity notebook.

1. How does pH level affects the soil nutrients, minerals and growth of
plants?

2. Describe the 2 methods on how to measure the soil pH level in the soil.

What I Can Do 3

Direction:

Give example of the following descriptive terms of pH level.

pH Level Example

1. Extremely acid

2. Very strongly acid

3. Strongly acid

4. Moderately acid

5. Slightly acid

6. Neutral

7. Slightly alkaline

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 8. Moderately alkaline

9. Strongly alkaline

10. Very strongly alkaline

What I Have Learned

Activity I - Multiple Choice

Direction:
Choose the letter of the best answer. Write chosen letter on a separate
sheet of paper.

1. It is defined as the negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration.

A. Soil pH
B. Soil Salinity
C. Soil Turbidity
D. None of the above

2. As the amount of hydrogen ions in the soil increases the soil pH decreases thus
becoming more _________.
A. Acidic
B. Basic
C. Neutral
D. None of the above

3. _________ is never readily soluble in the soil but is most available in soil with a
pH range centered around 6.5.
A. Nitrogen
B. Phosphorus
C. Potassium
D. Zinc

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4. The soil pH can also influence plant growth by its effect on activity of
beneficial microorganisms ___________ that decompose soil organic matter
are hindered in strong acid soils.
A. Bacteria
B. Predators
C. Weeds
D. None of the above

5. From pH 7 to 0 the soil is increasingly more acidic and from pH 7 to 14 the soil is
increasingly more__________________.
A. Alkaline or basic
B. Extensive
C. Intensive
D. Organic

6. Extremely and strongly acid soils (pH) can have high concentrations of soluble
aluminum, iron and manganese which may be toxic to the growth of some
plants. Which of the following is acidic level of pH.
A. 4.0-5.0
B. 7.0-7.5
C. 7.6-8.5
D. 8.5-9.0

7. ___________ is a scientific instrument that measures the hydrogen-ion activity in

water-based solutions, indicating its acidity or basicity expressed as pH.
A. D.O Meter
B. pH Meter
C. Refractometer
D. Secchi Disc

8. A pH range of approximately ______________promotes the most ready

availability of plant nutrients.
A. 6-7
B. 7-8
C. 8-9
D. None of the above

9. What is the neutral level of soil pH?

A. 5
B. 6
C. 7
D. 8

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10. This property of soil provides various clues about soil properties and is easily
determined
A. Soil Color
B. Soil pH
C. Soil Texture
D. All of the above

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 15
What I Have Learned
A
A
B
A
A
A
B
A
C What I Know
B A
A
B
A
A
A
B
A
C
B
A
C
D
D
A
What I Can Do 3
•Extremely acid: < than 4.5; What I Can Do 2
lemon=2.5; vinegar=3.0; stomach The effect of soil pH is great on
the solubility of minerals or nutrients.
acid=2.0; soda=2–4 Fourteen of the seventeen essential What I Can Do 1
•Very strongly acid: 4.5–5.0; plant nutrients are obtained from the I – Matching Type
soil. Before a nutrient can be used by
beer=4.5–5.0; tomatoes=4.5
plants it must be dissolved in the soil G 6. B
•Strongly acid: 5.1–5.5; carrots=5.0; solution. Most minerals and nutrients
are more soluble or available in acid E 7. J
asparagus=5.5; boric acid=5.2;
soils than in neutral or slightly alkaline C 8. H
cabbage=5.3 soils. The soil pH can also influence I 9. D
•Moderately acid: 5.6–6.0; plant growth by its effect on activity
of beneficial microorganisms.
F 10. A
potatoes=5.6
Bacteria that decompose soil organic
•Slightly acid: 6.1–6.5; salmon=6.2; matter are hindered in strong acid II – True or False
cow's milk=6.5 soils. This prevents organic matter
from breaking down, resulting in an
•Neutral: 6.6–7.3; saliva=6.6–7.3; accumulation of organic matter and True
blood=7.3; shrimp=7.0 the tie up of nutrients, particularly True
•Slightly alkaline: 7.4–7.8; eggs=7.6– nitrogen, that are held in the organic True
matter.
7.8 False
•Moderately alkaline: 7.9–8.4; sea False
The most accurate method of
water=8.2; sodium bicarbonate=8.4 determining soil pH is by a pH meter.
•Strongly alkaline: 8.5–9.0; borax=9.0 A second method which is simple
and easy but less accurate then using
•Very strongly alkaline: > than 9.1; milk of
a pH meter, consists of using certain
magnesia=10.5, ammonia=11.1; lime=12 indicators or dyes.
Answers Key
 Portfolio Completion – Your Growth Clue!

You now go back to your portfolio and work on the other components that
follow your Goal Setting. Remember that your portfolio is a deliberate collection
of your works with the help of the exemplar. Highlighting your efforts here enables
you to see and reflect on your growth and achievement and your ability to
establish goals just to learn. Upon completion of your portfolio, please be guided
of the rubric below.

Rubric for Portfolio Assessment

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References

Delincé G (1992) The ecology of the fish pond ecosystem Kluwer Academic
Publishers. ISBN 978-0-7923-1628-2.

FAO (1995) Simple methods for aquaculture: Pond Construction for Freshwater
Fish Culture: Building Earthen Ponds[permanent dead link] FAO Training
Series No. 20/1, Rome.

John Clegg (1986). The New Observer's Book of Pond Life. Frederick Warne. p. 460.
ISBN 978-0723233381.

https://www.pashudhanpraharee.com/fish-pond-construction-preparation-management-for-
better-fish-farming-in-india/

For inquiries or feedback, please write or call:

DepEd Surigao del Sur Division – Schools District of _____________

Address: _______________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________

Contact Number:
Email Address:

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