The Effect of pH on the Germination of Bean Seeds

Length of Roots

• The pH level in water affects how long the roots are once the beans sprout. If the beans are exposed to pH levels of less than four, they tend to sprout longer roots, while beans with a pH level of greater than seven tend to sprout shorter roots. Thus, high pH levels can stunt the growth of beans during their germination period.

Germination Time

• Differing pH levels affect how long it takes bean seeds to germinate. Some seeds will not germinate at all if the pH level is too high, while other seeds may take a longer time to germinate. Measuring seeds on a daily basis after planting helps determine whether the seeds are germinating. If seeds grow slowly or not at all, you might need to check the pH levels in the soil.

Failure Rate

• The failure rate is how many seeds fail to germinate. For most beans, soil with a pH between six and seven provides the lowest failure rate. If the pH rate is too low or too high, more seeds will fail to germinate. Seeds may become moldy or may not sprout at all because the beans aren't getting enough nutrients from the soil due to the pH levels.