>>1033962>How to understand soilRead a book, such as the one in the pic. You should also be able to find various other books or sites on horticulture which have sections dealing with soil in a more general overview, which is honestly all most hobbyists need.
>PH testingYou can use litmus strips or dye indicators but one of the best options is a PH meter. They are pretty cheap and accurate however you will need to calibrate them, they don't just work out the box
Not an expert on either though so take that advice with a grain of salt.
