I have two special tools that I find extremely usefull for checking the pH and the salinity of my soil mixtures.
The salinity tells you how much fertiliser is present in your soil and makes it possible for you to add fertiliser when needed or remove excess when it's too high.
The pH can tell you the exact amount of acidity or alkalinity of your mixture.
Here is the information on one that can do both :
http://www.process-controls.com/Vis...L/agrimeter.htm