How to Manage Acidic Soil? 4 Amendments

 

How to Manage Acidic Soil? 4 Amendments

Soil pH plays a key role in the productivity of the soil because it controls nutrients availability and activities of microorganisms. Typically soil pH ranges between 5.5 and 8.0 while ideal soil pH for most prairie crops to show optimum growth is 6.5 to 6.8.

If you want to grow certain plants, including vegetables, and lawn grasses or crops, acidic soil (pH <5.5) can pose serious problem. Generally, most of the plants struggle to show normal growth in a soil that is too acidic because the acidity prevents them from absorbing nutrients from the soil.

Soil pH Testing

Acidic Soil:

Moderate Acidic Soil:  5.6 to 6.0

Strongly Acidic Soil: 5.1-5.5

Very strongly Acidic Soil: <5.0

Effects of Soil Hyperacidity:

Low pH accelerates the solubility of Zinc, Iron and Aluminum that results in toxic soil conditions.

Uptake of Nitrogen and Phosphorus is negatively affected.

Causes decline in productivity

Influences microbial activity and decomposition of organic matter  

Amendments to Manage Acidic Soil

There are some amendments that can help increase the pH or decrease the acidity of the soil. However, such amendments should not be added to soil unless soil is properly tested.  

Lime

Among the efficient amendments to manage acidic soil is the application of pulverized limestone or dolomite limestone. Dolomite contains magnesium (Mg) plus calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) while lime contains only CaCO₃. For garden, you should often opt for dolomite limestone, agricultural lime, or garden lime. Moreover, proper care should be taken while using other forms of lime such as hydrated lime or quicklime.

Recommended rate of application:

In order to raise the pH of soil by one level (that is from pH-4 to pH-5), it is normally advised to add 5-10 pounds of lime per 100 ft² of garden soil. It will take more than the recommended rate to increase the pH if your soil is clay.

 Bone Meal

Bone meal is a wonderful source of calcium and may gradually improve the pH of your soil. It works best on soils that are just mildly acidic and is not a rapid remedy.

Recommended rate of application:

Bone meal is normally applied at a rate of 5 pounds per 50 ft². However, to further increase pH, rate of bone meal can be doubled.

Compost

Continue to apply high-quality compost to the area once you have adjusted the pH. While doing this won't immediately change the pH of the soil, over time it will contribute to its improvement and supply nearby plants with essential nutrients as you work to reduce the soil's acidity. Depending on what you're growing there, add at least two to three inches of compost annually, either to the soil's top or deeper. Simply top-dress the space with compost if perennials, shrubs, or trees are to be grown there. Dig it into the top few inches of soil at or just before planting time, or at the conclusion of the growing season. If it's a new planting area or one then replenish it every year, like a vegetable garden.

Wood Ash

Wood ashes can also be used to manage acidic soil. If you choose this method, just be careful not to burn any treated wood or black walnut, as these are typically poisonous to other flora. If you choose to use wood ash, be sure to dig it into the soil; if you don't, the tiny, dusty particles will just fly away.

Recommended rate of application:

Fall is the ideal time to apply wood ash. Wood Ash should be applied at a rate of 5 to 10 pounds per 100 ft².

Conclusion:

It is concluded that soil pH must be tested before the application of amendments. Also, management of acidic soil is not tough, however, it takes time and therefore must be dealt patiently. All of the above amendments (Lime, Bone meal, wood ash and compost) whether applied individually or in combination are helpful in yielding the desired results.