Is your soil not supporting your crop the way you expect it to do? Have you tried everything to improve your yield without any results? The problem could be inappropriate quantities of soil pH.
Soil pH can directly affect your crop yield despite your best efforts to keep your crops healthy, so you should get your soil pH tested today. Look for an expert digital soil pH tester in the USA and solve this imbalance immediately to improve the likelihood of a good harvest this season.
How Does pH Play a Significant Role in Soil?
Soil pH is often overlooked in favor of the nutrient levels and consistency, yet having the right pH is key to growing healthy crops. Soil pH directly impacts the number of nutrients and chemicals dissolved in soil water, which in turn affects the amount of nutrients available for plants to grow and enhance their overall health. So, it’s crutialto get the pH level right for what you are growing.
Typical pH Levels in the Soil:
The majority of soil layers have a pH value within 3.5 and 10. The most optimal pH for plants is slightly below 7, yet a somewhat acidic pH indicates a very good balance of water and nutrients from the decaying organic matter.
Source: www.atlas-scientific.com
Factors Affecting Soil pH:
Many factors affect the pH of soil. These factors include the following:
- Pollution
- Irrigation water
- Environment & Climate
- Organisms
- Geology
- Topography
- Types of soil
- Time
How Do You Measure and Adjust the pH of Your Soil?
With some pH testers, it is possible to push the meter directly into the soil to obtain a pH reading. However, we recommend following these simple steps for a more accurate reading.
- Remove the top layer of soil, approximately 1″. Break up and crumble the soil to a depth of about 6″. Take your soil sample from this layer of broken-up soil. You will need about 200ml of soil.
- Pour the soil into a large jar with a lid. Add distilled water and stir. You should use two parts water for one part soil.
- Put the lid on and shake for at least 2 minutes.
- Let the soil to settle at the bottom for at least 10 minutes.
- Dip your pH meter or litmus paper into the water above the layer of sediment at the bottom.
- Read and make a note of the results. Repeat this test in several locations if the results differ.
Handheld digital pH meters can have varying results based on many contributing factors. A more consistent, accurate method is to look at soil mapping solutions that provide a holistic analysis of your field. This almost certainly provides a better understanding of your soil pH levels across your whole field.
How Do You Fix Improper pH Content in Soil?
Once you know your soil’s pH level, it’s easier to take the right steps to improve it. However, it may be necessary to adjust it to suit the growing needs of your plants. The level of acidity will also specify the amount of soil amendment necessary to bring it up or down to the appropriate level.
Acidic (“sour”) soil is counteracted by applying a finely ground limestone or wood ash, and alkaline (“sweet”) soil is typically treated with gypsum (calcium sulfate), ground sulfur, or compost. Lime is a quick shortcut to a higher pH level.
How to Neutralize Acidity in Soil?
Some tried-and-true methods exist to lower soil acidity and increase soil pH levels. Your results will improve if you can make the necessary amendments over time instead of doing it in a rush. Planning well in advance will help you to avoid situations where you need to raise the pH in the soil fast.
- Depending on the size of your plot, you should begin by testing the soil yourself or having a professional test done.
- The results will determine which type of soil amendment you need to consider. Some amendments can offer a greater reduction of acidity, while others are meant to have a lighter impact. Some methods to minimize soil acidity will last a long time, while others will need to be repeated more frequently.
- Finally, some select methods will raise the soil pH quickly if you need quick results. Just remember that a much better plan is to become familiar with your field’s unique makeup and consistently manage acidity.
- Generally, adding quality compost can achieve a well-balanced soil. If you need to quickly reduce the pH level, you can mix in peat-based compost. Altering the pH of your soil takes time. Do not expect rapid changes. Instead, work steadily towards building the ideal soil conditions for your plants.
- Elemental sulfur is one of the most popular way to decrease soil pH. It is safe to use, relatively cheap, and available at most local agriculture suppliers. The only demerit is its slow reaction time with soil. For elemental sulfur to reduce soil pH, it must undergo two processes: a slow biological process proceeded by a rapid chemical process. This process may take 3 to 6 months to complete.
- On the other hand, aluminum sulfate reacts with soil very quickly, as it only needs to complete the chemical process.
- As aluminum sulfate and elemental sulfur are much aggressive ways to decrease soil pH, you must follow the recommended amounts.
If you’re working on balancing the pH of your soil, conduct annual soil tests around the same time every year to track your progress. For expert advice, contact our team at SoilOptix® now!
