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Sat, Mar 31, 12 at 9:01
| I know that you add sulfur if you want to acidify your soil and lime if you want to increase the PH.
What about stuff like alfalfa meal, bone meal, cotton meal, green sand, etc? I saw a few article that indicate alfalfa meal is alkaline but then another one indicating that it is acidifying. Is there a definitive source? Paul
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Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by Strawberryhill 5a IL (My Page) on Sat, Mar 31, 12 at 19:47
| I tested alfalfa meal pH with red cabbage juice (pretty accurate pH indicator). This was done against peat moss (pH of 4), baking soda (pH of 9), and MiracleGro potting soil (pH of 6.5). Alfalfa meal is LESS ACIDIC THAN PEATMOSS, but resulted in pinkish solution like MiracleGro potting soil. I'll say its pH is between 6 and 6.5. However, like leaves, it is acidic INITIALLY but with time it stablizes to neutral. Once fully decomposed, both alfalfa meal and leaves are slightly alkaline. University of Illinois Extension has a good article on the ending alkaline result of leaves. Check it out by googling the fore-mentioned key words. |
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- Posted by tropical_thought San Francisco (My Page) on Sat, Mar 31, 12 at 20:46
| Most things you put in your compost go to neutral by the time they are done. |
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- Posted by gardengal48 PNW zone 8 (My Page) on Sun, Apr 1, 12 at 17:20
| Amendments derived from plant products - the alfalfa or cottonseed meal - are typically slightly acidic in nature whereas mineral based amendments can be both acidic or alkaline or neutral, depending on source. Other than the two primary sources to alter pH (lime or sulfur), most other common soil amendments have little to no effect at least no significant long term effect. And it is true that anything organic - that is, plant or animal sourced - will eventually decompose to a pretty much neutral pH. |
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