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Alkaline soil - how to lower PH over-time?

Posted by paulsiu (My Page) on
Tue, May 10, 11 at 7:42

I had my soil tested by a lab and this is what's reported:

Organic Material = 7.4% (very high)
Phosphorous = 9 ppm (very low)
Potassium = 168 ppm (med)
Magnesium = 805 ppm (very high)
Calcium = 3150 ppm (med)
Cation Exchange Capacity = 22.9 meq/100g (high)
PH = 7.5 (high)

I don't see a Nitrogen rating, but I assume that if I am getting a fairly high Organic material, Nitrogen won't be an issue?

Is Phosphorous low because the PH is high? I am thinking that if I put Phosphate rock down, it would also increase the PH, I am reluctant to put down sulfur since I am afraid that I'll get it wrong and mess up the yard.

One though was to put some compost down that are around 7.0 PH. Perhaps that will lower the PH of the soil overtime?

Paul


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RE: Alkaline soil - how to lower PH over-time?

if I am getting a fairly high Organic material, Nitrogen won't be an issue?
Depends on what type of organic matter you have and what stage of decomposition it is in. i.e. a fresh biosolids compost = oodles of nitrogen. On the other end of the spectrum, fresh raw wood chips = huge nitrogen draw.

Is Phosphorous low because the PH is high?
Nope.

I am thinking that if I put Phosphate rock down, it would also increase the PH
Nope. Also consider that you have a ton of organic matter in your soil. When the soil is tested, they are determining only the immediately available amounts of the nutrients, and do not include the amounts of those nutrients that will be come available over time as the organic material decomposes. As with nitrogen, the amount of phosphorous that will become available depends on the type of organic. If you want to use rock phosphate, it will be verrrry slow to become available. A faster synthetic option would be triple superphosphate with a typical analysis in the neighborhood of (0-45-0). An organic option that is a much faster release product than rock phosphate but a little slower than 0-45-0 is bone meal. There are others options but those are a couple of good ones.

I am reluctant to put down sulfur since I am afraid that I'll get it wrong and mess up the yard.
Not to worry. It would take lots and lots of sulfur to push your pH down to an unfavorable level. In fact, the amount of sulfur you would need to get your pH down into the low 5's would be enough to fry the plants on its own.
In your case, I would use sulfur at a rate of 10 lbs. per 1000 sq. ft. and check the pH again next year. You'll want to till the sulfur in to a depth of 6 to 8 inches since it won't acidify the soil much more deeply than it is tilled. If you just broadcast and water in, you'll only be addressing the top inch or so of soil.

One though was to put some compost down that are around 7.0 PH. Perhaps that will lower the PH of the soil overtime?
First, the effect on pH would be negligible, if any. Second, you've already got plenty of organic matter at the moment. No need to add more.


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RE: Alkaline soil - how to lower PH over-time?

gargwarb has provided a comprehensive answer to you questions. I will chime in to say that a pH of 7.5 is NOT high. An ideal pH might be 6.5 but that might only provide a marginal improvement in plant growth.

Soil pH naturally decreases as you grow plants. It is part of the process known as Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC). When the plant takes up a cation such as Ca++, the plant has to give up two cations to maintain a charge balance. The cation given up is H+. As you may know, an increase in H+ is an increase in acidity or a lowering of the pH.

Over time your soil will become more acidic. But while you wait for that to happen, crack a cold one and enjoy your garden.


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RE: Alkaline soil - how to lower PH over-time?

Yep, good point. A lower pH would improve nutrient availability but 7.5 isn't all that high and most stuff will be just fine in the mean time, especially vegetables.


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