How Does pH Affect Plants?

Soil pH measures soil acidity. Soil acidity affects soil factors important for plant health, such as bacterial count, nutrient supply, toxin level, soil structure and so on. Soil pH is measured in 14 units from 0 (extremely acidic) to 14.0 (very basic). pH 7 is a neutral point where the soil is neither acidic nor alkaline. Most garden plants like pH between 5 and 0. Soil pH outside this range may adversely affect plants.

Strongly acidic soil reduces the use of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, calcium, magnesium. Strong alkaline soil reduces available iron, manganese, boron, copper, zinc. Soil pH also affects the health of soil bacteria and decomposes organic matter into nutrients that can be absorbed by plant roots. When the pH of the soil is 6, these organisms breed. They will sleep or die when pH goes below 6 or above 6

Inexpensive pH test kits are available at home, hardware room, and nurseries. A typical kit instruction tells you to collect soil samples from the bottom of a hole 4-6 inches deep in the garden. The dried soil sample after the measurement is mixed with the previously measured reagent of the kit in the reagent bottle and the distilled water. Shake well and read pH by allowing soil settling and comparing the color of water with the kit's indicator table.

When the soil pH test is too low for the growing plant, the soil is called acidic or "acidic". Corrective agents like limestone must be uniformly applied to the soil to neutralize excess acidity. For example, to raise the pH by 1 point, it is necessary to place 5 pounds of limestone per 100 square feet in ROHM. Paint lime in autumn and winter

If the pH test is too alkaline, the soil is considered "sweet". In fall it is necessary to add acidification modifiers such as crushed elemental sulfur or aluminum sulphate to the soil to offset the excess alkalinity. For example, lowering the pH by one point will require 2 pounds of elemental sulfur per 100 square feet in roam or 12 pounds of aluminum sulfate, but at the same time too much elemental sulfur burns the plant roots at the same time, so for the first time , 1 pound of sulfur per 100 square feet was applied. . Wait 8 weeks and then apply the second sulfur at a rate of 1 pound per 100 square feet

Low pH can adversely affect plant nutritional value. There is a direct correlation between the nutrients contained in plants and the mineral content of the soil where they grow, which is affected by pH. However, edible crops are generally unaffected; there are many ways to balance soil pH. Low pH can be improved by adding crushed limestone or acid rhizobium species to the soil or by applying lime directly to the seed. Tannin rain is a general term used to describe acids falling from the atmosphere. Since the acid falls into solid particles and a wet solution, it can be called acid precipitation. Dry deposits define the accumulation of solid acid forms on various surfaces such as trees and buildings. Wet deposition represents an acid descending in the form of a precipitate. When wet deposition is combined with a basin from a dry deposit surface, it can adversely affect plant life.

The acidity of the surrounding medium can have a serious effect on the growth of plants. Acid sources such as acid rain do not directly destroy plants, but low pH affects many processes necessary for daily living such as absorption of nutrients and symbiotic relationships. Research on the relationship between soil and water pH and their plant health affects many of the problems we have in the environment. For example, in areas with low soil pH, species diversity tends to be low. Furthermore, if the crops are cultivated in an acidic environment, the nutritional value of the crop may decrease. This situation directly affects agricultural systems and practices. When considering the problem of acid rain and acid soil, it is necessary to consider these effects in low pH environment.

Soil pH affects plant growth in various ways. Bacteria that release nitrogen by changing organic matter and some fertilizers will work optimally in the pH range of 5.5 - 7.0 and make them optimal pH range. Phytonutrients leaching from the soil at pH values ​​below 5.5 are faster than those ranging from 5.5 to 7.0. In some mineral soils, aluminum can dissolve at pH levels below 5.0, which is toxic to plant growth. The pH of the soil may also affect the availability of phytonutrients. Plants are best suited for optimum nutrients ranging from 5.5 to 7.0. PH also affects the structure of the soil in the clay, in particular. In the best range, the clay is granular and easy to use. However, if the soil is extremely acidic or alkaline clay, the soil tends to become sticky and difficult to cultivate.