Soil Reaction (pH)
What it is: pH is a measure of the soil's acidity.
Why it is important:
Soil pH is an important indicator because a soil's acidity regulates nutrient availability, toxicities, and soil permeability.
Specific problems that might be caused by (too little, too much etc.) are:
Too acidic: Al toxicity, Mn toxicity, Ca deficiency, and poor plant growth due to acidity itself
What you can do: You can improve the pH of your soil by applying lime or gypsum (calcium sulfate) to raise pH. Reduced use of ammonium-releasing fertilizers will slow the rate of acidification.
For more information go to Soil Management Practices.
Ways that you can measure soil pH include:
| Method | How Performed | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Lab test | ||
| In-field test |
The different methods have different levels of accuracy and precision.