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Actually farmers don't have much control of soil pH if they do not test their soils regularly. Soil pH is influenced by rainfall and parent material. Parent material that is calcareous (high calcium content) can make soils alkaline, but these same soils can be made acidic with improper nitrogen fertilizer inputs and high rainfall that leaches nutrients from the soil and leaves hydrogen ions behind. Plants, with the help of soil biota, can bring up soil nutrients with their roots. Certain plants can bring up certain nutrients, and others can use up nutrients and create acidic soil conditions.

However, farmers will need to control pH of soil with either liming or acidic solutions to create the right pH for growing crops. Most crops don't grow well in soils with pH levels below 6 to 6.5, and some can't grow in these conditions at all. Liming may be required to fix this. Other soils can be so alkaline that acidic inputs are needed to bring pH value down to a more neutral level.

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Q: Why do farmers control the pH of soil?
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Related questions

Why farmers must control the pH of the farm soil?

the health of the soil determines the health of their crops.


Who needs to know the pH for soil?

gardeners and farmers.


How do farmers change the pH of soil?

the way that farmers change the PH of soil is by adding a little bit of lime or eggshells or oyster shells because they are all good ways to make it neutralize.


How do farmers change the acidity of soil?

They add lime to it so is editds the PH balance


Why do farmers sometimes need to change the pH of soil?

Many plants are tolerant of wide ranges of pH but many are very specific in their pH requirements. A good example is the blueberry which will only grow in a pH below 5.


Why should farmers know the pH of the soil?

Knowing the pH value, enables the farmer to treat the soil to make it more acidic or alkaline - in order to make it suitable for the crops he wants to grow.


Why do farmers add limestone to soil?

Chalk is sometimes added to soil to raise the pH of acidic soils. Calcium, the primary component of chalk, is also an important secondary nutrient for healthy crop growth.


How do farmers test the pH level in soil?

before begining to farm one should send several soil samples for lab testing. they are testing for soil composition, pH, nutrient levels, organic matter and water permiability


Why do farmers sometimes use calcium oxide in the fields?

It increases the pH of soil and provides calcium for plants.


How does limestone help farmers?

It adds calcium to the soil and helps raise the pH for more acidic soils.


Why farmers need to know how acidic or basic the soil is before they plant their crop?

Different species of plants require different levels of soil pH.


What is a way to control soil erosion in which farmers plant different crops in different places each year?

Farmers