Sometimes it can damage plant growth
There are many plants that will grow well in alkaline or basic (pH higher than 7) soil. A good list can be found at this url. http://www.demesne.info/Garden-Help/Solutions/Soil/Alkaline-Soils.htm Your soil pH can also be adjusted downwards with commercially available sulphur based products.
Farmers use a soil pH meter or a soil pH testing kit to determine the pH level of their soil. They take soil samples from different parts of the field, mix them together, and then test the pH of the mixture. This helps them get a more accurate representation of the overall pH level of their soil.
In order to find the pH you will need to test the soil. Different factors will effect the pH and different plants grow better at a different pH. I heard its ph level is "6" the ideal fertilizer for gardening. Its neutral. The ph levels go from 0-11 :)
Soil pH is the pH value of the particular soil mixture.AnswerIt is a measure of the degree of acidity or alkalinity in the soil. 7 is neutral on the scale.
To determine the pH of soil, you will need a soil pH tester. After you acquire one, dig a hole in the soil you wish to test and remove any debris. Fill the hole with distilled water (this is important, as you don't want it to affect your results). Insert the tester into the mud and hold the tester in there for about a minute. If your result is a pH of seven, the soil is neutral. If it's above a seven, it indicates basic soil and below a seven indicates acidic soil.
If the soil pH tests between 5.0 and 6.5 on well-drained, sand to sandy loam. You must add sulphur to lower the pH to between 4.5 and 5.0. You should apply the sulphur the soil a year before planting and thoroughly mix it into the top 20 cm of the soil.
It depends on the amount of sulfur added and the pH of the soil initially. Typically, it can take a few weeks to several months for sulfur to fully acidify potting soil. Regular monitoring of soil pH is recommended during this process.
To neutralise a sample of soil, you must determine the pH of the soil sample either acidic or alkaline. Add lime (e.g. Limestone) to acidic soil to neutralise it. And add sulphur to alkaline soil which will neutralise it.
Acid rain has a low pH indicating that it is acidic. The pH in the soil can have a detrimental effect on some trees.
Oxygen has a negligible effect on pH, likewise pure sulfur. However ... Sulfa oxides added to water form sulphuric acid, a major contributor to acidic oceans.
Sulfur dioxide mixed with water becomes acid rain, which will change the Ph of soil and damage it and kill the living organisms in it.
soil fertility increases soil PH
soil pH has a great effect on the availability of nutrients. for example iron is a thousand times move availeble to plants for each pH level lower so if you compare iron availability in soil that is pH 8 to one that is pH 6 iron will be 1,000,000 times more available in the acidic soil (pH6). however some plant do not like acidic soils mostly because other stuff is also affected by the pH like aluminum which is toxic to most plants beyond a certain level. of course pH has an effect on the soil flora and founa as well as other nutrients and soil diseases. so in varies situations farmers may wish to alter soil pH to one way or the other depending on the crop, weather, normal pH and many other factors.
There are many plants that will grow well in alkaline or basic (pH higher than 7) soil. A good list can be found at this url. http://www.demesne.info/Garden-Help/Solutions/Soil/Alkaline-Soils.htm Your soil pH can also be adjusted downwards with commercially available sulphur based products.
It depends on the fertilizer you are using. Some fertilizers have a high pH and some have a low pH. So find out what the pH is on the fertilizer before using because you don't want to throw you pH off to much, it will bind up alot of vital nutrients in the soil.
Altering the soil pH is the effect of adding lime to fertilizer.Specifically, lime acts to acidify the soil that is being fertilized. A more acidic soil comes up with a more acidic pH in soil analysis. Acidic pHs fall below the middle, neutral range on a 1-14 pH scale.
Different pH levels can affect the color of hydrangea blossoms. Acidic soil (pH below 6) tends to produce blue flowers, while alkaline soil (pH above 6) leads to pink or even red blossoms. Adjusting the soil pH can alter the bloom color of hydrangeas.