Acidic or Alkaline - The Mystery Of Soil pH
by John Yazo
Potential Hydrogen Ions, pH, is what determines what type of soil you are working with, or the amount of calcium or lime that a soil has. Testing your garden soil is very important, and it is the only way you will know the pH of the soil. Not all plants have the same needs, knowing their requirements is also very important. The pH range runs from 0 -14, 7 being neutral. This range expresses the degree of acidity or alkalinity in soil by measuring the concentration of hydrogen ions. The more hydrogen ions there are, the more acidic the soil will be.
The pH range of soil is very important in gardening, the acidity or alkalinity of soil directly affects plant growth. Plants can not take up nutrients like nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) when a soil is out of range, acidic or alkaline. Plants need specific amounts of these compounds to grow, thrive, and defend themselves from disease and stress.
Nutrient uptake and pH can be the reason performance of the crops you are growing in your garden have not been doing as well as you want them to. Plant root systems absorb minerals such as nitrogen and iron only when they are dissolved in a water solution. If this solution is too acidic or alkaline, some nutrients will not dissolve, leaving them unavailable for plant life to benefit from. This is known as nutrients being locked up.
The foundation of a garden is the soil plant life grows in, and its composition can either help or hinder the growth of plants. The ratio of clay, sand, and silt varies from location to location, and is what determines the aeration, drainage, and water holding capacity of soil.
The experienced organic gardener knows that a thriving garden starts with the soil it is grown in, and building a healthy soil is one of the major concepts. Feed the soil and it will provide for the plants you are growing. Healthy soil promotes strong vigorous plant growth, and a healthy plant is more capable of resisting both insect and disease problems. Healthy organic garden soil structure consists of 25% air, 25% water, 40% mineral matter, and 10% organic matter.
Organic matter used as a soil amendment will improve soil structure, texture, and aeration, water holding capacity, and help to maintain a neutral pH, along with adding needed nutrients for plants to grow strong and healthy.
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