Understanding Soil Ph and Nutrient Availability
by John Yazo
Soil pH range is very important in having a productive garden. It is what controls the availability of most nutrients that plant life need to thrive. A healthy soil is one that is fertile and has good structure.
The pH range for the crops you are growing is critical when putting together a nutrient management plan for your organic garden. Acidic soil conditions can limit microbial activity that will slow down mineralization of nitrogen from organic matter, as well as nitrification, and a high soil pH level can result in a significant loss of nitrogen by volatilization.
Phosphorus availability is strongly influenced by your garden soil pH level. The availability of phosphorus is at its best when the pH range is between 5.5 and 7.5. Below 5.5, acidic soil conditions cause dissolution of aluminum and iron minerals, and pH levels above 7.5 cause excessive calcium to be present on soil solutions that decrease phosphorus availability.
Magnesium availability is also affected by pH levels. A highly weathered soil that has a low pH level can become deficient in magnesium due to excessive, aluminum, hydrogen, and iron competing for cation exchange.
Soil pH levels have a direct affect on micro-nutrient metals, as the pH decreases the availability of boron, copper, iron, manganese and zinc increase, but molybdenum availability decreases. This is a critical factor especially with legume crops. The nodules of legume crops contain the enzyme nitrogenase which is rich in molybdenum. If soil pH is low, along with low available molybdenum, legume crop production will suffer.
Having an understanding about soil pH will also help to diagnose crop production issues on specific soils. due to the fact that soil pH influences nutrient availability, it is essential to test and maintain a proper pH range.
The quality of the soil in your organic garden is very important in having a productive vegetable crop. If the soil is lacking the essential nutrient availability for plant life to thrive, your crops will suffer. Another benefit of a healthy soil structure is that it will also help with pest and disease control naturally.
There is a lot you can do to improve the soil structure of your garden, just don't panic, or get stressed over it. With organic gardening, it can take time to create a healthy soil structure if the soil you are working with is far from ideal, any soil can be improved, and the benefits can be very rewarding.
More on Garden Soil
If you would like to comment on this website or have any suggestions please feel free to contact us
