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Acidity & Alkalinity

Acidity & Alkalinity. pH. Potential (p) of the Hydrogen Ion (H + ) in water Reports the Concentration of the Hydrogen Ions (H + ) It’s an Electrical Current As Hydrogen Ions Increase, Soil pH decreases Becomes more Acidic. pH. Scale is from 1-14 7.0 is an equal balance or neutral.

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Acidity & Alkalinity

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  1. Acidity & Alkalinity

  2. pH • Potential (p) of the Hydrogen Ion (H+) in water • Reports the Concentration of the Hydrogen Ions (H+) • It’s an Electrical Current • As Hydrogen Ions Increase, Soil pH decreases • Becomes more Acidic

  3. pH • Scale is from 1-14 • 7.0 is an equal balance or neutral

  4. Why is pH Important? • When pH falls below 6.0, availability of some nutrients decreases, while metallic nutrients increase • Like Zinc, Copper, Aluminum & Iron • Aluminum is a major component of Silt & Clay • The more acidic soil and the more Aluminum • Below pH of 5.5 and Aluminum (& Manganese) becomes toxic

  5. Factors Affecting Soil pH • pH can vary from one spot to another • It varies from 1 depth to another • Main reason it differs…… • Parent Material • Climate • Living Organisms • Topography • Time • ….the 5 Soil Forming Factors

  6. Factors Affecting Soil pH • Rainwater Leaches Away Basic Ions • Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, Sodium • Carbon Dioxide from Decomposing Organic Matter • Root Respiration Dissolving in Soil Water • Formation of Strong Organic/Inorganic Acids

  7. Acidic Soils • Have Metals Toxicity • Tend to be Higher in Silt and Clay • Leached Soils!! • Calcium Deficiency • Aluminum Toxicity

  8. Alkaline Soils • Low Rainfall • Reduced Nutrient Availability • Iron Deficiencies • Contains naturally-occurring lime • Not actual green edible limes • Build up of Salts

  9. Saline Soil Indicators Management Measuring Salt Concentration of Soil Water for Electrical Conductivity (EC) EC is ability of a material to transmit electrical current Decreased Soil Productivity and Plant Growth Leached Downward Intercepting Water Improve Drainage Plant Water Efficient Crops

  10. Saline Soils • Has an Excess Level of Soluble Salts in the Soil Water • Negatively Affects Plant Growth • Reduces Crop Yield • Eventually Plant Death • Inhibits Root Uptake of Water & Nutrients • Soil Water Moves from High to Low Osmotic Potential • Low Potential means High Salts • Leads to Drought Like Symptoms • Called Osmotic Effect

  11. Saline Soils • Soluble Salts • Can be Leached out of the upper 2-3 feet of surface soils • Are generally Sulfates of Sodium or Carbonate • Fixing the Problem! • Apply More Water and Good Drainage  Leaching Requirement • Soil Moisture is Correct and Leaching is Met to get  Artificial Drainage • Move Salts into other parts of Soil  Managed Accumulation

  12. Sodic Soils • Have Excess Levels of Sodium • Sodic Soils Cause Degradation of Soil Structure • Called Soil Dispersion • Forces that Keep Particles Together are Broken Down by Excess of Sodium Absorbed

  13. Sodic Soils Degrees of Soil Dispersion

  14. Sodic Soils Problems With Soil Structure Difficult to till Poor Germination Restricted Plant Growth Susceptible to Wind & Water Erosion Increase Shrink-Swell Good Physical Structure Poor Physical Structure-Sodic

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