If you’ve heard references to pH in soil and wonder a little what that means, you’re probably not as alone as you might think. pH is a measure of the acidic level of the soil; and not just soil, but the tomato or lemon you eat and even stomach fluids and your blood. pH is an abbreviation for ‘power of hydrogen’ or ‘potential hydrogen.’ The pH scale is a measure of concentration of hydrogen ions; the higher the concentration, the greater the acidity. The pH scale is a range from 0 to 14; with 0 most acidic, 7 neutral and above 7 being basic or alkaline.
pH levels are critical to life. Our
blood is basic with a normal range of 7.3 to 7.5. Below 7.3 acidosis occurs and
above 7.5, alkalosis; below 7.0 and above 7.8 death. Our stomachs are normally
between 4 and 5 (acid); when we take in food our stomach release enzymes as
well as hydrochloric acid increasing the acidity to as much as 1 or 2. The higher
concentration of acid makes nutrients soluble and available for absorption. https://www.thoughtco.com/ph-of-the-stomach-608195
The same thing occurs in our garden
soil. Most plants do best in a soil pH between 6 and 7 because the acid
environment makes nutrients available to the plant. Basic or alkaline soils may
be rich with nutrients, but until the nutrients become soluble, they are out of
reach to the plant. Not all plants require the same nutrition to thrive and so
some will tolerate a slightly higher pH, but generally speaking, plants will
perform best in a slightly acid soil (some, such as blueberries, azalea, rhododendron
and others, will only struggle in soils above 6).
Riverton soil is typically between 7.5
and 8.5 (this can vary a lot depending on how the soil has been, or not been
amended). Adding sand for drainage and pine bark/needle mulch can lower the pH.
Applications of elemental sulfur will also bring the pH down. These are effectively applied in the fall, as it can take months for the chemical reactions to occur that
increase the soil acidity.
More about pH at the following links
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