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The prevailing view in the 1940s and 1950s was that P availability was maximized near neutrality (soil pH 6.5–7.5), and decreased at higher and lower pH. [ 29 ] [ 30 ] Interactions of phosphorus with pH in the moderately to slightly acidic range (pH 5.5–6.5) are, however, far more complex than is suggested by this view.
Soil acidification is the buildup of hydrogen cations, which reduces the soil pH. Chemically, this happens when a proton donor gets added to the soil. The donor can be an acid , such as nitric acid , sulfuric acid , or carbonic acid .
Lower Soil pH Wood ash has a high pH, usually around 10 to 12, says Chelsea McKinley, plant health specialist at the U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington, D.C. Most plants prefer a soil pH of around 6.5.
Lime elevates the soil pH, and if your pH is already high, you’re going to raise it even higher. This will make lowering your pH even more difficult, and it may take much longer to lower it.
Soil pH is a function of many soil forming factors, and is generally lower (more acidic) where weathering is more advanced. [ 43 ] Most plant nutrients, with the exception of nitrogen , originate from the minerals that make up the soil parent material.
There are many horticultural plants which are calcifuges, most of which require an 'ericaceous' compost with a low pH, composed principally of Sphagnum moss peat. Alternatively sulphur chips may be used to lower soil pH. A plant that thrives in lime-rich soils is known as a calcicole.