Soil Chemistry Acidifying the soil or lowering the pHAcidifying the soil or lowering the pH –Elemental sulfur (effect is temporary) –Ammonium sulfate (effect.

Soil ChemistrySoil Chemistry• Acidifying the soil or lowering the pHAcidifying the soil or lowering the pH

– Elemental sulfur (effect is temporary)Elemental sulfur (effect is temporary)

– Ammonium sulfate (effect is temporary)Ammonium sulfate (effect is temporary)– Aluminum sulfate is also used but not Aluminum sulfate is also used but not

recommended as aluminum is a heavy metal!recommended as aluminum is a heavy metal!

Soil ChemistrySoil Chemistry• Basic soils often can cause Basic soils often can cause iron chlorosisiron chlorosis in plants in plants

• This can be corrected by acidifying the soil This can be corrected by acidifying the soil or choosing a plant which is tolerant of or choosing a plant which is tolerant of alkaline soils!alkaline soils!

• Intervienal chlorosisIntervienal chlorosis: often on : often on acid-loving plants like roses, fruit trees,acid-loving plants like roses, fruit trees, azaleas and rhododendronsazaleas and rhododendrons

Blue in acidic soils <5.5Blue in acidic soils <5.5 with available aluminumwith available aluminum

Pink in neutral soils Pink in neutral soils near pH of 7near pH of 7

Soil FertilitySoil Fertility• 16 elements required for plant growth16 elements required for plant growth

• C HOPKNS CaFe Mg B Mn CuZn Mo ClC HOPKNS CaFe Mg B Mn CuZn Mo Cl

• ““C. Hopkins Café managed by mine cousins C. Hopkins Café managed by mine cousins Mo and Cleo”Mo and Cleo”

Soil FertilitySoil Fertility• C, H, O from the C, H, O from the atmosphere & wateratmosphere & water

• MacronutrientsMacronutrients: N, P, K most often : N, P, K most often deficient in soils. Also, S, Ca, Mgdeficient in soils. Also, S, Ca, Mg

• MicronutrientsMicronutrients: Fe, B, Mn, Cu, Zn, Mo, Cl: Fe, B, Mn, Cu, Zn, Mo, Cl

Soil FertilitySoil Fertility

Soil FertilitySoil Fertility

Soil FertilitySoil Fertility

Not fertility, excess light!Not fertility, excess light!

Soil FertilitySoil Fertility

Soil FertilitySoil Fertility

Soil FertilitySoil Fertility• Organic fertilizers Organic fertilizers

– The only choice up until the 1940’sThe only choice up until the 1940’s– ManureManure– FishmealFishmeal– SeaweedSeaweed– BloodmealBloodmeal– BonemealBonemeal– CottonmealCottonmeal– Sewage sludgeSewage sludge– These often contain micronutrientsThese often contain micronutrients