Soil acidity is a factor that both the gardener and gardener cannot ignore.
As we love who is sour, who is salty, who is sweet, so plants not only love, some cannot live without certain components. in the soil.
You can, of course, take the path of least resistance and grow only what matches the type of soil on the site, however, in this case, it is worth determining its PH first. And if you grow fruits and vegetables, then you can’t go on about your own ignorance, because you want to get a good harvest.
I just recently found out why the most “delicious” varieties of beets, according to the descriptions, turn out to be unsweetened and disgustingly smelling after cooking — she does not like acidic soil. And, for example, blueberries on alkaline and even neutral soil will not yield a crop.
So, a good harvest is not only the right fertilizer, moisture and illumination, but also competent adjustment of the acidity of the habitat.
HOW TO DETERMINE SOIL ACIDITY
Neutral soil has acidity pH=7respectively, in acidic soil pH below 7the alkaline is higher.
The easiest way to determine the acidity of the soil in your area is with a device that measures the level pH: test indicator, pH-meter for soil.
You can also use test strips for this, which, when in contact with a solution obtained from a mixture of water and soil (see the instructions for the ratio), change their color depending on the degree of acidity.
You can use the folk method and determine the quality of the soil by the presence of a certain category of weeds on the site, however, this method is not accurate.
According to the weed charts, horsetail and horse sorrel grow in acidic soil, couch grass in slightly acidic soil, bindweed in neutral, and poppy in slightly alkaline. In my area, they grow mixed, periodically migrating, while the entire soil is slightly acidic. Adapted)))
But the table of acidity according to the composition of the soil works more accurately. The acidity of the soil also affects the content of certain minerals and elements in it.
ACIDITY SOILS FOR HORTICULTURAL CROPS
The level of soil acidity affects the content of certain trace elements in it, which are so important for certain categories of plants.
IMPORTANT TO KNOW: seedlings are grown only in neutral soil, otherwise, they will die during the formation of the root system.
- pH 4.6-6.9 likes: potatoes, sunflower, sorrel, melon, corn
- pH 5.1-6.5 appreciate strawberries and strawberries
- pH 5.5-6.0 best for raspberries
- pH 6.0-6.5 likes: pear, red currant, apple tree, gooseberry
- pH 6.9-7.3 for the majority: cherries, sea buckthorn, plums, cucumbers, tomatoes, zucchini, Brussels sprouts and leafy sprouts, garlic onions, beets, beans, eggplant, turnips, chokeberry, apricot, grapes, black currants
- pH 6.9-7.9 prefer: carrots, onions, cabbage and cauliflower, parsley, asparagus, celery, artichoke.
HOW TO DECISION THE SOIL
The best and most environmentally friendly option to deoxidize the soil is to add fluffy lime to its composition in the fall (slaked limeground into powder) or a piece of chalk (powder).
Next, I give the norm of the drug per one hundred square meters of land:
- strongly acidic soil — 50-70 kg of lime or 30 kg of chalk,
- medium acid soil — 40-45 kg of lime or 20 kg of chalk,
- a slightly acidic reaction will require 20-25 kg of lime or 10 kg of chalk.
The powder is evenly scattered over the site, after which they dig.
An auxiliary element for lowering acidity can be wood ashbut without simultaneous application of lime, some plants will suffer from surface rot.
The ash is applied as follows: for 1 liter of water 200 g of ash, this is enough to irrigate 1 m2. You can simply spray this amount on the surface.
siderates not only deoxidize the soil, but also enrich it with useful trace elements, the expected effect will be noticeable in two years. It is optimal to sow green manure immediately after harvesting, and before winter, plow the green mass into the ground.
By the way, this is a «lazy» way to get rid of the ubiquitous weeds. After all, most of them are sown on the site along with manure, and the use of green manure excludes this procedure.
HOW TO NEUTRALIZE ALKALINE SOIL
An excess of calcium leads to alkalization of the soil.
Regular mulching beds with humus and coniferous litter will lead to normalization of pH. The advantage of this method is to improve the aeration of the soil, the minus is to wait too long for the effect.
Quickly and safely for plants with the problem of alkalization will cope granulated urea, with a shell of sulfur. Apply the drug according to the instructions on the package, the expected effect occurs already in the second week.
Freeze-dried sulfur and aluminum sulfate also quickly increase acidity, but in some cases can be harmful to plants. Apply them after consultation with a specialist.
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