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Re: [Re: Soil pH]

Square Foot Gardening List - http://www.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html

>Juliana wrote from NW Louisiana:
>I just got a soil analysis back from my Co-op Extension Service that 
>showed a pH of 8.1, which they indicated is very high.

>8.1 is NOT "very high."
>Most veggies tend to like neutral pH readings, 

*All I read says almost this, but not quite.
They say, w/o exception, MOST prefer between 6.0 and 7.0,
As a GROUP!  Most then must receive a compromise in a
SqFt garden...(Pgs 58-59. Common sense...)
So your goal, would be 6.5.
 
>but 8.1 is not very far off that mark.

>The pH scale is logrithmic and 
runs from 1 to 14.

*OK.  I vote with the office. 8.0 is 10 (ten)
times as alkaline as 7.0

BUT...

>I used to live in central Louisiana (Pineville), 
and the soil there was definitely more acid, favoring
pines and azaleas and other acid-loving crops.  

*That area is known for rain.  This generally tends torward acid soil.

>I wouldn't try to adjust the pH before your plants' performance
indicates that there is a problem.

*Here I want to say there is a conflict or 2 (or few.)

1)  I want to say there is a basic similarity to waiting until
plants wilt to water ot fertilize them.

2)  She makes a good case, if we are both correct that Louisiana
is generally acidic... and you're getting strong (by most judgement) alkaline
readings, from pros, no less.

3)  Altho correction from acid to alkaline takes 40-60 days,
and not going from alkaline to acid, as you APPARENTLY need to,
Still, I hate to tarry.  Correction is done 1/2 to 1 (0.5 - 1.0) increments. 
You need this much APPARENTLY.
And cannot achieve the 6.5 ideal in one season easily... at
least NOT thru 1 treatment, safely.

>If your soil has plenty of organic matter, you won't have any 
nutrient-uptake problems with a reading of 8.1.

*I feel this is semi-on, semi-off. (See page 58.)

>7.0 is exactly neutral (neither acidic--lower 
numbers--nor alkaline--higher numbers).

*Memory clue.
Think of the "L" in Lemon as a "4."
A lemeon may be as low as 4, acid.

>--Janet
[now outside DC, with a pH of 5.5, darned acidic, in the
pseudo-soil the 
builder left behind on my lot....]

*Got some ashes and a month or two.  It takes a month or
two to fix, THIS direction, and try a point correctiuon,
per quarter, first shot, then less each time, if you can,
and keep us apprised!  :>)

*Now if I had the rest of the analysis, we could talk yet
more.  Is the soil sandy? Loamy, or clayey?  From first
to last, corrective amount Double each time.  However,
since it's a 4x4 (how many do you plan???) money invested
is ~less.  So per Doreen, peat is a very good answer.
Compost is great t6oo, but in raw form if often alkaline.

*If you want more, give more details... but while I might
learn from it, you've tapped me out, without more input.
I haveta wonder tho', about the pH & direction, why you
have it thus?  MAYBE the previous owner tosses ashes
outside, as I do.  Maybe cement residue exists.
Can youask Ag & neighbors if anyone else has this?
It sounds a tad peculiar...
Bill

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