Is Soil in the Vancouver Area Acidic?

pH Level

• pH is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of soil. The standard soil pH scale runs from 1 to 14, with 7 being the point of neutrality. The higher the number the more alkaline the soil; the lower the number, the more acidic. Acidity affects nutrient availability in the soil, and different crops prefer different pH levels. For example, strawberries prefer a more acidic soil with a rating of 5.0 to 6.0. Vegetables such as kale and peas prefer a pH level of 6.0 to 8.0.

pH of Vancouver Soil

• Rainfall washes away elements such as calcium and magnesium from the soil. As a result, the soil becomes more acidic. Since Vancouver and its neighboring regions, such as Vancouver Island and the Lower Fraser Valley of British Columbia, experience high total rainfall, the area's soil tends to be acidic.

Treating Soil for Crop Production

• Acidic soil such as that found in Vancouver can be treated with lime, which can replace the calcium lost through rainfall. This treatment raises the pH of the soil to a level more conducive to the growth of certain plants.