Substance That You Use to Remove Acidity From Soil

Soil pH

• The alkalinity and acidity of soil is measured in pH units. Neutral soil (neither alkaline or acidic) has a pH of 7. A pH level of 0 to 7 is acidic, while a pH level of 7 to 14 is alkaline (basic). A lemon has a pH of 2.5 (extremely acidic), while milk of magnesia has a pH of 10.5 (very strongly alkaline). Most plants need soil with a pH of 6 to 7, slightly acidic to neutral.

Testing Soil pH

• Before amending your soil, it is important to properly test the pH level. There are several ways to test your soil's pH. You can purchase a digital pH meter, a device with a long probe that is inserted into the soil that gives you a readout of the pH on the unit's base. Soil testing strips or dyes are also available. Soil is dissolved into water and then the strip or dye is inserted. The color of the dye or strip will correlate with a pH level. You can also choose to send a soil sample for testing. Most colleges with an agriculture department test soil pH as do some garden stores.

Raising Soil pH

• You can lower the acidity of your soil (raise the pH) by adding lime to your soil. Lime is a soil amendment made from ground limestone, a rock that is high in calcium. Lime can be found at your local garden store in a variety of forms. Calcic limestone, also called agricultural lime, is made from calcium carbonate. Dolomitic lime is made from dolomite, a limestone high in magnesium . Wood ash is also a suitable material for lowering soil acidity.

Application

• Refer to your lime product's recommendation for the application rate. Spread lime evenly over your soil's surface. Thoroughly mix the lime into the top 6 to 8 inches of soil with a hoe or tiller before planting your garden in the spring. Water your garden well to help the lime penetrate into the soil. Wait at least one month before applying fertilizer because lime will react with the nitrogen in fertilizer, neutralizing its effects.