Soil Nutrients and pH analysis

Soil may be defined as the naturally deposited material that covers the Earth's surface and is capable of supporting plant growth and development. All life on Earth, including plants, animals and human beings, depends on soil for existence. Soil is formed because of natural decomposition processes that occur over extremely long periods. Soil conditions are of critical importance to plants. To achieve a perfect union between plants and soil, it is therefore important to both understand soil characteristics, and the specific preferences of individual plants.

Soils can be defined by texture, pH and fertility. According to all available evidence, there are 20 total nutrients necessary for complete plant growth and development and proper management of the soil is key to plants good health.

Maintaining the fertility of our soils is of paramount importance not only for the present but for the future also. Soil analysis and its interpretation is an important management tool in assessing the need to apply nutrients in fertilizers and/or manures to maintain soil fertility. Potential nutritional problems often can be detected before deficiency symptoms can be seen. Soils invariably contain total quantities of plant nutrients that greatly exceed the amounts that are immediately available to plants, which may be because of improper soil pH, living mass in soil, organic content and other physical and chemical conditions of soil.

In simple term, Soil pH is the indication of acidity or alkalinity of the soil and measured in pH units ranging from 0 to 14, with pH 7 consider as neutral point, and below that it is consider acidic and more then pH 7, consider as alkaline soil pH. So, it is very important to knowing the pH value as it has direct influence on the availability of nutrients and, so have direct influence on your tree health. Soil samples to be analyzed for soil pH, can be taken nearly any time of year and pH range from 5.5-7, has considered as the most favorable range for plant growth and nutrients availability in the soil. By adding a form of lime (compound of calcium or calcium and magnesium), the soil pH can be increased (alkaline) and pH can be bring down to acidic, either by use of aluminium sulphate (fast acting) or sulphur. The pH values above 7.5 cause iron, manganese, copper, zinc and boron ions to be less available to plants and pH values below 6 causes the solubility of phosphoric acid, calcium and magnesium to drop. In addition, if pH values drop between 3-5 and temperatures above 26 degree Celsius encourages the development of some fungal diseases.

So, be more aware than concerned and keep the pH factor in mind when planning nutrient management programs. It can save your hard-earned money from being spent on fertilizer compounds and do little for your trees and shrubs. Soil pH affects many things ranging from the most important availability of nutrients in soil solution, soil texture and structure, microorganisms and has greater influence on overall health of your soil and plants.


Best of luck!