home · On a note · How to convert alkaline soil to neutral. How to tell if soil is acidic or alkaline? Why is acidic soil dangerous?

How to convert alkaline soil to neutral. How to tell if soil is acidic or alkaline? Why is acidic soil dangerous?

When choosing plants for landscaping, it is necessary to take into account many environmental factors of the territory - fertility, moisture and mechanical composition of the soil, lighting, groundwater level, etc. Along with these factors, soil acidity is also very important for good growth and condition of plants.

In this article, we will talk about alkaline soils and trees that can grow successfully in such conditions.

What soils are called alkaline?

alkaline soils are characterized by the presence of calcium salts (lime) and high pH values ​​of the soil solution. According to the pH value, the following gradations of alkalinity of soil solutions are distinguished:

slightly alkaline - pH 7-8; medium alkaline - pH 8-8.5; strongly alkaline - pH - 8.5 and more

It is possible to accurately determine the pH values ​​​​of a soil solution only in laboratory conditions, and approximately with the help of litmus (indicator) paper - an aqueous solution of alkaline soil will color standard indicator paper blue. The presence of lime in the soil can also be determined using vinegar: when it is applied to a lump of earth in which there is lime, a reaction will occur - the earth will foam and hiss.

Limestone soils are very different - from stony loam lying on a layer of limestone, to heavily clay soil. But all of them are alkaline soils, that is, they are saturated with alkali.

High alkalinity is unfavorable for the growth and development of most plants. Alkaline soils generally have low fertility, unfavorable physical properties and chemical composition. They are usually heavy, viscous, sticky, waterproof when wet.

In Ukraine, alkaline soils are mainly located in the south in the steppe and forest-steppe parts and are associated with southern chernozems, chestnut and brown soils.

Improvement of alkaline soils

It is possible to improve alkaline soils, and especially solonetzes and highly alkaline soils, only by radical melioration measures with the introduction of calcium sulphate - gypsum. Calcium displaces absorbed sodium, as a result, solonetzic horizons become more structural, water-permeable, and, consequently, it is possible to remove salts from the lower horizons. In practice, waste from the phosphorus mining industry, phosphogypsum, is more often used. In addition to calcium sulfate, it contains impurities of sulfuric acid and fluorine. Acid is useful for neutralizing alkalinity. But the admixture of fluorine is dangerous due to toxicity. However, there is no direct evidence that it comes from the soil to plants. The application rate of gypsum on solonetz soils is about 0.5 kg/m2; on solonetzic soils, 0.2 kg/m2 of gypsum or phosphogypsum is sufficient.

The process of melioration of solonetzes is significantly accelerated by irrigation. In dry areas it is necessary.

Slightly alkaline soils in household plots are improved by shallow digging, the introduction of increased doses of organic fertilizers and the sowing of green manure - alfalfa, mustard, etc.

Range of woody plants for alkaline soils

Most plants in the garden prefer soil with a neutral reaction or close to it with slight deviations in one direction or another).
Plants that prefer alkaline soils are called calciphiles.
The range of fruit and berry crops that can be successfully grown on alkaline soils is rather limited. But if the pH does not exceed 8, then these conditions are suitable for growing such types of fruit crops: apricot, quince, pear, peach, cherry, dogwood, almond, walnut, mulberry, etc.

Strongly alkaline (alkaline) soils are extremely unfavorable for grapes and most fruit crops, the usual reaction of which is chlorosis disease (yellowing of leaves, poor shoot growth and dry top).

Many plants do not tolerate a large percentage of lime at all, therefore plants that cannot tolerate this substance cannot be planted on alkaline soils, for example: rhododendrons, azaleas, heathers and others.

A wide range of ornamental plants can be successfully grown on calcareous, alkaline soils. Their choice is quite large, so it is impossible to give a complete list in a short article. Below are the most common and most unpretentious ornamental trees (species and their decorative forms - varieties), which are traditionally used in landscaping on the territory of Ukraine on alkaline soils, as well as their brief description, namely their dimensions and main decorative properties.

Deciduous trees for alkaline soils

Ailanthus highest or Chinese ash - Ailanthus altissima

Tree 20-25 m high, with a slender cylindrical trunk, covered with thin light gray bark; young trees with a wide-pyramidal crown, old ones with a sprawling tent-like crown. The crown is semi-open. The leaves are compound, odd-pinnate, palm-like (as in pinnate palms), very large, up to 60 cm long, and in coppice specimens even up to 1 m. Leaves of 13-25 leaflets, ovate-lanceolate, glabrous, bluish below, 7-12 cm long, with 2-4 large obtuse teeth at the base; When touched, the leaves emit an unpleasant odor.

The flowers are bisexual and staminate (male), small, yellowish-green in large panicles, 10-20 cm long. Male flowers have an unpleasant odor. The fruits are lionfish 3-4 cm long, light reddish-brown in color.

Light-loving; it is unpretentious to soil conditions, grows on dry stony, gravelly and sandy soils, tolerates quite significant salinity of the soil, grows well even on salt marshes, but develops best on deep loamy, fairly moist soils.

Field maple - Acer campestre

Tree 12-15 meters high. The crown is oval, dense, the leaves are five-lobed, less often three-finger-lobed. Very shade tolerant. Relatively drought-resistant, demanding on the richness of soils.

Ash maple - Acer negundo

Tree 10-15 (18) meters in height. In landscaping, decorative forms are more often used:

- "Odessanum"- a tree up to 9 m high with beautiful bright, lemon-yellow foliage. Leaf petioles are orange-yellowish.

- "Elegantissima"- more often a shrub form (about 5 m tall), young leaves with a bright yellow border, brightening with age.

- Flamingos- more often in a standard form about 5 m high. The leaves are covered with white-pink spots. When blooming, they have a creamy green color, then they appear soft pink-white stripes and a wide border of the same color, later pink turns into white or pale green.

- "Variegatum"("Argenteo-variegatum") - a tree or shrub 5-7 m high. The leaves have an irregular wide cream-colored strip along the edge, pink when blooming.

Norway maple - Acer platanoides

A tree 18-25 m high. Both the species and its numerous varieties are used in landscaping:

- Crimson King(synonymous with "Schwedleri Nigrum"). The tree reaches 20 m in height. The leaves are deep purple, almost black throughout the season.

-Drummondii. Tree up to 6-10 m (sometimes up to 12 m) in height. Leaves with a wide uneven stripe of cream color.

- "Globosum" a small tree, more often in a standard form, 4-6 (7) m high, 3-5 m wide, initially strictly spherical, later gradually the crown becomes flattened.

Gleditsia prickly (three-prickly, common) - Gleditsia triacanthos

Trees 8-15(20) m tall. They have an openwork crown, feathery leaves and beautiful fruits - beans. Very drought tolerant.

Catalpa bignonioides, or common - Catalpa bignonioides

Tree up to 20 m tall. The crown is broadly oval, the leaves are large. Beautiful profuse blooms.

Cercis pod (European), or "Judas tree" - Cercis siliquastrum. It grows as a tree (sometimes a shrub), up to 10 m tall, with a spreading, loose crown. It blooms beautifully in May, during flowering, all branches are completely covered with bunches of purple-pink flowers.

Prickly hawthorn (common)- Crataegus oxyacantha (laevigata). A large shrub up to 4 m high or a tree up to 5 m, with a dense, oval crown and prickly branches. Leaves are broadly ovate with 3-5 lobes. White flowers 5-10 in corymbs. The duration of flowering is 10-12 days. Round fruits up to 1.2 cm in diameter, bright red to purple, with yellow flesh.

You can use other types of hawthorn - Altai, blood red, soft, cockspur, single-piston, etc.


prickly hawthorn

Common ash - Fraxinus excelsior

Tree up to 30 m tall, with a wide oval, openwork crown. Grows quickly, photophilous. It has many forms used in landscaping. The most interesting of them:

- weeping (f. pendula)- a tree up to 8 m tall, with a domed crown and long branches hanging down to the ground, very effective in a single planting;

- yellow-leaved (f. aurea)- with yellow leaves, etc.

White mulberry, or mulberry - Morus alba

Tree up to 20 m tall, in unfavorable conditions - shrub. The crown is dense, spherical, spreading in old trees. Leaves of various configurations and sizes even on the same tree, from whole to lobed, they are dark green in summer, straw yellow in autumn. Seed fruit are quite decorative - sweet, edible, of various colors. It has many decorative forms, of which the most spectacular are:

- weeping (f. pendula)- up to 5 m high, with thin branches drooping to the ground;

-dissected leaf (f. sceletoniana)- very graceful, with leaves divided into regular, narrow lobes, while the apical and two lateral lobes have strongly elongated ends;

- golden (f. aurea)- with golden yellow young shoots and leaves.


Mulberry white "Weeping"

Oriental plane tree or Chinar - Platanus orientalis

A powerful tree up to 30-40 (50) m in height, has a powerful, wide-rounded, cylindrical, domed or spherical crown. Usually a single-stemmed tree, rarely with several trunks with a common base. The bark is very original, smooth, greenish-gray on the branches; on young trunks gray, peeling off in large plates; on old ones - dark gray, with deep cracks. The leaves are large (15 - 18 cm), alternate, palmately lobed. It grows rapidly, withstands temperatures as low as -25°C,


Oriental plane tree

Black poplar or Osokor - Populus nigra

A large tree, up to 30 m high, with a powerful, wide, branched crown. The leaves are rhombic or triangular, with a long thin tip at the top, dark green above and somewhat lighter below, finely blunt-toothed along the edge, fragrant. It is undemanding to soil conditions, can grow on dry and relatively poor soils. On rich and moist it grows very quickly. Winter-hardy and drought-resistant. Gas and smoke resistant.

They also tolerate the presence of lime in the soil: Poplar Simon, or Chinese - R. simonii ;. Poplar Bolle -R. bolleana; Poplar pyramidal - R. pyramidalis.

Sumac fluffy or deer-horned (Vinegar tree) - Rhus typhina (Rhus hirta)

Tree 10-12 m high or large shrub. It has a beautiful, decorative, openwork crown, thick, fluffy, light brown shoots resembling deer antlers. Large, up to 50 cm long, pinnate leaves with an amazing velvety surface, consist of 11-31 leaves, long-pointed at the top and coarsely serrated along the edge, dull dark green above, whitish-gray below. Leaves are pale orange to deep burgundy in autumn. During the period of fruit ripening, spherical drupes covered with red bristly pubescence decorate plants very much, often until spring.

Japanese Sophora - Sophora japonica

A slender, deciduous tree up to 25 m tall, with a beautiful, dense, spherical crown up to 20 m in diameter. The leaves are large, up to 25 cm long, pinnate, consisting of 7-17 ovate or lanceolate-oblong leaflets, dense, dark green, shiny above and bluish below. The flowers are yellowish or greenish white, in large paniculate inflorescences. Pods up to 10 cm, clearly visible, sharply constricted, amber-yellow when ripe. Photophilous. Very drought-resistant, undemanding to the soil, resistant to smoke and gases.
Fluffy sumac Sophora japonica

Downy oak - Quercus pubescens

A tree up to 8-10 m high, with a low, winding trunk and a wide crown, sometimes grows as a shrub. Young shoots are strongly pubescent. Leaves 5-10 cm long, very variable in shape and size, with 4-8 pairs of obtuse or pointed lobes, dark green above, glabrous, gray-green below, pubescent. It grows slowly, light and thermophilic, drought-resistant.

Pedunculate oak - Quercus robur

A long-lived, very powerful tree up to 50 m tall, with single plantings in open places - with a short trunk and a wide, spreading, low-set crown. The leaves are alternate, leathery, oblong, obovate, up to 15 cm long, with an elongated apex and 3-7 pairs of obtuse, lateral lobes of unequal length. Acorns up to 3.5 cm, 1/5 covered with a cupule, ripen in early autumn. Despite the fact that it prefers deep, fertile, fresh soils, it is able to develop on any, including dry and saline ones. It has high drought and heat resistance. One of the most durable Ukrainian native breeds. Such characteristics make it indispensable in green building.

Robinia false acacia or White acacia - Robinia pseudoacacia

Deciduous tree up to 30 m tall, with a translucent, spreading, openwork crown, consisting of isolated tiers. Shoots glabrous, greenish-gray or red-brown, prickly. The leaves are alternate, pinnate, of 7-19 leaflets obovate or elliptical in shape. In spring they are green, silky-pubescent, in summer they are dark green, sometimes yellowish, glaucous below, glabrous; dark green in autumn. The flowers are white or slightly pinkish, fragrant, in drooping racemes up to 20 cm long. The fruit is a brown, flat, linear-oblong bean 5-12 cm long. The white locust has a wide variety of ornamental forms. The following are most often used in landscaping: pyramidal (f. stricta), umbrella (f. umbraculifera), golden (f. aurea), dissected-leaved (f. dissecta).


Robinia locust

Willow pear - Pyrus salicifolia

Low tree up to 8-10 m, broad-ovate crown. Young shoots with white-felt omission. Leaves narrow-lanceolate up to 8 cm, with a width of 1 cm; young - silvery, later slightly shiny, dark green above and whitish-fluffy - below. Flowers up to 2 cm in diameter, white, collected in corymbose inflorescences. The fruits are small, up to 2 cm, with a short stalk. It is drought-resistant, undemanding to the soil, tolerates even salinity and compaction. Smoke and gas resistant.

Loholistnaya pear - Pyrus elaeagnifolia

Tree up to 10 m tall. The crown is wide, openwork, with prickly, felt-pubescent shoots. Lanceolate leaves up to 9 cm long, silvery on both sides, gray-felt, very reminiscent of sucker leaves, for which the species got its name. The flowers are white with a pink tint, up to 2.5 cm in diameter, very showy at the time of flowering against the background of silvery leaves. Fruits up to 2 cm in diameter. The plant is not demanding on the richness of the soil, it can grow on stony infertile soils, it is drought-resistant, photophilous. Winter hardiness is quite high, withstands temperatures down to -20-25 ° C.

Elm pinnato-branched or Elm (Birch bark) pinnately branched - Ulmus pinnato-ramosa

Tree up to 15 m tall, with an openwork crown, sprawling in youth and oval in adult trees; with thin, flexible, greyish-pubescent, drooping branches. The leaves are elliptical, small, smooth, sometimes symmetrical, large-toothed, dark green, turning yellow in autumn. Flowers and lionfish are small, in bunches. Light-loving, drought-resistant.

Elm squat or small-leaved - Ulmus pumila

A small tree up to 15 m tall, or a shrub with a dense, rounded crown and thin branches. Young shoots are pubescent. Small elliptical leaves up to 2-7 cm long, leathery, slightly unequal, with a sharp short apex and a simple or double-toothed margin, smooth, pubescent when young. In spring, the leaves are green, lighter below; in summer - dark green; autumn - olive-yellow. The flowers are collected in small bunches. Lionfish are yellow-brown or ocher. Photophilous, drought-resistant, tolerates city conditions well.

Rekovets Petr, dendrologist,
Chairman of the Board
Kyiv landscape club

Most garden crops are very responsive to the inconsistency of soil acidity with their growing conditions. Therefore, sometimes it is very necessary to check the acidity of the soil.

If a soil sample is moistened with vinegar and a reaction occurs, as when mixing baking soda with vinegar, then the earth is alkaline.

Soil acidity can be checked with a paper indicator. Such indicators are sold in gardening stores. moisten the soil sample along with the paper indicator with rain or distilled water. Look at the color of the indicator.

Green alkaline soil;

Blue color indicates neutral soil;

Yellow indicates slightly acidic soil.

If the paper turns pink or red, this indicates acidic soil.

How to turn acidic soil into neutral or alkaline

Each plant species prefers the soil in which its ancestors naturally grew. Therefore, some love acidic soil, other plants grow well on alkaline lands. Many plants generally prefer neutral or alkaline soils. If you have acidic soil and want to plant a plant that does well in neutral or alkaline soils, you can make it neutral. Before planting the plant, add bone meal to the soil. It will enrich the soil with calcium, making it neutral or alkaline, depending on the amount of fertilizer applied. In addition, it stimulates flowering. Phosphorus flour is also used to change the acidity of the soil, however, as a fertilizer, it is poorly absorbed by the plant. Therefore, in order to kill two birds with one stone, phosphorus flour is mixed with organic fertilizers. Thanks to this, acidic soil is neutralized, and the plants receive an easily digestible fertilizer.

There are plants that thrive in acidic soil.

If you decide to plant conifers, rhododendrons, azaleas, hydrangeas or heathers, then they just need acidic soil. On it they develop well, bloom profusely. In order to turn alkaline or neutral earths into acid ones, ammonium nitrate, urea, and ammonium sulfate are used. These are mineral fertilizers that are used to increase the yield of cultivated plants.

According to the mechanical composition of the soil are divided into:

clayey

loamy

sandy loam

Sandy.

Usually, for planting plants in containers, you can buy soil of any consistency or acidity. If you already have land, and you want to plant another plant that requires a different soil composition, in this case you need to determine what it is, what its mechanical composition is. If you take a little damp earth between your palms and twist the sample, you can determine its composition by how the roller is formed. If the roller is elastic enough and folds into a ring without cracks, then you are dealing with clay soil.

If the roller rolls up the ring, while faults appear on the oval, then this indicates that you have loamy soil in your hand.

If you take the soil in your palms and try to roll a roller out of it, but it doesn’t work, then this is sandy or sandy soil.

Sandy soil can be seen visually. She slips out of her hands.

What is the acidity of peat and how to reduce it

What is peat? These are the decomposed remains of moss swamp plants. Usually, peat has some acidity of 45pH. The higher the quality of peat, the more fertile it is and has less acidity. To reduce acidity, about 25 kg of mineral phosphorus fertilizer (phosphate rock) is added to 1 m³ of peat. At the same time, fertilizer in acidic soil turns into a form accessible to the plant. The benefit of phosphate rock is also that it is environmentally friendly. If there is no phosphate fertilizer, then it can be mixed with 12 kg of wood ash. It is also an excellent and harmless fertilizer for plants. Lime is also used to reduce the acidity of peat. In this case, it is necessary to add 12 kg of lime.

Peat properties

Many gardeners use peat soil to improve the composition of existing soil. It is able to absorb a large amount of moisture and retain it, gradually giving it to plants. There are some plants, such as hydrangeas, azaleas, that can be grown in peat, as these plants like acidic soil. At the same time, it is necessary to improve the structure of peat by mixing it with sand or fine expanded clay to improve its water permeability.

If you bought peat, then keep it moist. The fact is that after drying, peat is very slowly saturated with moisture.

Among the countless varieties and hybrids of sweet peppers, there are such as, for example, Ramiro peppers, whose popularity is literally global. And if most of the vegetables on the shelves of supermarkets are nameless, and it is almost impossible to find out about their varietal affiliation, then the name of this Ramiro pepper will certainly be on the package. And, as my experience has shown, this pepper is worth knowing about it and other gardeners. That is why this article was written.

Autumn is the busiest time. It is no longer hot, in the morning there is heavy dew. Since the earth is still warm, and foliage has already attacked from above, creating a very special microclimate in the surface layer, the mushrooms are very comfortable. Mushroom pickers are also comfortable at this time, especially in the mornings when it is cooler. It's time for both to meet. And, if not introduced to each other - get to know each other. In this article I will introduce you to exotic, little-known and not always edible mushrooms that look like corals.

If you are a busy person, but at the same time not without romance, if you have your own plot and you are endowed with aesthetic taste, then explore the opportunity to purchase this wonderful ornamental shrub - Caryopteris, or Nutwing. He is also a "wing hazel", "blue fog" and "blue beard". In it, indeed, unpretentiousness and beauty are fully combined. Cariopteris reaches its decorative peak at the end of summer and autumn. It is at this time that it blooms.

Pepper ajvar - vegetable caviar or thick vegetable sauce made from bell peppers with eggplant. Peppers for this recipe are baked, and for quite a long time, then they are also stewed. Onions, tomatoes, eggplants are added to ajvar. For harvesting for the winter, caviar is sterilized. This Balkan recipe is not for those who like to make preparations quickly, undercooked and underbaked - not about ajvar. In general, we approach the matter in detail. For the sauce, we choose the most ripe and meaty vegetables on the market.

Despite the simple names (“sticky” or “indoor maple”) and the status of a modern substitute for indoor hibiscus, abutilons are far from the simplest plants. They grow well, bloom profusely and delight with a healthy look of greenery only in optimal conditions. On thin leaves, any deviations from comfortable lighting or temperatures and violations in care quickly appear. To reveal the beauty of abutilons in rooms, it is worth finding the perfect place for them.

Pancakes from zucchini with parmesan and mushrooms - a delicious recipe with a photo of the available products. Ordinary squash pancakes can easily be turned into a boring dish by adding a few savory ingredients to the dough. In the zucchini season, treat your family to vegetable pancakes with wild mushrooms, it is not only very tasty, but also satisfying. Zucchini is a versatile vegetable, it is suitable for stuffing, for preparations, for second courses, and even for sweets there are delicious recipes - compotes and jams are made from zucchini.

The idea of ​​growing vegetables on the grass, under the grass and in the grass is at first scary, until you feel the naturalness of the process: in nature, everything happens that way. With the obligatory participation of all soil living creatures: from bacteria and fungi to moles and toads. Each of them contributes. Traditional tillage with digging, loosening, fertilizing, fighting all those we consider pests destroys the biocenoses that have been created for centuries. In addition, it requires a lot of labor and resources.

What to do instead of a lawn? So that all this beauty does not turn yellow, does not hurt and at the same time looks like a lawn ... I hope that the smart and quick-witted reader is already smiling. After all, the answer suggests itself - if nothing is done, nothing will happen. Of course, there are several solutions that can be used, and with their help, reduce the area of ​​​​the lawn, and therefore reduce the laboriousness of caring for it. I propose to consider alternative options and discuss their pros and cons.

Tomato sauce with onion and sweet pepper - thick, fragrant, with pieces of vegetables. The sauce cooks quickly and turns out thick because this recipe is with pectin. Make such preparations at the end of summer or autumn, when the vegetables have ripened under the sun in the beds. From bright, red tomatoes you get the same bright homemade ketchup. This sauce is a ready-made spaghetti dressing, and you can also just spread it on bread - very tasty. For better preservation, you can add a little vinegar.

This year I often saw a picture: among the luxurious green crown of trees and shrubs, here and there, like candles, the tops of the shoots are “burning”. This is chlorosis. Most of us know about chlorosis from school biology lessons. I remember that this is a lack of iron ... But chlorosis is an ambiguous concept. And not always lightening the foliage means a lack of iron. What is chlorosis, what our plants lack in chlorosis and how to help them, we will tell in the article.

Korean-style vegetables for the winter - a delicious Korean salad with tomatoes and cucumbers. The salad is sweet and sour, spicy and slightly spicy, because it is prepared with seasoning for Korean carrots. Be sure to prepare several jars for the winter, in the cold winter this healthy and fragrant snack will come in handy. For the recipe, you can use overripe cucumbers, it is better to harvest vegetables in late summer or early autumn, when they are ripe in the open field under the sun.

Autumn for me is dahlias. Mine begin to bloom already in June, and all summer the neighbors look over the fence to me, reminding me that I promised them a few tubers or seeds by autumn. In September, a tart note appears in the aroma of these flowers, hinting at the approaching cold. So, it's time to start preparing plants for a long cold winter. In this article I will share my secrets of autumn care for perennial dahlias and preparing them for winter storage.

To date, the efforts of breeders have bred, according to various sources, from seven to ten thousand (!) varieties of cultivated apple trees. But with their huge variety in private gardens, as a rule, only a couple of popular and beloved varieties grow. Apple trees are large trees with a spreading crown, and you cannot grow many of them in one area. But what if you try to grow columnar varieties of this crop? In this article I will talk about such varieties of apple trees.

Pinjur - Balkan eggplant caviar with sweet peppers, onions and tomatoes. A distinctive feature of the dish is that eggplants and peppers are first baked, then peeled and simmered for a long time in a brazier or in a saucepan with a thick bottom, adding the rest of the vegetables indicated in the recipe. The caviar is very thick, with a bright, rich taste. In my opinion, this cooking method is the best of all known. Although it is more troublesome, the result compensates for the labor costs.

What do we know about soil acidity and why do we need this knowledge? This question constantly arises among novice flower growers and gardeners when they meet this term in recommendations for growing a particular plant. It arises, and in most cases, is ignored ... Beginners consider this knowledge unnecessary and superfluous. This is exacerbated by the fact that it is very difficult to determine the acidity of the soil at home. Indeed, for this, it is recommended to use a device for determining acidity or litmus paper everywhere. And not even every professional has them, not to mention amateurs. So plants are planted without taking into account this most important indicator of soil quality. Different plants for optimal growth, flowering and fruiting need one or another acid-base environment. The pH value affects the availability of nutrients in the soil and the solubility of toxic elements. How to determine the soil is acidic or alkaline right now?

What is acidic and alkaline soil

If you do not go into scientific terms, then acidity is the ability of the soil to exhibit the properties of acids. The pH level of a soil indicates its relative acidity or alkalinity. An acidic environment is typical for podzolic, soddy-podzolic, gray forest and marshy soils, a neutral one for chernozems, and an alkaline one for chestnut soils and solonetzes. The pH value is measured by the ratio of positive hydrogen ions (H+) and negative hydroxide ions (OH-) in a water molecule. Depending on the pH level, the following groups can be distinguished:

  • pH above 7 - alkaline soil reaction;
  • pH 7 - neutral reaction;
  • pH 5.6-6.9 - slightly acidic, closer to neutral;
  • pH 5 - slightly acidic;
  • pH 4.6-5.0 - medium acid;
  • pH 4.1-4.5 - strongly acidic;
  • pH 3.8-4.0 - very acidic.

Few cultivated plants prefer acidic soil, including heather, hydrangea, lupins, and rhododendrons. Most garden and horticultural crops weaken in such soil, their roots die off, and the ground part is more often affected by diseases.

The ability to determine the acidity of the soil in the garden or garden plot will help increase crop yields.

The pH range of 6.5-7.5 is optimal for most crops, in which case the necessary nutrients are easily soluble and available. When soil acidity is less than 5.5, calcium or magnesium deficiency occurs and plants stun. At a pH greater than 8.4, the dissolution of organic matter in the soil is possible, as a result, unfavorable conditions for plants are created.

Why does the soil acidify

Increased soil acidity is a common occurrence, and there are many reasons for this:

  • High humidity in areas where more than 500 mm of precipitation falls annually, as well as melt water, contribute to the leaching and leaching of easily soluble alkaline salts from the earth.
  • In areas with poor ecology, oxides of sulfur and nitrogen dissolve in precipitation to form acids, which then fall out as “acid rain”. Fortunately, this is not a frequent occurrence.

Often, gardeners themselves provoke an increase in acidity by the fact that:

  • Watering with a hose leaches the soil. Abundant watering from a hose washes out the necessary salts. Watered under pressure with water from a hose.
  • Do not replenish calcium taken out by plants after harvest.
  • Mineral fertilizers are used uncontrollably.
  • Too fond of natural nitrogen-containing fertilizers (manure, droppings).
  • We use raw peat.

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Determination of soil acidity

As a rule, the laboratory is contacted when they want to receive a detailed detailed report on the quality of the soil on the site. In addition to the pH level, it is also possible to determine the microelement composition, the level of contamination with heavy metals, radionuclides, and oil products.

  • 1 way. Dig 2-3 holes in the area, put a strip of dough (pH indicator litmus) there and press it to the ground so that it gets wet. The indicator on the strip will change color. Compare the average value of three strips with the sample on the package, this will be an approximate result.
  • 2 way. Take a few handfuls of soil in different parts of the site. Then mix this earth with melted or distilled water, wait until the water settles and lower the strip into it. Check the obtained color with the sample on the package.

Why is acidic soil dangerous?

There are more acidic soils in our country than alkaline ones, especially in the middle lane. Alas, although some plants feel good on them, acidic soils are dangerous for most, because the water, carbon, protein and nitrogen balance of the soil is disturbed, which entails many problems.

When snow melts, moisture is poorly absorbed, and a crust quickly forms on the surface, which prevents the penetration of not only water, but also air into the soil (that is, the earth “does not breathe”), as a result of which some of the plants unadapted to these features die, and the rest grow weak and give a very small crop.

Lack of many micro and macro elements needed by plants (for example, nitrogen, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, phosphorus). Firstly, they are less in acidic soil than in neutral or alkaline, and secondly, even with abundant fertilization, these elements are quickly converted into a form that is poorly absorbed by plants.

Elevated levels of iron, copper and zinc lead to inhibition of plant growth, and on saline soils can dramatically increase soil toxicity. Transparent watery spots appear on the lower leaves and the leaves soon fall off.

Beneficial bacteria that improve the structure and cleanse soils with lower acidity do not survive here, but pathogenic microflora develops actively, so many acidic soils are often “sick”, infecting plants.

The presence of toxic substances that are not washed out and neutralized in acidic soil in a natural way inhibits the development of the root system and entails plant diseases. So, in acidic soils, heavy metals quickly accumulate, which then penetrate into the plant tissue. A number of elements that are in principle useful for plants (aluminum, iron, manganese) form toxic compounds in acidic soils and harm plants.

Plants that prefer acidic soil

Annuals: Clarkia, Godetia, Nemesia. Perennials: foxglove, lupine, lightning, cyanosis. Shrubs: palm-leaved maple, Canadian turf, hydrangea (G. paniculata grows well on neutral soils), Swiss and hairy willows, Japanese schizophragma, Berkwood's viburnum. Separately, we mention rhododendrons, ericas and heathers, the varietal diversity of which allows you to create stunningly beautiful heather gardens with smooth transitions from one color range to another. Conifers will successfully fit in here, which feel great on acidic soils.

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You have probably noticed that special attention is paid to the definition of "acidic soil or not acidic" and almost nothing about alkaline soils. The fact is that alkalization of land in summer cottages and personal plots is extremely rare and basically you have to deal with high acidity.

Annuals “cannot live” without lime: amaranthus, Chinese aster, Chinese carnation, mignonette; perennials: meadowsweet yarrow, lavender, anemone, alpine aster, obrieta, gypsophila, levkoy, white ash tree, backache, thyme, prickly yucca and soapwort. Of the bulbs, tulips and onions respond well to the introduction of lime. Trees and shrubs that prefer a slightly alkaline reaction of the environment are honeysuckle, action, boxwood, sucker, forsythia, shrub cherry, hazel, skumpia, spear-shaped willow.

Alkaline soil is an excellent environment for Korean onions (up to 1.5 m, June-July), he prefers the sun, like most garden chrysanthemums. Korean and Japanese chrysanthemums (40-60 cm, September-October) boast a wide range of colors, and prefer to winter under light cover.

Plants for alkaline soils are the familiar irises, irises (up to 1 m, May-July), with their iridescent hues. At the same time, weigela blooms (up to 1.5 m, May-June) - a sun-loving deciduous shrub that requires shelter for the winter.

Stock-rose grows well on alkaline soils, or mallow (up to 2 m, June-August) forms dense thickets, this plant has many varieties, including terry ones. In the sun, you can place an unpretentious cinquefoil (up to 1 m, June-October). By the way, only some species are medicinal.

Significantly improve the alkaline soil crops of green manure plants, which are an excellent source of biological nitrogen. As green manure crops, crops such as lupine (contains a large amount of protein substances) and other plants of the legume family, as well as seradella, clover, sweet clover, white mustard, rye and buckwheat are used.

In practice, to improve the alkalinity of the soil, farmers sometimes use waste from the phosphorus mining industry, that is, phosphogypsum, which, in addition to calcium sulfate, contains impurities of sulfuric acid and fluorine.

Alkaline soils are widespread in areas close to chalk or limestone. Although they can be among the most productive agricultural soils in different areas, they can be a problem for the garden. Alkaline soils are often rocky and drain freely. Therefore, added organic matter can decompose quickly, making it difficult to maintain fertility. Poor growth and yellowing leaves (chlorosis) are the result of plants not being able to absorb iron and manganese into their roots.

About what soils are alkaline, what to do and how to counteract

We will talk about negative factors on alkaline soils in our material.

1. What soils are alkaline

Alkaline soils vary greatly from gravel to clay. The clay-like element may be mainly fine calcium carbonate, which makes it unsuitable for plant growth. However, when true clay is present in the soil, nutrient levels can be higher and water retention capacity greater. Alkaline soils can be identified as follows: chalk or lime-rich soils are mostly calcium carbonate and are strongly alkaline (they have a pH of 7.1-8.0), if the soil foams when poured into a jar of vinegar, it contains free calcium carbonate (chalk) or limestone and is rich in lime, highly alkaline soils may contain pieces of small, white stones and are often large, with sharp edges that can be easily broken. Lime soils contain chunks of limestone.

2. Features of gardening

Naturally, lime-rich soils contain an abundance of chalk and limestone and are often associated with lowlands, grass-rich pastures, and chalk and lime forests. Very often, such soils are full of stones, they can be too dry in summer, they are often poor in nutrients and trace elements. So, manganese and iron can be "locked" in the soil and are not available to plants. But, this type of soil has several advantages: flooding is rare on light alkaline soils due to their elevation and porosity, if well fertilized, can be moderately fertile and ideal for growing a wide range of plants, plants of the Cabbage family are less likely to suffer from growing conditions in chalky soils.

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3. What to do if the soil is alkaline

Add plenty of organic matter to the soil to improve moisture retention and humus levels in the soil (this condition can disappear very quickly due to soil conditions). Chalky and calcareous soils generally allow the roots of trees and shrubs to easily find moisture, but in some cases it may be irreversible to destroy the subsoil to gain sufficient depth for planting woody plants. Apply fertilizer, use organic mulch to retain moisture, use "green manure" to help correct nitrogen levels in the garden.