Info:Soil
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| Add 4 ounces of hydrated lime per square yard in sandy soils | Add 4 ounces of hydrated lime per square yard in sandy soils | ||
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| Add 8 ounces of hydrated lime per square yard in loamy soils | Add 8 ounces of hydrated lime per square yard in loamy soils | ||
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| Add 12 ounces of hydrated lime per square yard in clay soils | Add 12 ounces of hydrated lime per square yard in clay soils | ||
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| Add 25 ounces of hydrated lime per square yard in peaty soils | Add 25 ounces of hydrated lime per square yard in peaty soils | ||
Revision as of 13:00, 9 May 2007
Contents |
What is pH
We speak about a low pH when the soil contains a high level of hydrogen-ions(H+). The more of these ions ,the more acidic the soil is, and the lower is the pH. With less of these ions, the pH of the soil is higher. The pH-scale goes from 0 to 14, where pure water has a pH of 7, we call this neutral. So lower than 7 is acidic and higher is base, or alkaline. Soil with a pH of 4.5 is 100 times more acidic than a soil with a pH of 6.5. Soil with a pH of 4.5 will lack a lot of elements needed for healthy growth. Earth that has a lack of organic matter needs an extra 0.5 pH. So if a plant needs a pH of 6 in a sandy soil (low organic matter), you actually have to bring the pH to 6.5 With certain pH levels, some elements needed for growing are in the ground, but not available for the roots because they make connections with other elements. This will cause diseases.
- Problems with a low pH
lack of Phosphorus(P) - bad growth especially young plants
lack of magnesium(Mg)
lack of molybdeen(Mo) especially in potting soil
To much mangaan(Mn), aluminium(Al) and iron(Fe) wich can poison the plant.
Loss of Kalium(K) and magnesium(Mg) due to watering
On clayground it causes a bad structure of the soil
- Problems with a high pH
Several diseases because of a shortage of Iron(Fe), mangaan(Mn), borium(B), copper(Cu), zinc(Zn) The organic humus will disappear more quickly especially on sandy soil.
- Optimal pH(H20)
For sand = 6.3
For clay = 7.2
Soil Type
Sand
Clay
Potting soil
Potting soil can contain several different materials which either make it acid or base. Some potting soils stay wet for a long time and those are usually not the best. Normally, the soil contains a fertilizer for a period of 6 weeks. See also Info:Fertilizer The soil must have a good drainage, so it's good to mix some perlite in with the soil. Some people also mix some extra compost through the soil but this can make it more acid, depending on whether there's enough lime in the compost or no lime at all. Be aware that the water can leave the pot easily at the underside. The pH of the soil should be at least 6. Last but not least, the bigger the pot, the better it is for the banana.
pH of the soil
Generally
For most bananas and plantains the pH has to be between 5.5 and 7.5. It is known that a very low pH will result in bad growth and deformed plants.
For AEAE
For Ensetes
For ensetes probably a neutral or higher pH of the soil is the best. From most ensetes and maybe all we know that they grow in a limy environment. (perrieri/glauca)
How to change the pH
To raise the pH you have to add lime to the soil and bring more air into the ground by spitting. Liming will also improve the structure of the ground.
Add 4 ounces of hydrated lime per square yard in sandy soils
Add 8 ounces of hydrated lime per square yard in loamy soils
Add 12 ounces of hydrated lime per square yard in clay soils
Add 25 ounces of hydrated lime per square yard in peaty soils
How to test the pH
Many good garden centers will even gladly pH test a soil sample for you, or you can buy an inexpensive pH test kit at most nurseries, or hardware stores. These test kits generally consist of a test tube, some testing solution and a color chart. You put a sample of your soil in the tube, add a few drops of test solution, shake it up and leave it for an hour or so to settle. The solution in the tube changes color according to the pH of your soil. Compare the color of the sample with the color chart that came with the kit. Matching colors will tell you the pH of your sample. The better kits will also advisory booklets about how to interpret your result.
