Info:Soil

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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


loamy

Mix sand and compost trough the ground for a better structure.

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

It has been said that the Ae Ae banana prefers a moderately acidic soil.

For Ensetes

For Ensetes, a soil that has a neutral pH or higher is the best. For most Ensetes (and maybe all of them), 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

  • To lower the pH

If your soil needs to be more acidic, sulfur may be used to lower the pH if it is available. To reduce the soil pH by 1.0 point, mix in 1.2 oz of ground rock sulfur per square yard if the soil is sandy, or 3.6 oz per square yard for all other soils. The sulfur should be thoroughly mixed into the soil before planting. Sawdust, composted leaves, wood chips, cottonseed meal, leaf mold and especially peat moss, will lower the soil pH.

How to test the pH

Many good garden centers will gladly test the pH of 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 come with advisory booklets about how to interpret your results.

Pictures

References