Soil Reaction

SOIL REACTION
Soil reaction is one of the most important
physiological characteristics of the soil
solution.
The presence and development of micro-
organisms and higher plants depend upon the
chemical environment of soil.
There fore study of soil reaction is important in
soil science.
Soil
Acidic Reaction
Neutral
Alkalin
e
ACIDIC
It is common in region where precipitation is high.
The high precipitation leaches appreciable amounts
of exchangeable bases from the surface layers of the
soils so that the exchange complex is dominated by
H ions.
Acid soils, therefore, occur widely in humid regions
and affect the growth of plants markedly.

ALKALINE
Alkali soils occur when there is comparatively high
degree of base saturation.
Salts like carbonates of calcium, magnesium and
sodium also give a preponderance of OH ions over
H ions in the soil solution.
When salts of strong base such as sodium carbonate
go into soil solution and hydrolyze, consequently
they give rise to alkalinity.

NEUTRAL
Neutral soils occur in regions where H ions just
balance OH ions.
Extremely acid: < than 4.5; lemon=2.5; vinegar=3.0; stomach
acid=2.0; soda=2–4
Very strongly acid: 4.5–5.0; beer=4.5–5.0; tomatoes=4.5
Strongly acid: 5.1–5.5; carrots=5.0; asparagus=5.5; boric
acid=5.2; cabbage=5.3
Moderately acid: 5.6–6.0; potatoes=5.6
Slightly acid: 6.1–6.5; salmon=6.2; cow's milk=6.5
Neutral: 6.6–7.3; saliva=6.6–7.3; blood=7.3; shrimp=7.0
Slightly alkaline: 7.4–7.8; eggs=7.6–7.8
Moderately alkaline: 7.9–8.4; sea water=8.2; sodium
bicarbonate=8.4
Strongly alkaline: 8.5–9.0; borax=9.0
Very strongly alkaline: > than 9.1; milk of magnesia=10.5,
ammonia=11.1; lime=12
SOIL pH
The reaction of a solution represents the degree of acidity
or alkalinity caused by the relative concentration of H ions
(acidity) or OH ions present in it.
Acidity is due to the excess of H ions over OH ions, and
alkalinity is due to the excess of OH ions over H ions.
A neutral reaction is produced by an equal activity of H and
OH ions.
According to the theory of dissociation, the activity is due
to the dissociation or ionization of compounds into ions.

MEASURING SOIL pH
Soil pH provides various clues about soil properties and is
easily determined.
The most accurate method of determining soil pH is by a
pH meter.
A second method which is simple and easy but less
accurate then using a pH meter, consists of using certain
indicators or dyes.
Many dyes change colour with an increase or decrease of
pH making it possible to estimate soil pH.
In making a pH determination on soil, the sample is
saturated with the dye for a few minutes and the colour
observed.
This method is accurate enough for most purposes.

Hydrangea is a genus of 70–75 species of flowering
plants native to southern and eastern Asia (China, Japan,
Korea, the Himalayas, and Indonesia) and the Americas.
By far the greatest species diversity is in eastern Asia,
notably China, Japan, and Korea.
Most are shrubs 1 to 3 meters tall, but some are
small trees, and others reaching up to 30 m (98 ft) by
climbing up trees.
In most species the flowers are white, but in some species,
can be blue, red, pink, light purple, or dark purple.

In these species the colour is affected by soil pH.
The flower colour can be determined by the relative acidity
of the soil: an acidic soil (pH below 7), by the influence
alum or iron, will usually produce flower colour closer to
blue, whereas an alkaline soil (pH above 7) will produce
pinker flowers.
This is caused by a colour change of the flower pigments in
the presence of aluminium ions which can be taken up
into hyper accumulating plants.

Causes of Soil Acidity
Acid Rain
Fertilizer
Decomposition of organic matter
Correction of Soil Acidity
Adding of Lime
Causes of Soil Alkalinity
Over liming
Alkaline water irrigation
Weathering of calcium carbonate rich
rocks
Correction of Soil Alkalinity
Adding of Fertilizers/Organic matter

pH AFFECTS NUTRIENTS, MINERALS AND GROWTH
The effect of soil pH is great on the solubility of minerals
or nutrients. Fourteen of the seventeen essential plant
nutrients are obtained from the soil.
Before a nutrient can be used by plants it must be
dissolved in the soil solution.
Most minerals and nutrients are more soluble or
available in acid soils than in neutral or slightly alkaline
soils.
Phosphorus is never readily soluble in the soil but is
most available in soil with a pH range centred around
6.5.
Extremely and strongly acid soils (pH 4.0-5.0) can have
high concentrations of soluble aluminium, iron and
manganese which may be toxic to the growth of some
plants.
A pH range of approximately 6 to 7 promotes the most
ready availability of plant nutrients.

But some plants, such as azaleas, rhododendrons,
blueberries, white potatoes and conifer trees, tolerate
strong acid soils and grow well.
Also, some plants do well only in slightly acid to
moderately alkaline soils.
However, a slightly alkaline (pH 7.4-7.8) or higher pH soil
can cause a problem with the availability of iron to pin oak
and a few other trees in Central New York causing
chlorosis of the leaves which will put the tree under stress
leading to tree decline and eventual mortality.

The soil pH can also influence plant growth by its
effect on activity of beneficial microorganisms
Bacteria that decompose soil organic matter are
hindered in strong acid soils.
This prevents organic matter from breaking down,
resulting in an accumulation of organic matter and
the tie up of nutrients, particularly nitrogen, that are
held in the organic matter.

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SOIL REACTION

Soil reaction is one of the most important

physiological characteristics of the soil

The presence and development of micro-

organisms and higher plants depend upon the

chemical environment of soil.

There fore study of soil reaction is important in

It is common in region where precipitation is high.

The high precipitation leaches appreciable amounts

of exchangeable bases from the surface layers of the

soils so that the exchange complex is dominated by

Acid soils, therefore, occur widely in humid regions

and affect the growth of plants markedly.

Alkali soils occur when there is comparatively high

degree of base saturation.

Salts like carbonates of calcium, magnesium and

sodium also give a preponderance of OH ions over

H ions in the soil solution.

When salts of strong base such as sodium carbonate

go into soil solution and hydrolyze, consequently

they give rise to alkalinity.

Neutral soils occur in regions where H ions just

The reaction of a solution represents the degree of acidity

or alkalinity caused by the relative concentration of H ions

(acidity) or OH ions present in it.

Acidity is due to the excess of H ions over OH ions, and

alkalinity is due to the excess of OH ions over H ions.

A neutral reaction is produced by an equal activity of H and

According to the theory of dissociation, the activity is due

to the dissociation or ionization of compounds into ions.

Soil pH provides various clues about soil properties and is

The most accurate method of determining soil pH is by a

A second method which is simple and easy but less

accurate then using a pH meter, consists of using certain

pH making it possible to estimate soil pH.

In making a pH determination on soil, the sample is

This method is accurate enough for most purposes.

plants native to southern and eastern Asia (China, Japan,

Korea, the Himalayas, and Indonesia) and the Americas.

By far the greatest species diversity is in eastern Asia,

notably China, Japan, and Korea.

Most are shrubs 1 to 3 meters tall, but some are

small trees, and others reaching up to 30 m (98 ft) by

In most species the flowers are white, but in some species,

can be blue, red, pink, light purple, or dark purple.

The flower colour can be determined by the relative acidity

of the soil: an acidic soil (pH below 7), by the influence

alum or iron, will usually produce flower colour closer to

blue, whereas an alkaline soil (pH above 7) will produce

This is caused by a colour change of the flower pigments in

the presence of aluminium ions which can be taken up

into hyper accumulating plants.

Decomposition of organic matter

Correction of Soil Acidity

Alkaline water irrigation

Weathering of calcium carbonate rich

Correction of Soil Alkalinity

Adding of Fertilizers/Organic matter

The effect of soil pH is great on the solubility of minerals

or nutrients. Fourteen of the seventeen essential plant

nutrients are obtained from the soil.

Before a nutrient can be used by plants it must be

dissolved in the soil solution.