How can pH of acidic soil be raised?

1 Answer
anor277
Jul 21, 2017

Have you never done any gardening?

Explanation:

Gardeners commonly add agricultural lime to raise the #pH# of the soil; and such lime is powdered limestone or chalk, i.e. #CaCO_3#.

#CO_3^(2-) +H_2O(l) rightleftharpoonsHCO_3^(-) + HO^-#

How does this reaction modify #pH#?

Some plants and vegetables (legumes, lettuces) thrive in slightly alkaline soil, whereas some prefer a slightly acid soil (e.g. tomatoes). Of course, plants are biological species, and the optimum #pH# would be approx. #pH=5.5-8.0#

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