How can the pH of an acidic soil be adjusted?

1 Answer
Sep 11, 2017

By the addition of garden lime......

Explanation:

Garden lime is powdered limestone or chalk.

#CaCO_3(s) + H_3O^+(aq) rarr CaHCO_3(aq) + H_2O(l)#

It is commonly added to acidic soils to correct soil #pH#. If you are a bit of a gardener you know that some veggies and plants prefer acidic soils, i.e. tomatoes, azaleas, etc. and some plants prefer sweeter, more neutral soils, i.e. peas and beans, lettuce, etc.

Note that the #pH# of most agricultural soils is about #7#; alkaline are approx. #7.5#; acid soils is about #6.0-6.5#....