The agriculture sector is one of the
major contributors to the country’s economy. Horticulture, for instance,
generates more than $1 billion annually. The demand for food is high not only
locally but also internationally. However, food production is determined by the
soil health. The primary indicator of soil health is soil pH. The yields from
the farm and what you can grow can be predicted by the soil pH. It is therefore
important to manage the soil pH for your crop.
Factors Affecting Soil
pH
Most crops perform well when the pH
levels are neutral, ranging between 6 to 7.5. Low pH can inhibit the nitrogen
cycle. Some inherent factors affecting soil pH include soil texture, mineral
content, and climate. Minerals in the parent material determine
the pH of newly formed soils. When the rainfall amounts are high, the soil pH
decreasing as a result of acidification caused by leaching. In dry
environments, the soil pH is either alkaline or neutral since weathering and
leaching are low. However, soils with high organic matter content have a high
buffering capacity and hence more resistant to changes in pH. Mostly, sandy
soils contain little organic matter content leading to high rates of
infiltration and water percolation and low buffering capacity. This makes them
susceptible to acidification.
Nitrogen levels in the soil also affect
the soil pH. Some sources of nitrogen such as manure, fertilizers, and legumes
either form or contain ammonium. As the ammonium is being converted into
nitrates, during the nitrification process, it releases H ions. The nitrate
provided or formed combines with basic cations such as potassium, calcium and
magnesium leaching the soil. These bases are replaced or removed by the H ions
and in the process the soil becomes acidic. The application of sulphur
fertilizers increases soil acidity making the pH levels to become lower.
Know Your Levels
Farmers need to know the pH levels of
their soils to know which management techniques to employ. Regular Soil
testing is therefore important to help you know the crops that
you can grow. Soil testing also helps you know the best time to apply
fertilizers, the quantity to use, and the nutrients required by the soil. To
have an accurate soil pH of the farm, multiple soil tests are recommended.
Management
Techniques
Different crops thrive well at varying
soil pH. For instance, legumes require neutral pH ranging from 6.5 to 7.0.
Grains perform well at a pH that is slightly acidic to neutral – 6.0 to 7.0.
Some of the measures that can be applied
to raise the soil pH or reduce acidification include:
1. Liming
to increase the pH of acidic soils. Lime not only corrects the soil acidity but
also provides the soil with important nutrients such as Magnesium and Calcium,
and prevents elements like Aluminium and Manganese from harmful to plants.
2. Proper fertilization: fertilizers
should be applied as per the plant’s needs. This is because elements such as
nitrogen and sulphur can raise soil acidity. Proper irrigation management
should be used to minimize the leaching of nitrates.
3. To minimize the acidifying effects of
nitrogen fertilizers, farmers should diversify crop
rotation.
4. Applying irrigation water and manure
and other organic material that have a high content of calcium or magnesium
bicarbonates.
Using cover crops, diverse rotation with high-residue crops, and applying solid manure improves soil buffering capacity, increases organic matter content, and minimizes changes in soil pH. Due to the global-positioning, solid infrastructure, and favourable climate, the agriculture industry is growing at a fast rate. However, the farmers will not be able to meet the demand for food if the soil pH is not maintained. Soil testing should be put into emphasis to ensure that food production does not reduce.
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