Lowering Soil Ph

Question

I’m trying to develop a spot treatment for high ph spots using a blend of AMS and elemental sulfur. Initial treatment I plan to use is 400# AMS 50# sulfur. Anyone have experience with anything similar? What results could I expect?

Answer

Good question on lowering soil pH. Because of the high cost cost associated with applying the amount of sulfur and/or AMS needed to bring down your pH , there's very little production ag information or research available on a large scale. Most of the information in lowering pH in crop production is limited to higher value horticultural crops. I don't think you mentioned what your soil pH is, but below are a few links to some articles from KSU, Oregon and Colorado about lowering soil pH, these articles can give you an idea of the amount of sulfur needed to bring down your pH level. Here's an excerpt from Dr. Dave Mengel and Dr Dorivar Ruiz Diaz in the KSU article.

"Elemental sulfur is one amendment that can be used to lower the pH of a calcareous soil. Even sulfur will take some time to be effective. Elemental sulfur is microbially converted in the soil to sulfate, and soil acidification is a by-product of this process. This acidity reacts with the excess lime to neutralize the soil. Unfortunately, it takes quite a bit of elemental sulfur to neutralize the excess lime in a calcareous soil. It takes a third of a pound of elemental sulfur to neutralize a pound of excess lime. A soil with one percent excess lime would have 20,000 pounds of excess lime per acre in the top 6-7 inches of soil. This would mean 6,600 pounds of elemental sulfur per acre would be needed."

Since you're spot treating areas of the field, hopefully you're able to successful make some pH improvements!

https://webapp.agron.ksu.edu/agr_social/m_eu_article.throck?article_id=86

https://catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu/sites/catalog/files/project/pdf/pnw599.pdf

http://www.denverrosesociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/soil-pH-and-soil-testing.pdf

Answer

Soil is approx 7.9-8.4. Hilltops and cut spots from flood irrigation. Thanks for the links.

Answer

You’re going to need a bit more then that depending on soil type. Look at Agvise’s website. They had a plot with up to 10k lbs of elemental sulfur per acre, it marginally helped. Banded fertilizer should help, but how much is to much in a band?

Answer

Much of our farm is high ph (8+) high salt high calcium white dirt. My two bits is as much elemental sulfur as you can afford. Or if you want results right now and have access, use sulfuric acid. We have seen ph drop from 8.5 to 5.5 in the top 6 inches of soil in less then a month with high rates.

Answer

**************** MT.
How much sulfuric acid would it take  to go from 8.4 ph to 7.9 PH per acre?

Answer

It varies some field to field but 25-30 gallons per acre per depending on acid purity. Per point of soil ph. I.E. 30 gallons should take you from a 8.0 to a 7.0 ph

Answer

Long term fix: gypsum and tile. Even this is going to take a look of time. You need to let the gypsum open up the soil and allow the salts to wash out.

Short term: sulfuric acid or elemental sulfur. You have to be very careful with this because you can wreck ground just as easy. I would stay with elemental.

Mid of the road: lots and lots and lots of feed lot manure. Spread it out there so thick you gotta lock the differential in then chisel it in. It'll fix that spot for a season or two.

Answer

It all depends on what is causing the rose in pH. For instance if its carbonates then you will need alot more sulfur. But if its a magnesium or sodium problem then it requires less and maybe some calcium to dilute it down

Answer

I would look at running as much AMS you can handle as well as Oats in the spring before the crop. Oats are very acidic and help reduce ph and combat IDC well

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Lowering Soil Ph

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