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Homeowner Forum / Lawn and Garden / October 2008How much sulphur for acidic soil ?
I got a B&Q soil tester and it indicated the soil was about PH 9, dar green on the package scale indicator. I only grow vegetables such as potatoes, onions, leeks, turnips and th like and I need to know how much sulphur per square yard or meter do have to add to reduce the PH of the soil to get it slightly acidi which it seems is ideal for popular vegetables. Can any one advise on the amount of sulphur to use please? many thank -- Vegegrower > I got a B&Q soil tester and it indicated the soil was about PH 9, dark > green on the package scale indicator. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > many thanks I use about a handful per square yard about once or twice a year. It takes a while for sulfur to acidify soil. Bacteria in the soil slowly convert the sulfur into sulfuric acid. However, I also use acidic fertilizers. These include ammonium sulfate (very strong, use sparingly) and iron sulfate. I also use very slight amounts of zinc sulfate around citrus and a gardenia and magnesium sulfate (Epsom salts) around my roses. All of these work rather quickly. Unlike plain sulfur, they can readily leach away and might need frequent renewal. Calcium sulfate (gypsum) is only weakly acidic. I use that to improve my adobe clay, even around plants that prefer an alkaline soil (e.g., dianthus, iris, primroses).  SignatureDavid E. Ross Climate: California Mediterranean Sunset Zone: 21 -- interior Santa Monica Mountains with some ocean influence (USDA 10a, very close to Sunset Zone 19) Gardening pages at <http://www.rossde.com/garden/> > I got a B&Q soil tester and it indicated the soil was about PH 9, dark > green on the package scale indicator. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > many thanks Don't know anything about turning alkaline soil back towards neutral with sulphur. But maybe bulk quantities of manure would help? The crops that you've listed would sure like to be well manured! Even so, how are they doing in the alkaline soil that you have? Ed " how are they doing in the alkaline soil that you have?" Not to good - as far as the onions go, it wasn't worth the effort o planting them. I've read that with to high a PH soil , the nutrients are locked in th soil and can't reach the roots of the planted vege plants. So I inten to get some sulphur, sprinkle it over the soil and get the PH down ove the next few months ready for next year's crops. I got some leaf mulch to dig in as well! -- Vegegrower I've researched the amount of sulphur I need for a 15' x 40' patch o soil to get form PH8.0 to about PH 5.5. I believe, based on Espoma product, I need about 13kg so I need t find a garden centre in the north east of England that sells in bulk. Can anyone recommend a seller please -- Vegegrower > I've researched the amount of sulphur I need for a 15' x 40' patch of > soil to get form PH8.0 to about PH 5.5. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Can anyone recommend a seller please? Be very careful. If you add too much sulfur all at once, you might overwhelm the soil bacteria that convert it into sulfuric acid. Then, you will have sulfur doing nothing (not being acidic). Instead, apply a little each month. But if you have such a problem, do indeed buy in bulk. You will have to repeat the treatment annually. SignatureDavid E. Ross Climate: California Mediterranean Sunset Zone: 21 -- interior Santa Monica Mountains with some ocean influence (USDA 10a, very close to Sunset Zone 19) Gardening pages at <http://www.rossde.com/garden/> On Oct 5, 1:07 pm, Vegegrower <Vegegrower.35ec...@gardenbanter.co.uk> wrote: > I got a B&Q soil tester and it indicated the soil was about PH 9, dark > green on the package scale indicator. [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > --Sulfur Application Rate Sulfur tilled in to 6” depth to adjust pH in lbs/1000 sq ft Use elemental “agricultural sulfur” in a flaked or pelleted form Existing pH Desired pH Clay Loam Sandy Loam 8.0 7.0 32 20 8 6.5 47 29 12 7.5 7.0 16 10 .4 6.5 32 20 8 7.0 6.5 16 10 4 6.0 32 20 8 > Vegegrower |
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