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pH levels also affect the complex interactions among soil chemicals.
Phosphorus (P) for example requires a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 and becomes
chemically immobile outside this range, forming insoluble compounds
with iron (Fe) and aluminium (Al) in acid soils and with calcium (Ca)
in calcareous soils.
This table indicates the availability of several
nutrients at various pH values:
| |
Acid
|
Neutral
|
Alkali
|
| |
4
|
4.5
|
5
|
5.5
|
6
|
6.5
|
7
|
7.5
|
8
|
8.5
|
9
|
9.5
|
10
|
|
nitrogen, N
|
|
|
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phosphorus, P
|
|
|
|
|
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potassium, K
|
|
|
|
|
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calcium, Ca
|
|
|
|
|
magnesium, Mg
|
|
|
|
|
sulfur, S
|
|
|
|
iron, Fe
|
|
|
|
manganese, Mn
|
|
|
|
|
boron, B
|
|
|
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copper, Cu
|
|
|
|
|
zinc, Zn
|
|
|
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molybdenum, Mo
|
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>> Testing and Adjusting Soil pH
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