Is it better to have acidic soil or alkaline soil

Both acidic and alkaline soils have their own advantages and disadvantages, so which soil is better depends on the application.

Acidic soils usually have a low pH, which means that the soil contains higher levels of organic matter and nutrients, which is beneficial for the growth of some plants. In addition, acidic soils are usually looser and easier to cultivate, helping with root growth and water retention. However, excessively acidic soil may be toxic to some plants and may not be conducive to the survival of some microorganisms.

Alkaline soils usually have a higher pH, which means that the soil contains higher levels of calcium, magnesium, potassium and other ions, which contribute to the growth of some plants. In addition, alkaline soils are generally stable and less susceptible to erosion and erosion, helping to maintain soil fertility and moisture. However, over-alkaline soil may be toxic to some plants and may not be conducive to the survival of some microorganisms.

Therefore, the choice of soil should be based on the specific needs of the plant, the local rainfall and climatic conditions, as well as the fertility and other characteristics of the soil.

Acidic soils are mostly in the south, and alkaline soils are in the northwest.

It should be said that alkaline soil is not good for plants, and in the northwest, it is because the soil is alkaline that plants cannot grow, which is called salinization. China is also currently developing. There are many ways to do this.

In general, the soil is preferably weakly acidic. It is suitable for plant growth but should not be too acidic.

The difference between acidic soil and alkaline soil is that the soil color is different, the texture is different, the situation after watering is different, and the feel is different.

1. The soil color is different.

Acidic soils are generally darker in color and mostly black-brown, while alkaline soils are mostly light-colored in color such as white and yellow. In some saline-alkali areas, there is often a layer of alkaline white powder on the soil surface.

2. The texture is different.

Acidic soil is loose in texture, with strong air permeability; Alkaline soil is hard, easy to form lumps, and has poor aeration and water permeability.

3. The situation after watering is different.

After watering, acidic soil infiltrates quickly, does not bubble white, and the water surface is muddy; After watering the alkaline soil, the infiltration is slower, the water surface bubbles white, foams, and sometimes there is a layer of white alkaline material around the pot.

4. The feel is different.

Acidic soil has a "soft" feeling in the hand, and after letting go, the soil is easy to spread out and not easy to agglomerate; Alkaline soil has a "hard" feeling in the hand, and it is easy to agglomerate and not fall apart after letting go.

1. Different colors: the color of acidic soil is darker, black-brown, and the color of alkaline soil is light yellow or white. 2. The feel is different

Acidic soil has a soft feel and is not easy to agglomerate, while alkaline soil has a hard feel and is easy to compact. 3. Different states: acidic soil infiltrates quickly when watered, alkaline soil infiltrates slowly under watering, and white bubbles will bubble on the water surface.

1. The color is different

The color of acidic soil and alkaline soil is different, among which acidic soil is generally humus soil collected from mountains and rivers, which is darker in color and black-brown, while alkaline soil is lighter in color, mostly white, or light yellow, and the alkaline soil in some areas will be covered with a layer of white powdery substance.

2. The feel is different

The feel of acidic soil and alkaline soil is different, acidic soil has a soft feeling in the hand, the soil is easy to spread out after letting go, and it is not easy to agglomerate, while alkaline acidic soil has a hard feeling in the hand, and the soil is not easy to spread out after letting go, it will agglomerate, and the air permeability of alkaline soil is poor.

3. The state is different after watering

The difference between acidic soil and alkaline soil is manifested in the different states after watering, in which acidic soil infiltrates faster after watering, the water surface is muddy, and white bubbles will not emerge, while alkaline soil infiltrates more slowly after watering, and white foam and white foam will appear on the water surface, and occasionally a layer of alkaline white substance will float.

4. Different plants are planted

Plants grown on the surface of acidic and alkaline soils are different, in which the soil where acidic plants such as pine, fir trees, rhododendrons, and jasmine grow is acidic soil, while the soil where plants such as chrysanthemums, moonflowers, lilacs, millet, sorghum, and tamarix grow are alkaline soils.

There are various chemical and biochemical reactions present in the soil, which exhibit different acidity or alkalinity. The strength of soil acidity and alkalinity is often measured by pH. The reason why soil is acidic and alkaline is because of the presence of a small amount of hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions in the soil.

When the concentration of hydrogen ions is greater than the concentration of hydroxide ions, the soil is acidic; on the contrary, it is alkaline; When the two are equal, it is neutral.

Most of the soil pH in China is in the range, increasing from south to north, and the soil south of the Yangtze River (33°N) is mostly acidic and strongly acidic, such as the red soil and yellow soil widely distributed in South China and Southwest China, and the pH value is mostly in between; The pH value of red soil in East China is in between; The soil north of the Yangtze River is mostly neutral or alkaline, such as the soil in North China and Northwest China, most of which contain CaCO3, and the pH value is generally in between, and the pH value of a few strongly alkaline soils is as high. Fold.

Methods for identifying whether soil is acidic or alkaline:

1. Use pH test paper to measure the acidity and alkalinity of the soil: take part of the soil sample and soak it in cool boiled water, soak part of the test paper in the soaking solution, take it out, observe the change of its color, and then compare the test paper with the color card, if the pH value is 7, the soil is neutral; If the pH value is small, it is acidic; If the pH is 7, it is alkaline.

Second, look at the soil source: generally from the mountains and rivers, the humus of the ravines, mostly black-brown, relatively loose, fertile, good permeability, is the ideal acidic humus. Such as: pine needle humus, peat, humus, etc.

3. Look at the soil color: acidic soil is generally darker in color, mostly black-brown, while alkaline soil is mostly white, yellow and other light colors. In some saline-alkali areas, there is often a layer of alkaline white powder on the soil surface.

Fourth, look at the surface plants: when mining flower soil in the wild, you can observe the plants growing on the surface, generally growing wild rhododendrons, pines, cedar plants in the soil is mostly acidic soil; The soil where Tamarix, Millet and Sorghum grow is mostly alkaline soil.

5. Look at the texture: the acidic soil has a loose texture and strong air permeability; Alkaline soil is hard, easy to form lumps, and has poor aeration and water permeability.

6. By feel: the acidic soil has a "soft" feeling in the hand, and after letting go, the soil is easy to spread out and not easy to agglomerate; Alkaline soil has a "hard" feeling in the hand, and it is easy to agglomerate and not fall apart after letting go.

7. Look at the situation after watering: the acidic soil infiltrates quickly after watering, does not bubble white, and the water surface is muddy; After watering the alkaline soil, the infiltration is slower, the water surface bubbles white, foams, and sometimes there is a layer of white alkaline material around the pot.