Question: Soil chemistry and acidification

[Jon B]

I concur with this alternative. You probably want to conduct a small 
bench test to determine the appropriate amount of elemental S to 
add to your soils. Essentially, the sulfur will be oxidized by 
soil bacteria and sulfuric acid will be a byproduct (thereby reducing 
the soil pH). It is critical that you not add too much S. Try 
adding increasing amounts to several pots of soil and determine 
which quantity of S (per volume of soil) results in the desired 
pH range. Make sure you allow enough time to pass before checking the 
pH (not sure on exact time, since moisture, soil texture, temperature 
all play a part) - maybe 2 weeks to a month. Make sure the S is
incorporated into the soil evenly.

Good luck!


manzanar <manzanar at earthlink.net> wrote:
> Mike,

> Have you thought of adding ground sulfur to your growth medium and
> innoculating with naturally occuring bacteria strains.  I have used this
> method for a number of years, the innoculating bacteria obtained from the
> environs from which the plant naturally populates.  Although I have no hard
> and fast laboratory data to back me up, I do know that I have been able to
> increase/decrease pH suitable to either individual plant species or groups
> of unrelated species such that I have obtained good results.  Let me know.

> manzanar at earthlink.net