OT/ Too high soil pH?

[Anonymous-0]

Got my soil test back and the numbers looked good for pasture but the pH was 7.8!?! Any suggestions on what would bring it down for a fescue/orchard grass mix pasture or do I need to sow something else? Thanks in advance!

 

[504-2]

lime

 

[msb]

Ammonium sulphate is one answer.The grass would love it too.

 

[john in la]

??????LIME???????
Lime will make it worse yet because it Raises the PH in soil.

To bring the PH down you need to use aluminum sulfate and sulfur.
Aluminum sulfate will change the soil pH instantly.
Sulfur requires some time for it to work.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Lime will bring low ph up. High ph is rare around here. I've seen it as low as 5.2 on my farm. Phosphoric acid might bring it down. I think that is the super in super-phosphate.

 

[Mike (WA)]

Isn't 7.8 about what you want? Here in rain country, we're always applying lime to raise pH, and I think we'd be happy as a pig on ice if we could get 7.8.

 

[n8terry]

I think he wanted to raise PH, thats why he used lime.

 

[RodinNS]

I can't imagine wanting to raise the PH if it's at 7.8 now. 6.5 is considered the target for most forage crops. 6-7 is the desired range...
Sulfur is the ticket to bring it down I believe, but it's rare around here since we work hard to drag our PH up from about 4.5 in virgin soil.... I'd contact a fertilizer dealer and see what they have to fix the 'problem'.

Rod

 

[paul]

It is difficult to make any effective, lasting change. In addition to those mentioned below, NH3 and some other fertilizers will lower it. But, not for long. There is no good ecconomic way to really do it.

I have 6.4 - 7.4 soils. Those high ones over 7 have their own set of problems, not fun to manage. Pasture grass & soybeans can be difficult to get good crops all the time. Likes to stunt at times.

--->Paul

 

[Anonymous-0]

Check with your local AG office that what they are there for also local fert dealer.

 

[randallinMo]

I'd run another soil test. If the pasture has not been limed in recent years, it could be an error in sampling or even an error in test results. It does happen.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Thanks for the help, I appreciate it! Looks like ammonium sulfate is the answer. Had about the same result in a tobacco field a few years back so it appears to be the soil type( it didn't bother it too much).

 

[Ken Macfarlane]

Ugh, you got that right Rod, mines getting pretty bad now. I've got a hill of evergreens that bleed acid down the hill into my best field.

 

[MoMike]

In Australia we used to use gypsum to bring down high pH. I don't know if it's available here or not as my problem like most is low pH.

 

[Wilsonfire]

Here in Central Oklahoma That Ph is considered close to perfect. If you think the test was accurate, I pesonally wouldn't touch it.