Acidifying The Soil Page 2
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1
2
3
4sulfur can just be applied to the 4-foot-wide band centered over each row to decrease the costs of
acidification. The sulfur should be incorporated uniformly with the soil and any other added
amendments.
Table 1. Amount of elemental sulfur to apply depending on soil textural class to lower
the pH from the indicated pH to 5.0.
SOIL TEXTURAL CLASS
Initial PH
Sand
Loam
Clay
(lb / 1000 ft square)
5.0
4.0
11.7
7.8
5.5
7.7
23.4
35.4
6.0
11.7
34.3
25.9
6.5
14.7
44.7
51.28
7.0
18.6
56.6
84.9
7.5
23.6
59.2
87.5
These values are for amending a soil to 6 inches. For greater soil volumes as with bedding
operations increase the S applied proportionately. Correcting soil pH when sodium is present
involves substituting the sodium with calcium and leaching away the excess sodium so drainage
is critical.
This reaction is fairly rapid. One ton of elemental S is equivalent to 5 tons of gypsum.
H
SO
+ CaCO
CaSO
+ CO
+ H
O
2
4
3
4
2
2
sulfuric acid + lime gypsum + carbon dioxide + water
The management of soil pH is especially critical during the initial establishment period, and
growers should pay close attention to the pH environment surrounding the roots of the young
plants. If growing conditions are otherwise adequate, a young blueberry plant should begin to
initiate new growth 30-60 days after planting, and the foliage overall should have a uniform
green to blue-green color down the entire row. The application of sphagnum peat moss to the
planting hole at planting provides an ideal environment for the young blueberry plant to
establish. The peat moss has an acid pH and also improves moisture retention and aeration in the
root zone.
In special circumstances, the plants can be established on a site where the pH is not yet in a
desirable range if specific steps are taken to be certain the plants have the nutrients they need.
The sphagnum peat is incorporated in the plant hole at planting and iron chelate is applied
regularly to the plants as a drench or foliar spray. Blueberries growing where the root zone pH is
above 5.5 can show pale green-yellow (chlorotic) new growth due to iron deficiency; the plant is
slow to initiate new growth and the growth is weak. Iron chelate will supply iron to allow
chlorotic plants to green-up and begin vegetative growth while the pH of the surrounding soil is
falling.
Continuing periodic surface application of more modest amounts of elemental S - 200 to 300 lb.
per acre per year - will aid in maintaining the desired soil pH. Surface applied S will be most
effective during rainy periods as the fine S particles are washed through the mulch and into
contact with moist soil. Surface S applications will likely not be effective for as long as six to
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