Looking for advice on adjusting high soil ph

frankbenjones · February 25, 2014

I'm trying to improve my raised beds and have had some of them tested. Below are the results from multiple tests for Bed 2 & Bed 10 ( 2 different companys). Our water (hard) pH runs around 8.2 according to the local water utility. All the beds tested for sodium/salts seem to be high. What would be your recommendation for lowering the pH and the sodium levels? I've been looking at using Gypsum and sulfur (90%) to lower ph along with adding organic matter. Bed 2 is mostly clay that I ammended with organic matter and mushroom compost in early 2013 and Bed 10 is purchased "garden" soil from 2013 that is mostly sandy loam, with some compost and peat moss.

Bed 2: Test Company A, Tested 1/9/2014
Soil PH (1:1, H2O) 7.5
Modified Morgan Extractable, ppm
Phosphorus (P) 294
Potassium (K) 441
Calcium (Ca) 7511
Magnesium (Mg) 891
Sulfur (S) 329
Cation Exchange meq/100g 46
Calcium Base Saturation 82
Magnesium Base Saturation 16
Potassium Base Saturation 2

Bed 2: Test Company B, Tested 1/17/2014
PH 7.6
Organic Matter 6.9%
Phosphorus (P) 100
Potassium (K) 345
Calcium (Ca) 5123
Magnesium (Mg) 751
Sodium 191
Cation Exchange meq/100g 33.6
Calcium Base Saturation 76.3
Magnesium Base Saturation 18.6
Potassium Base Saturation 3
Sodium Base Saturation 2.5
Nitrate 21

Bed 10: Test Company A, Tested 1/9/2014
PH 7.4
Modified Morgan Extractable, ppm
Phosphorus (P) 233.8
Potassium (K) 414
Calcium (Ca) 5590
Magnesium (Mg) 687
Sulfur (S) 152.8
Cation Exchange meq/100g 34.6
Calcium Base Saturation 81
Magnesium Base Saturation 16
Potassium Base Saturation 3
Nitrate 20

Bed 10: Test Company B, Tested 1/17/2014
PH 7.6
Organic Matter 5.7%
Phosphorus (P) 115 ppm
Potassium (K) 275
Calcium (Ca) 3211
Magnesium (Mg) 493
Sulfur (S) 78
Cation Exchange meq/100g 21.4
sodium 124
soluble salts .5
Calcium Base Saturation 75
Magnesium Base Saturation 19.2
Potassium Base Saturation 3.3
Nitrate 11
Sodium Base Saturation 2.5

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

February 25, 2014	#1
frankbenjones Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Newbury Park, CA Posts: 51	Looking for advice on adjusting high soil ph I'm trying to improve my raised beds and have had some of them tested. Below are the results from multiple tests for Bed 2 & Bed 10 ( 2 different companys). Our water (hard) pH runs around 8.2 according to the local water utility. All the beds tested for sodium/salts seem to be high. What would be your recommendation for lowering the pH and the sodium levels? I've been looking at using Gypsum and sulfur (90%) to lower ph along with adding organic matter. Bed 2 is mostly clay that I ammended with organic matter and mushroom compost in early 2013 and Bed 10 is purchased "garden" soil from 2013 that is mostly sandy loam, with some compost and peat moss. Bed 2: Test Company A, Tested 1/9/2014 Soil PH (1:1, H2O) 7.5 Modified Morgan Extractable, ppm Phosphorus (P) 294 Potassium (K) 441 Calcium (Ca) 7511 Magnesium (Mg) 891 Sulfur (S) 329 Cation Exchange meq/100g 46 Calcium Base Saturation 82 Magnesium Base Saturation 16 Potassium Base Saturation 2 Bed 2: Test Company B, Tested 1/17/2014 PH 7.6 Organic Matter 6.9% Phosphorus (P) 100 Potassium (K) 345 Calcium (Ca) 5123 Magnesium (Mg) 751 Sodium 191 Cation Exchange meq/100g 33.6 Calcium Base Saturation 76.3 Magnesium Base Saturation 18.6 Potassium Base Saturation 3 Sodium Base Saturation 2.5 Nitrate 21 Bed 10: Test Company A, Tested 1/9/2014 PH 7.4 Modified Morgan Extractable, ppm Phosphorus (P) 233.8 Potassium (K) 414 Calcium (Ca) 5590 Magnesium (Mg) 687 Sulfur (S) 152.8 Cation Exchange meq/100g 34.6 Calcium Base Saturation 81 Magnesium Base Saturation 16 Potassium Base Saturation 3 Nitrate 20 Bed 10: Test Company B, Tested 1/17/2014 PH 7.6 Organic Matter 5.7% Phosphorus (P) 115 ppm Potassium (K) 275 Calcium (Ca) 3211 Magnesium (Mg) 493 Sulfur (S) 78 Cation Exchange meq/100g 21.4 sodium 124 soluble salts .5 Calcium Base Saturation 75 Magnesium Base Saturation 19.2 Potassium Base Saturation 3.3 Nitrate 11 Sodium Base Saturation 2.5 Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.