Do you know the acidity or alkalinity of common fertilizers?
I.
Inorganic chemical fertilizers
(1) Acidic Fertilizer
Ammonium sulfate: Physiologically acidic (referring to the release of H+ after plants absorb ammonium ions), long-term use can lead to soil acidification and requires the addition of lime for adjustment.
2. Ammonium chloride: Physiologically acidic, with a high chlorine content. Use with caution on chlorine-sensitive crops such as potatoes and tobacco.
3. Superphosphate: Chemically acidic, with a pH value of 3 to 4 and containing free acid, it is suitable for medium to alkaline soils.
(II) Alkaline Fertilizers
Diammonium phosphate: chemically alkaline, weakly basic, with a pH value of approximately 8.0. When applied to acidic soil, it can reduce the fixation of phosphorus by iron and aluminum, maintaining a relatively high availability of phosphorus. Therefore, it is recommended to use diammonium phosphate on acidic soil.
2. Calcium magnesium phosphate fertilizer: Chemically alkaline, with a pH value of 8 to 8.5. It is used to supplement phosphorus in acidic soil and contains calcium and magnesium trace elements.
3. Sodium nitrate: Physiologically alkaline (referring to the release of OH- after plants absorb nitrate ions), excessive use can cause soil compaction.
Ammonium bicarbonate also belongs to alkaline fertilizers.
(3) Neutral or near-neutral fertilizers
Urea: Neutral, but it generates ammonium ions after decomposition, causing short-term acidification.
2. Potassium sulfate: Weakly acidic or nearly neutral, suitable for chlorine-sensitive crops.
3. Potassium chloride: Neutral, long-term use can lead to soil acidification.
4. Ammonium nitrate: Physiologically neutral (referring to the balanced absorption of ammonium and nitrate ions).
II.
Organic fertilizer
1. Composted farmyard manure (dung manure, compost): It is mostly weakly alkaline, with a pH value of 7.5 to 8.5. It is rich in organic matter and can adjust the soil pH value and improve the soil structure.
2. Cake fertilizer (soybean meal, rapeseed cake): It is acidic before fermentation and nearly neutral after full decomposition. Un-decomposed application is likely to burn roots.
III.
Mineral source fertilizers and soil conditioning mineral fertilizers
Quicklime: Strongly alkaline, it can neutralize acidic soil, provide calcium, and is used for improving acidic soil with a pH value less than 5.5.
2. Sulfur: Acidic, it can lower the pH value of alkaline soil and is used for the improvement of saline-alkali soil with a pH value greater than 7.5.
3. Wood ash: Alkaline, it can replenish potassium, increase soil pH value and has antibacterial effects. It is used for improving acidic soil and for potassium-loving crops.
IV.
Application Principles
Soil testing first.
Ammonium sulfate should be used with caution in acidic soil (pH < 6.0), and it is better to apply calcium magnesium phosphate fertilizer and lime. In alkaline soil (pH > 7.5), sodium nitrate should be avoided and sulfur or acidic fertilizer can be used instead.
2. Physiological acid-base balance
When applying physiologically acidic fertilizers (such as ammonium chloride) over a long period, lime should be used alternately. Apply 1,000 to 2,000 kilograms per hectare every two years.
3. Crop Demand Matching
Ammonium sulfate and superphosphate are suitable for acid-loving crops such as tea trees and blueberries.
Sodium nitrate is suitable for alkali-tolerant crops such as spinach and beet.
4. Organic-inorganic combination
The combined use of farmyard manure and superphosphate can reduce phosphorus fixation and increase its utilization rate.
