Why are soil pH, acidity, and alkalinity levels important?
Most crops do best when the pH is slightly acidic to neutral (pH of 5.5 to 7.5). Soils in California typically range from pH 5 to 8.5, but a pH near neutral or slightly higher (alkaline) is most common. Measuring soil pH is done most easily with the soil test kits sold at garden centers. They are relatively cheap and reliable. Q: What does it mean when a soil is high in salt or it has high salinity? A: Soluble mineral salts dissolve easily in water and can accumulate in soil. In moist climates they are naturally washed out by rainfall, but in arid and Mediterranean climates they naturally accumulate. Fertilizers contribute plant-essential nutrients in the form of soluble salt compounds. Irrigation water also contains soluble salts, with the salt concentration in water varying throughout the state. Too much salinity can damage susceptible plants. Many ornamental, fruit, and vegetable plants are very susceptible to salinity. Saline soils should be irrigated with water beyond the amount r
