How to reduce soil ph: The most common amendment to increase soil pH is chalk or lime (CaCO3 or MgCO3), usually

in the form of finely ground agricultural lime. Soils with high buffering capacity require a greater amount of lime to be added than a soil with a lower buffering capacity for the same incremental change in pH. Buffering capacity of soils is determined by the clay content of the soil, the type of clay and the amount of organic matter present.

Soil acidity: The soil pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity in soils. Soil pH is considered a master variable in soils as it controls many chemical processes that take place. It specifically affects plant nutrient availability by controlling the chemical forms of the nutrient. Acidity in soils comes from H+ and Al3+ ions in the soil solution and sorbed to soil surfaces. *Plants grown in acid soils can experience a variety of symptoms including aluminium (Al), hydrogen(H), and/or manganese(Mn) toxicity, as well as potential nutrient deficiencies of calcium (Ca) and magnesium(Mg).

Chalk: Chalk is a soft, white, porous sedimentary rock, a form of limestone composed of the mineral calcite. Calcite is calcium carbonate or CaCO3.Chalk has greater resistance to weathering and slumping than the clays. *Blackboard chalk is a substance used for drawing on rough surfaces, as it readily crumbles leaving particles that stick loosely to these surfaces. *Sidewalk chalk is similar to blackboard chalk, except that it is formed into larger sticks and often colored. *In agriculture chalk is used for raising pH in soils with high acidity. The most common

forms are CaCO3 (calcium carbonate) and CaO (calcium oxide).

www.esf.edu

CAS No. 10043-52-4 Chemical Name: Calcium chloride Synonyms: DBO4;CaCl2;Caltac;Jarcal;Calplus;Peladow;Snomelt;Calcosan;Caloride;Dowflake CBNumber: CB3465202 Molecular Formula: CaCl2 Formula Weight: 110.98 MOL File: 10043-52-4.mol

Calcium chloride Property mp : 772 C(lit.)

bp : 1600 C

density : 1.086 g/mL at 20 C

vapor pressure : 0.01 mm Hg ( 20 C)

refractive index : n20/D 1.358

Fp : >1600C

storage temp. : 2-8C

solubility : H2O: soluble

form : powder

Water Solubility : 740 g/L (20 C)

Sensitive : Hygroscopic

Merck : 14,1659

Stability:: Stable. Incompatible with zinc, water, strong acids, methyl vinyl ether, bromine trifluoride, boron oxide, calcium oxide. Hygroscopic.

CAS DataBase Reference: 10043-52-4(CAS DataBase Reference)

NIST Chemistry Reference: Calcium dichloride(10043-52-4)

EPA Substance Registry System: Calcium chloride (CaCl2)(10043-52-4)

http://www.chemicalbook.com/ChemicalProductProperty_EN_CB3465202.htm

Soil acidity is a natural and induced chemical condition of soils that can:

 decrease the availability of essential nutrients; increase the impact of toxic elements; decrease plant production and water use; affect essential soil biological functions like nitrogenfixation; and make soil more vulnerable to soil structure declineand erosion. The process of soil acidification is a potentially serious land degradation issue. Without treatment, soil acidification will have a major impact on agricultural productivity and sustainable farming systems and acidification can also extend into subsoil layers posing serious problems for plant root development and remedial action. In some regions, there has been a drop of one pH unit over the last 20 to 30 years. Already, some farming areas have lost the ability to grow preferred agricultural species such as phalaris and lucerne simply because, without lime, the soil is too acid. Soil acidity occurs naturally in higher rainfall areas and can vary according to the landscape geology, clay mineralogy, soil texture and buffering capacity. Soil acidification is a natural process, accelerated by some agricultural practices (Figure 1). When plant material is removed from the paddock, alkalinity is also removed. This increases soil acidity. When grain, pasture and animal products are harvested from a paddock, the soil is left more acid. Hay removal is particularly acidifying because large amounts of product are removed. More significantly, soil acidification is most often a result of nitrate leaching. Nitrogen is added to the soil in a number of ways: nitrogen fixed by legume-based plants; as nitrogen based fertilisers; from breakdown of organic matter; and dung and urine.

Acidification occurs in agricultural soils as a result of the: removal of plant and animal products; leaching of excess nitrate; addition of some nitrogen based fertilisers; and build-up in mostly plant-based organic matter. http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/agriculture/farming-management/soil-water/soil/acid-soils