The nose knows....

[growalot]

I have to say over the years I may have forgotten more than some ever learn...I read tons but it's the things I apply I retain the best. Thus the many many jobs I've had over the years,businesses, internships and vocational schools. In all of it, it's the personal knowledge people have shown me that sticks out the most. This is one of them. I had a professor at Alfred that explained during one of our soil testing labs, one of farmers best tools were their noses. That before soil testing and labs were the places to go. His nose told him one of the most important things...PH. Now obviously they couldn't tell exact numbers but it did and does tell you what needs to happen on new ground before deciding what to plant and scheduling the season. He had various samples and had us go out and bring in samples to learn what he meant and gauge our findings in our actual lab testing...He did make our labs pretty fun. I have used this everywhere I have ever planted. One of the reasons I researched good low PH plantings that would still improve the soils but be able to uptake nutrients to benefit the animals.I do not attempt to reach a perfect PH in one shot. I prefer to build it. Time is key for lime takes time to change composition and additional lime in small amounts helps to maintain levels in certain soils and crop rotations. Ive mentioned over the years I always add a little lime each year in woodland plots...This until my nose tells me it's not needed. A very acidic soil will smell acidic when in doubt ,for a quick test mix soil with a bit of baking soda and a dash of water...it will bubble  vinegar and water will cause alkaline soil to fizz. Though no definitive levels can be made with these. The less acidic the soils smell the higher the PH and when you can barely smell it or get just an earthy smell the higher near neutral it is.

None of this replaces comprehensive testing ,that said, it can give you a head start on plans. Reduce time needed   in what of course is a time sensitive activity. Here is a very good and very informative link some of you might enjoy. Slow down and go smell some soil...

http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex6607

Edited March 30, 2017 by growalot

[sailinghudson25]

I judge by what growing there already, if possible.  How well it grows.  What is growing, and the color of the leaves.

My finger nail beds sting in acidic soils when I am pulling roots or working in the soil.

Never knew the baking soda trick.

I have yet to see a soil that doesn't need some lime.  This is in Greene and Columbia county areas.  I may and usually test.  However, I have yet to find a soil above 6.5ph near me.  If it's a real quick plot.  I just put a 1/2 ton per acre of lime.

What alot of places do not say is the tilling depth.  The shallower the till you get, the less lime you should use.  Alot of advice is for 6 inches of till out there.  With the equipment we use and the rough and rocky places many people do these plots in, you're lucky to get a 3 inch deep till.

[growalot]

 There are many many plants that due very well in acidic soils though not necessarily the best nutritive for what ever is eating them. lime is a molecule to molecule additive ...in that that is what needs to occur with the soil for it to raise the PH level, bind molecule to molecule. when you shallow till  which is good for small seeded plants to avoid too deep a depth, though not all small seeded plants are equal...many have deep tap roots and extensive deep root systems ...all those tiny little root hairs need to be able  to take up the needed nutrients at those deeper levels...if the the nutrients at those deep levels are bound up in cold acid soils ...having a good ph at the surface does you no good. Heres a good read on top to subsoil management.

Quote

Management of acidic soils

Soil testing

Knowledge of how soil pH profiles and acidification rates vary across the farm will assist effective soil acidity management.
Ideally, soil samples should be taken when soils are dry and have minimal biological activity. It is standard to measure pH using one part soil to five parts 0.01 M CaCl₂. Soils with low total salts show large seasonal variation in pH if it is measured in water. pH measured in water can read 0.6 – 1.2 pH units higher than in calcium chloride (Moore et al., 1998).
Soil sampling should take paddock variability into consideration. For example, clays have greater capacity to resist pH change (buffering) than loams, which are better buffered than sands. Samples should be taken at the surface and in the subsurface to determine a soil pH profile. This will detect subsurface acidity, which may underlie topsoils with an optimal pH.
Samples need to be properly located (e.g. GPS) to allow monitoring. Sampling should be repeated every 3 – 4 years to detect changes and allow adjustment of management practices.

Interpreting pH results

Depending on soil pH test results, agricultural lime may need to be applied to maintain pH, or to recover pH to an appropriate level. If the topsoil pH is above 5.5 and the subsurface pH above 4.8, only maintenance levels of liming will be required to counter on-going acidification caused by productive agriculture.
If the topsoil pH is below 5.5, recovery liming is recommended. Keeping the topsoil above 5.5 will treat the on-going acidification due to farming and ensure sufficient alkalinity can move down and treat subsurface acidity.
Liming is necessary if the subsurface pH is below 4.8, whether or not the topsoil is acidic. If the 10 – 20 cm layer is below 4.8 but the 20 – 30 cm layer above 4.8, liming is still required. In this case the band of acidic soil will restrict root access to the more suitable soil below.

Liming

Liming is the most economical method of ameliorating soil acidity. The amount of lime required will depend on the soil pH profile, lime quality, soil type, farming system and rainfall.
Limesand, from coastal dunes, crushed limestone and dolomitic limestone are the main sources of agricultural lime. Carbonate from calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate is the component in all of these sources that neutralises acid in soil.
The key factors in lime quality are neutralising value and particle size. The neutralising value of the lime is expressed as a percentage of pure calcium carbonate which is given a value of 100 %. With a higher neutralising value, less lime can be used, or more area treated, for the same pH change. Lime with a higher proportion of small particles will react quicker to neutralise acid in the soil, which is beneficial when liming to recover acidic soil.