How can pH of acidic soil be raised?

1 Answer
Jul 21, 2017

Have you never done any gardening?

Explanation:

Gardeners commonly add agricultural lime to raise the pH of the soil; and such lime is powdered limestone or chalk, i.e. CaCO_3.

CO_3^(2-) +H_2O(l) rightleftharpoonsHCO_3^(-) + HO^-

How does this reaction modify pH?

Some plants and vegetables (legumes, lettuces) thrive in slightly alkaline soil, whereas some prefer a slightly acid soil (e.g. tomatoes). Of course, plants are biological species, and the optimum pH would be approx. pH=5.5-8.0