What can be added to soil to reduce acidity?

2 Answers
Jul 24, 2017

The easiest home applications are limestone and wood ashes.

Explanation:

Other sites may have other options.
http://homeguides.sfgate.com/make-acidic-soil-alkaline-45013.html

Limestone is primarily used in large agricultural applications.
http://www.soilquality.org.au/factsheets/soil-acidity

Jul 24, 2017

Garden or agricultural lime.........

Explanation:

The most common component of garden lime is pulverized limestone, i.e. #CaCO_3(s)#.

If you are a bit of a gardener, you know that lime is added to soils to sweeten them up, i.e. to make them less acidic. Some plants and veg LOVE lime, i.e. cabbages, spinach, peas; whereas some plants grow better in more acidic soils, tomatoes, spuds. Of course, plants are living organisms, and we are talking about soil #pH# ranges of approx. #6.5-7.5#; i.e. tolerably close to neutral.

Gardening is something I have taken up in the last few years, and (finally) I can see the appeal. There is an old Chinese saying which goes to the effect......:

#"If you want to be happy for a week kill your pig and eat it."#

#"If you want to be happy for a month, get married."#

#"If you want to be happy for the rest of your life, grow a garden."#