Food Plot Question for Alkaline Soils

[bgleaton]

We are going to have someone plant a 5-acre fall food plot this year, but after testing our soil we found that the pH is 7.8. Have any of you been able to reduce your pH down to around 7 or just below (6.8)? If so, how and what did you do to lower your pH (i.e. add sulphur)? I have read that it's a lot easier to raise your pH then lower it. Next spring, I would like to make some amendments to get our soil pH where we want it to be (6.8). Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Drycreek3189]

A quick google search recommends alum, gypsum, or urea to bring the ph down. No specific ratios per acre were recommended. I would ask for recommendations from whoever did your soil test.

[686]

Use Ammonium Sulfate nitrogen fertilizer in lieu of Ammonium Nitrate. The sulfate will become sulfuric acid and lower the ph over time.

7.8 isn't a death-knell. We have some over 8 and still get ok results

[bgleaton]

Is there a certain time we should start adding ammonium sulfate fertilizer to help lower the pH in our food plots? Also, how many lbs/acre should we add to help lower the pH. Just trying to figure out a schedule this year to help lower the pH in our soils. Thanks for the help.

[686]

Food Plot Question for Alkaline Soils

Is there a certain time we should start adding ammonium sulfate fertilizer to help lower the pH in our food plots? Also, how many lbs/acre should we add to help lower the pH. Just trying to figure out a schedule this year to help lower the pH in our soils. Thanks for the help.

The nitrogen (N) component of granular fertilizer is usually either Ammonium Nitrate or Ammonium Sulfate. (It's not something extra - it IS the nitrogen component of the fertilizer)

The sulfur in the Ammonium Sulfate based fertilizer will become sulfuric acid in the soil and lower the pH.

So when you are going to fertilize your plots when your planting in the fall or spring, ask your Feed Store if they have "Ammonium Sulfate based nitrogen fertilizer". It will usually say on the bag if your buying a bagged product, and if you buy in bulk, some of the feed stores in the hill country area have it in bulk.

The "big box" places will usually just have Ammonium Nitrate based Nitrogen fertilizer.

[bgleaton]

What are yalls thoughts on increasing organic matter by planting millet, sorghum, guar, etc in the spring and then disc it before it heads out. Is this the best way to increase organic matter and lower our pH?

[RMW]

Putting out lime is the easiest and cheapest way to lower your PH. 1 ton to the acre should lower it about 1 point.

[bgleaton]

I'm confused now. I was under the impression that lime lowered pH and was for acidic soils. So lime can raise and lower pH? Sorry for all of the questions. Trying to learn as much as possible on the best/most economical ways to improve our soil.

[RMW]

I'm confused now. I was under the impression that lime lowered pH and was for acidic soils. So lime can raise and lower pH? Sorry for all of the questions. Trying to learn as much as possible on the best/most economical ways to improve our soil.

Sorry! I thought you were trying to raise your ph. Applying ammonium sulfate will lower it , but it is going to take some time.

[bgleaton]

Ok. Thanks for clarifying.

Does anyone plant cover crops in the spring/summer time like millet, sorghum, guar, etc to increase organic matter? Just curious to see if this would work for us or not. I obviously wouldn't care about weeds too much. Just trying to grow forage to then disc into/onto the soil to create organic matter. I see it done a lot in the Midwest, but wasn't sure how successful it would be for us in Menard county.

[RMW]

Here on our turf farms in Southeast Texas 15 years ago our ph levels were around 7.2. After putting out ammonium sulfate at rates between 300-600 lbs to the acre between 6-8 times a year we dropped the ph to 5.3 unintentionaly. Also after doing this our sulfur levels are sky high, which is not a very good thing.

[Ironman]

Organic matter is organic matter. Are some better than others? I don't know, but I till in whatever is growing. I don't mean this in a bad way, but you are making this way too complicated. Get a simple soil test. Do what you need to, to get your soil as close to neutral as possible. Fertilize if necessary. Prepare a GOOD seed bed. Broadcast your seed and drag to cover or cultipack it. Good seed to soil contact is your end goal. Then pray for rain. No need in worrying about micronutrients. You are trying to grow a food plot, not a grove of money trees.

Don't over think it.

[RMW]

^^^ this is good advice. You can spend boat loads of money trying to get your soils perfect. Water in your location is going to be your biggest issue.

[unclefish]

Just plant cereal rye in the fall as your cereal grain crop. The deer eat it all winter then in the late spring you get this.

[JAB35]

Lime raises your ph. If your soul is a 7.8, the lime will make it higher not lower.