Soil PH directly affects plant growth because it is the main factor that determines the ability of plant roots to absorb nutrients in the soil, and determines the degree of solubility of salts in the soil.
The soil PH that ensures ideal plant growth ranges between 5-7. These PH values help increase the solubility of salts and nutrients in the soil and increase the ability of the roots to absorb them.
Acidic fertilizers must be used to obtain these PH values in the soil that contain strong acids that make Fertilizer acidity less than 3, such as phosphorus acid, nitric acid, and sulfuric acid.
The scientific research team at Yarafert Company conducted this scientific research to prove the importance of using strong acids in fertilizers to make the fertilizer PH less than 3, in order to reduce the soil PH to values ranging between 5-7, which are ideal values for optimal growth of plants and agricultural crops.
OUTLINE
1. Acids used by Yarafert Company and licenses for their use.
2. International scientific research and studies that confirm the necessity of using acidic fertilizers to reduce soil PH.
3. The effect of using acidic fertilizers on increasing the absorption of nutrients.
introduction
Using acidic fertilizers with a pH less than 3, at the rate of 30-50 kilograms of fertilizer per hectare, helps reduce the soil pH by one degree.
If fertilizer is used more than once, the pH can be reduced by two degrees.
Considering that the soil in agricultural lands in the Middle East tends to be alkaline, it is possible to reduce the soil PH, by repeatedly using acidic fertilizers several times,
to solve the problems of alkaline and hard soil and increase plant growth.
Using acidic fertilizers with a pH <3 in the recommended quantity (30-50 kilograms of fertilizer per hectare) helps in reducing the soil pH by one degree, and this is beneficial in:
- increasing the availability of nutrients contained in fertilizer and soil, and increasing the plant’s ability to absorb them.
- Breaking down complexes in the soil, especially phosphorus and calcium complexes. This makes phosphorus and calcium ions more available for plant absorption.
- Increase the plant’s ability to absorb iron, zinc and ammonia.
Acids used by YARAFERT Company and licenses for their use
- Phosphoric acid
YARAFERT company uses 55% phosphoric acid, which is a strong acid that makes the fertilizer pH <3.
License to use phosphoric acid in fertilizers
Fertilizer regulations issued by the World Intellectual Property Organization listed the use of phosphorous acid in fertilizers to lower soil pH and increase the absorption of nutrients by plants.
Research from the Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety listed the use of phosphorous acid in fertilizers.
https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/chem_profiles/phosphoric.html
2. Sulfuric acid
YARAFERT company uses Sulfuric acid 99%, which is a strong acid that makes the fertilizer pH <3.
License to use Sulfuric acid in fertilizers
Research issued by the Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety listed the use of sulfuric acid was included in the manufacture of fertilizers.
https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/chem_profiles/sulfuric_acid.html#section-1-hdr
3. Nitric acid
YARAFERT company uses 60% Nitric acid, which is a strong acid that makes the fertilizer pH <3.
License to use Nitric acid in fertilizers
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency‘s Fertilizer Regulations, which list primary fertilizers and supplements for the fertilizer industry, mention the use of nitric acid in the fertilizer industry.
International scientific research and studies that confirm the necessity of using acidic fertilizers to reduce soil PH
First study
In the publication issued by the University of Adelaide in Australia, it was stated that the use of acidic fertilizers leads to
- Increased availability of important plant nutrients such as phosphorus and micronutrients such as zinc (Zn).
- Increase plant absorption of nutrients.
The study also included a list of substances that can be added to fertilizer to make it acidic and the effect of each substance on the pH.
Second study
In Hindawi journal, which specializes in applied soil and environmental sciences:
Soil pH affects the biogeochemical processes of the soil, including many biological, chemical and physical properties and processes of the soil that affect plant growth and crop productivity.
The use of acidic fertilizers reduces the pH of the soil, which leads to:
- Increased solubility of salts and increased bioavailability of electrolytes due to increased adsorption, which increases the rate of absorption by the plant.
- Increased availability of divalent and trivalent positive charges.
- Increasing the amount of dissolved organic carbon available for absorption by the plant, which is found in organic compounds such as amino acids, monosaccharides, and polymeric molecules such as cellulose and protein.
A decrease in soil pH by one unit increased the solubility of minerals tenfold.
In moderate and alkaline soil pH, the solubility of most elements decreases, leading to decreased bioavailability and difficulty in absorbing them from plant roots. In moderate and alkaline soil, this occurs:
- Reduced solubility of divalent metals by a hundredfold.
- Reduced solubility of trivalent metals by up to a thousand-fold.
- Loss of ammonium from soil.
The loss of ammonium in alkaline medium occurs due to the transformation of ammonium into volatile ammonia gas according to the equilibrium:
NH4+ ? NH3 + H+
https://www.hindawi.com/journals/aess/2019/5794869
The effect of using acidic fertilizers on increasing the absorption of nutrients
Using acidic fertilizers with a pH <3 increases the availability of nutrients in the soil and fertilizer and increases the plant’s ability to absorb them.
- Increase zinc absorption
Basic and moderate soils negatively reduce the availability of zinc in the soil. The following curve shows the decrease in the concentration of zinc available for absorption in moderate and alkaline soil pH.
Adapted from Researchgate
International Zinc Association
The use of acidic fertilizers increases the availability of zinc and increases its absorption by the plant,
2. Increased ammonium absorption
NH4+ ? NH3 + H+
Acidifying the soil medium using acidic fertilizers helps to make the previous reaction shift towards the left, to form ammonium ions. This is practically useful in stabilizing ammonium in agricultural soil, preventing its volatilization, and increasing its bioavailability for absorption by plants
https://www.hindawi.com/journals/aess/2019/5794869
3. Increased absorption of iron
Iron is an essential element for a number of respiratory enzymes and metabolic activities related to photosynthesis.
Although iron is the fourth most abundant element in soil, its deficiency in plants is the most common.
Alkaline soil prevents the plant from absorbing iron, and this negatively affects plant growth and crop productivity, as iron deficiency causes a loss in yield ranging between 16 and 32%. The following curve shows a decrease in the concentration of iron ions as the soil pH increases.
Adapted from Researchgate
Using acidic fertilizers helps increase the bioavailability of iron and increases plant absorption, according to the National Library of Medicine
