User manual HANNA INSTRUMENTS HI 99121

[. . . ] Instruction Manual HI 99121 Soil pH Test Kit SPECIFICATIONS ISO 9000 Certified Company since 1992 http://www. hannainst. com Dear Customer, Thank you for choosing a Hanna Product. It will provide you with necessary information for the correct use of the kit. Remove the test kit from the packing material and examine it carefully to make sure that no damage has occurred during shipping. [. . . ] Each plant needs elements in different quantities and this is the reason why each plant requires a particular range of pH to optimize its growth. For example, iron, copper and manganese are not soluble in an alkaline environment. This means that plants needing these elements should theoretically be in an acidic type of soil. Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulfur, on the other hand, are readily available in a pH range close to neutrality. Fig. Solubility of the elements according to varying pH values Furthermore, abnormal pH values, increase the concentration of toxic elements for plants. For example, in acid conditions, there can be an excess of aluminum ions in such quantities that the plant can not tolerate. Negative effects on chemical and physical structure are also present when pH values are too far from neutral conditions (break up of aggregates, a less permeable and more compact soil). Management of the soil in relation to the pH value Once the pH value is known, it is advisable to choose crops that are suitable for this range (e. g. Add fertilizers that do not increase acidity (for example urea, calcium nitrate, ammonium nitrate and superphosphate) or lower alkalinity (e. g. It is recommended that a cost evaluation is made prior to commencement of the soil pH modification. Corrective substances can be added to modify the soil pH, however, the effects are generally slow and not persistent. For example, by 3 adding lime, the effects in clay soil can last for as long as 10 years, but only 23 years in a sandy soil. For an acid soil, we can use substances such as lime, dolomitic, limestone and marl, according to the nature of the soil (Tab. 1). Soil Ameliorants CaO Ca(OH)2 CaMg(CO3)2 Ca CO3 Clay soil 30-50 39-66 49-82 54-90 Silty soil 20-30 26-39 33-49 36-54 Sandy soil 10-20 13-26 16-33 18-36 Tab. 1. Quantity (q/ha) of pure compound necessary to increase 1 unit of pH High pH levels can depend on different elements, hence, there are different methods for its correction. - Soils rich with limestone : Add organic matter (this is due to the fact that non-organic ameliorants such as sulfur and sulfuric acid might not make economic sense due to the large quantities needed). - Alkaline-saline soils : Alkalinity is due to the presence of salts (in particular a high concentration of sodium can be harmful). [. . . ] Ranges for evaluation of water quality: - good from 6 to 8, 5 it can be utilized without problems - sufficient from 5 to 6 and from 8, 5 to 9 sensible crops could have problems - scarce from 4 to 5 and from 9 to 10 utilize it carefully, avoid wetting the vegetation - very scarce with pH < 4 and pH > 10 There are other anomalies that have to be identified via chemical analysis. NUTRIENT SOLUTION A rational fertilization is needed for optimum growth of plants in greenhouses; the pH of a nutrient solution (water + fertilizer) has to meet the plants need. If you have a fertirrigation system with automatic pH control, ensure that it is functioning properly. Check the pH of the solution distributed to the plants as well as any recycled solutions. 6 ORCHARD PLANTS Preferred pH Range Preferred pH Range Apple Apricot Cherry Grapefruit Grapevine Lemon Nectarine 5-6. 5 6-7 6-7. 5 6-7. 5 6-7 6-7 6-7. 5 Orange Peach Pear Plum Pomegranate Walnut 5-7 6-7. 5 6-7. 5 6-7. 5 5. 5-6. 5 6-8 VEGETABLES AND HERBACEOUS CULTIVATIONS Preferred pH Range Preferred pH Range Artichoke Asparagus Barley Bean Brussels Sprout Early carrot Late carrot Cucumber Egg Plant Lettuce Maize Melon Oat Onion Pea LAWN 6. 5-7. 5 6-8 6-7 6-7. 5 6-7. 5 5. 5-7 5. 5-7 5. 5-7. 5 5. 5-7 6-7 6-7. 5 5. 5-6. 5 6-7 6-7 6-7. 5 Pepper Early Potato Late Potato Sweet Potato Pumpkin Rice Soybean Spinach Strawberry String Sugar beet Sunflower Tomato Watermelon Wheat 6-7 4. 5-6 4. 5-6 5. 5-6 5. 5-7. 5 5-6. 5 5. 5-6. 5 6-7. 5 5-7. 5 6-7. 5 6-7 6-7. 5 5. 5-6. 5 5. 5-6. 5 6-7 Preferred pH Range Lawn 6-7. 5 GARDEN PLANTS AND FLOWERS Preferred pH Range Preferred pH Range Acacia Acanthus Amaranth Bougainvillea Dahlia Erica Euphorbia Fuchsia Gentian Gladiolus Hellebore Hyacinth Iris Juniper 6-8 6-7 6-6. 5 5. 5-7. 5 6-7. 5 4. 5-6 6-7 5. 5-7. 5 5-7. 5 6-7 6-7. 5 6. 5-7. 5 5-6. 5 5-6. 5 Ligustrum Magnolia Narcissus Oleander Oleander Paulownia Portulaca Primula Rhododendron Roses Sedum Sunflower Tulip Viola 7 5-7. 5 5-6 6-8, 5 6-7. 5 6-7. 5 6-8 5. 5-7. 5 6-7. 5 4. 5-6 5. 5-7 6-7. 5 5-7 6-7 5. 5-6. 5 HOUSEPLANTS Preferred pH Range Preferred pH Range Abutilon African violet Anthurium Araucaria Azalea Begonia Camellia Croton Cyclamen Dieffenbachia Dracaena Freesia 5. 5-6. 5 6-7 5-6 5-6 4. 5-6 5. 5-7. 5 4. 5-5. 5 5-6 6-7 5-6 5-6 6-7. 5 Gardenia Geranium Hibiscus Jasmine Kalanchoe Mimosa Orchid Palms Peperomia Philodendron Yucca 5-6 6-8 6-8 5. 5-7 6-7. 5 5-7 4. 5-5. 5 6-7. 5 5-6 5-6 6-7. 5 ISO 9000 Certified Company since 1992 http://www. hannainst. com MAN99121 10/99 PRINTED IN PORTUGAL [. . . ]