Plowing's affect on PH Level?

   / Plowing's affect on PH Level? #1  

NonTypicalCPA

Silver Member
Joined
Jul 26, 2007
Messages
139
Location
SW Michigan
Tractor
Kubota L3940
I had soil tests done on my property over the winter and have a question concerning the affect plowing will have on my ph level. I have two plots that I want to plow under that showed ph levels in the mid 5's. My samples were taken from the top 6 inches of soil, and I know that I will be turning that under and bringing up a lower soil level. What should I excpect the lower soil level's ph to be? Will it be similar to the top layer of soil? The appearance of the deeper soil looks the same as the top layer.

My plan is to plow, lime, then run my tiller over to mix the lime and prepare the seed bed.
 
   / Plowing's affect on PH Level? #2  
NonTypicalCPA said:
I had soil tests done on my property over the winter and have a question concerning the affect plowing will have on my ph level. I have two plots that I want to plow under that showed ph levels in the mid 5's. My samples were taken from the top 6 inches of soil, and I know that I will be turning that under and bringing up a lower soil level. What should I excpect the lower soil level's ph to be? Will it be similar to the top layer of soil? The appearance of the deeper soil looks the same as the top layer.

My plan is to plow, lime, then run my tiller over to mix the lime and prepare the seed bed.
What implement will you be using to plow with? Using either my tiller or harrow's I haven't experienced a noticeable difference in the Ph. All purpose plows really don't bring up enough deep soil to effect it. I use it on 3- 4-5 year old plots to break up the hard pan the tiller creates, depending on if they need it
 
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   / Plowing's affect on PH Level? #3  
It should not have an effect. But, you can always buy a PH tester at a Home and Garden Store...even the big box like Lowes carry them. I have two, because I can never find just one. I keep it around because I need to adjust the PH for specific garden needs... like my wifes roses and my grapes. Check the PH in several diffrent places after to till in your lime etc, for my two cents, I would only till in half the recommends add on chemicals, then let it set for a day or two, check the PH then add more if needed.
 
   / Plowing's affect on PH Level? #4  
NontypicalCPA:

You sound like a food plot junky. Well, I need a team of CPAs to figure out how much money I have spent on food plots, and can give you a pretty good idea as to what will happen. If you till, there will be not impact on the PH level. If you use a moldboard plow to turn over the soil. That will lower you PH and you will have to test again and make some adjustments. Nevertheless, if you have previously limed it should still be better than what you started with prior to the first application of lime.
 
 

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