We dig into why low (acidic) soil pH unlocks aluminum toxicity, how that halts root growth, and which crops suffer first. Then we lay out a practical plan to find acidic patches with smarter sampling, NDVI, and grid-the-zone strategies, and point to lime and buffer pH for the fix.
In this episode, we discuss...
• soil pH as chemical control and pH level of 7 is neutral
• aluminum toxicity risk to crops increases below 6.5 pH
• wheat relatively tolerant, legumes struggle with nodulation
• stunted roots and thin stands on slopes and sandier spots
• acidic areas are patchy and do not always follow productivity maps
• importance of using intensive grids and how 0–3 inch sampling in no-till helps detect acidicity issues
• soil testing: pair pH with buffer pH to set lime rates
• target NDVI-low areas and grid inside zones
• variable-rate lime as the remediation path
Gridding the Zone with Ag Genesis Part 1: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2297340/episodes/16692855
Gridding the Zone with Ag Gensis Part 2:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2297340/episodes/16692855
Tune in next time for a Tiny Byte of knowledge from GK Technology, where we have a map and an app for that.
https://gktechinc.com/
