Chemical properties of bases

By
Aakansha Dhingra
 Bases

Arrhenius
concept: The
Brownsted-Lowry
substances which
concept: The
release
substances which
hydroxide ion in
has the tendency to
water
accept protons.
Example:
Example: ammonia
Sodium
hydroxide
Reaction of bases with acids
Brownsted-Lowry base results in the formation of its ‘conjugate acid’
Brownsted Lowry acid results in the formation of its ‘conjugate base’
Changing the pH of the soil to meet the
needs of the plant

Soil acidity determines the availability of mineral nutrients for

your vegetables.
1.  In alkaline soils, phosphorous, iron, and zinc are limited.
2. In acidic soil, calcium and magnesium are less available to
plants.
-Soil pH varies by up to half a point over the year. Soil pH tends to be
higher (more alkaline) when the soil is cool, and lower (more acidic) in
summer, when increased bacterial activity in warmer weather has an
acidifying effect on soil.
-Adding organic matter is an indirect method of soil pH adjustment.
Organic matter “buffers” soil, especially sandy soil.
-The higher the organic matter content of a soil, the more lime it takes to
raise the soil pH, and the more sulfur it takes to lower the soil pH.
-Plants grown in soil with a lot of organic matter have healthier roots.
They’re able to extract enough nutrients from the soil even when the
pH isn’t optimal.
Lowering Soil pH
Why would you want to lower soil pH?
If soil pH testing indicates your soil is greater than 7.0, you have an
alkaline soil, and changing soil pH may be called for, depending on
what you’re growing.
As soil acidity increases, minerals like phosphorous, iron, and
zinc become more available.
In alkaline soils, these minerals—especially iron and zinc—are
bound up and less available. Fruiting plants like tomatoes, peppers,
squash, and melons need these minerals to flower and set fruit.
Soil acidification also makes life more difficult for many weeds.
Weeds are early successional plants that evolved in thin, alkaline
soils. In acidic soils, many weeds are weaker competitors.
 Ways to Lower Soil pH (Make Soil Acidic)
Soil pH can be lowered by half a point—from 7.0 to 6.5, for example—by
increasing soil nitrogen. Adding compost, manure, or organic soil amendments
like alfalfa meal to the soil can help drop pH over time by increasing bacterial
populations.
There's a myth that coffee grounds (2-0-0) are a quick fix for lowering soil pH.
Most of the organic acids in coffee are water-soluble, and flush out into the
brew. Coffee grounds have a pH around 6.8, close to neutral, so they won't do
much to lower pH. They do add a little nitrogen, so they can help reduce pH
over time, just like manure or compost.
Raising soil pH
Why would you want to raise soil pH?
If you’re growing fall or cool-season vegetables, these green, leafy
vegetables perform better in soils with a slightly higher pH, between
6.8 and 7.5.
Ways to Make Soil More Alkaline (Reduce Acidity)
Dolomite Lime, (calcium magnesium carbonate), is the most
common soil amendment for raising soil pH (reducing acidity). It’s
used by both organic and conventional farmers, but should Not be
used in soils with adequate or excess magnesium.
Plants need magnesium in small amounts, and excess magnesium
stunts and kills vegetables.