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Want to add sulfur(?) to my irrigation tank?

Posted: October 11th, 2019, 9:56 am
by CCinPA
I currently have my irrigation output water set to 6.0 pH with the use of sulfuric-acid; But my soil tests show a level of 7.1 pH. I prefer not to add anymore sulfuric-acid. In addition, I applied sulfur to the lawn last fall; By now it's effect should have lowered the pH. Suggestions?

Re: Want to add sulfur(?) to my irrigation tank?

Posted: October 12th, 2019, 1:04 am
by bpgreen
I don't think applying sulfur to the surface of a lawn will do much, if anything, to change the ph.

If you bury sulfur, you can change the ph temporarily, but I'd suggest doing that only in a targeted approach to treat individual plants that are chlorotic.

You can use something like morganite or bay state to get chelated iron to help with greening.

If you haven't already done so, I'd recommend getting a soil test from Logan labs and let the soil gurus here give you a plan to get your soil in the best shape you can. Ph doesn't exist in a vaccuum.

Re: Want to add sulfur(?) to my irrigation tank?

Posted: October 12th, 2019, 9:50 am
by CCinPA
bpgreen wrote:
October 12th, 2019, 1:04 am
I don't think applying sulfur to the surface of a lawn will do much, if anything, to change the ph.

If you bury sulfur, you can change the ph temporarily, but I'd suggest doing that only in a targeted approach to treat individual plants that are chlorotic.

You can use something like morganite or bay state to get chelated iron to help with greening.

If you haven't already done so, I'd recommend getting a soil test from Logan labs and let the soil gurus here give you a plan to get your soil in the best shape you can. Ph doesn't exist in a vaccuum.
>>>> We are on the same page here. I do test tissue and soil testing regularly. The soil test result(s) show the nutrient(s)/biological(s) are within acceptable margins. But, the tissue tests show that the soil nutrients are not getting absorbed. Therefore, the most notable number is the high pH level of the soil.

I'm going to research the two products you mention. Then, I'll be back!

Re: Milorganite and Bay-state

Posted: October 12th, 2019, 8:48 pm
by CCinPA
Read about Milorganite and Bay-state... Although good products, neither appear to lower pH... Yes?

Re: Want to add sulfur(?) to my irrigation tank?

Posted: October 12th, 2019, 11:07 pm
by bpgreen
They don't lower ph. They have iron that is naturally chelated, sho your head can use it even in high ph soil.

I don't think you'll have much luck getting your ph to change with sulfur. As I said, sulfur works best when used to target individual plants (I've read that it can help in warmer areas, but I don't have any direct experience).

You mentioned that you get regular soil tests, but my suggestion was ro get one from Logan labs so the soil gurus here can come up with a plan. I don't really know that much about soil chemistry, so I can't really help much. The soil gurus here can help, but they only interpret tests from Logan labs. I don't think they directly address ph, but they work with the ratios of various elements. Since I don't understand the chemistry, I'm not sure, but I think that getting things in the right balance eventually helps with the ph as well.

Re: Want to add sulfur(?) to my irrigation tank?

Posted: October 13th, 2019, 6:31 pm
by andy10917
BP knows a lot more than he thinks he knows. Almost all he said is correct, although he may not understand the chemistry at play.

You cannot permanently change the pH of soil in the North with surface-applied Sulfur or anything else practical. What we do is to adapt your program/regimens to use forms of Iron that remain available at higher pH's. We can only do that with a full soil test (we only interpret tests from Logan Labs), and all soil test interpretations are ended by the end of October. Do one in the Spring.

Irrigation Mixing-tank / Down-low pH

Posted: October 13th, 2019, 7:17 pm
by CCinPA
I get the short-term and long-term thing.

I believe I can "control" the pH level by adjusting the output of my irrigation/mixing-tank/injector.

Then there is the "what can I do now" to lower the pH?

This is information I did not provide before... But it seems you-all may have additional valuable suggestions?

"Control" pH with the Injector - Then...

Posted: October 14th, 2019, 7:06 pm
by CCinPA
On the issue of testing... Attached are my recent soil and tissue test results. Feedback? Give it to me... I can take it!

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Re: Want to add sulfur(?) to my irrigation tank?

Posted: October 14th, 2019, 7:38 pm
by andy10917
The volunteerss that do the soil interpretations only do it for tests performed by Logan Labs. We can't know the test suites that are performed by all of the labs in North America, so we selected a lab that is aligned with the data we need.

See the sticky posting at the top of the Soils/Compost Forum for more details.

Re: Want to add sulfur(?) to my irrigation tank?

Posted: October 14th, 2019, 7:46 pm
by CCinPA
Bummer. I work closely with the PennState turf-grass folks and this is the company suggest and use.

Re: Want to add sulfur(?) to my irrigation tank?

Posted: October 14th, 2019, 8:10 pm
by andy10917
So, if you work closely with them, have them interpret it.