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2 responses to “Soil pH temp decrease”

1. 

   J Mystro

   01/27/2024

   The pH of a solution is connected to temperature. As temps increases in a solution, ionization occurs, causing the formation of hydrogen ions. More hydrogen ions lower pH. So yes, the pH drops as temps increase.

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2. 

   Soup

   02/02/2024

   No, I don’t think temperature will affect soil ph in the way you are thinking.

   I agree with mystro as far as the ph of a solution (stuff dissolved in water), but I suspect it’s a lot more complicated when you are talking about soil ph.

   Soil pH is buffered by soil chemistry and microbial activity. In soil, nutrients aren’t suspended in a solution (like hydro). The nutrients in soil form chemical bonds through cation exchange and other processes.

   Microbes also play a huge role in soil ph. As microbes break stuff down they excrete acids and other compounds that can change soil ph. Microbes generally have a preferred ph range and they help maintain that ph to keep themselves happy.

   So while temp and ph are directly linked when it comes to a liquid solution, I don’t think this is true for soil. Soil ph is buffered by cation exchange and microbes. This means temperature changes alone are unlikely to have a big effect on ph.

   Soil chemistry and microbes are very effective at buffering pH. This is one of my favorite things about working with living soil. I rarely have to think about pH at all.. I can rely on my soil and my microbes to take care of it for me.

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