What is added to soil to lower the pH?

What is added to soil to lower the pH?

• A. Lime
• B. Sulfur
• C. Nitrogen
• D. Phosphorus

Answer: (D)

Lowering soil pH means making the soil more acidic, and the most direct way to do that is by adding an acidifying material. Elemental sulfur is the common choice because soil bacteria oxidize it to sulfuric acid, which lowers the pH over time. Lime, in contrast, raises pH by neutralizing acids in the soil. Phosphorus is a nutrient, not a pH adjuster, and while nitrogen fertilizers can influence pH somewhat depending on form, they aren’t the standard method for intentionally lowering pH. So sulfur is the best answer for lowering soil pH.

Lowering soil pH means making the soil more acidic, and the most direct way to do that is by adding an acidifying material. Elemental sulfur is the common choice because soil bacteria oxidize it to sulfuric acid, which lowers the pH over time. Lime, in contrast, raises pH by neutralizing acids in the soil. Phosphorus is a nutrient, not a pH adjuster, and while nitrogen fertilizers can influence pH somewhat depending on form, they aren’t the standard method for intentionally lowering pH. So sulfur is the best answer for lowering soil pH.