HRT 4601

(TURF GRASS MANAGEMENT)

TITLE: The influence of acidity in turf grass quality

Name: zubaidah binti ali piah

Matric no. : 150298
Program: bac. Sc. Horticulture
Lecturer: prof. Madya dr. Abdul shukor juraini
Date of submit: 21/10/2010

INTRODUCTION
What is acid soil?
 All soils can be classified as acid, neutral, or alkaline. The degree of acidity or
alkalinity of a soil can be described by a pH value that ranges from 0 to 14. Any value below
7.0 is considered acid, a value of 7.0 is neutral, and a pH above 7.0 is alkaline. Thus, a soil
with a pH of 5.8 is acidic, whereas a soil with a pH of 7.9 is alkaline. Soils become more
acidic as pH values below 7.0 decrease numerically. In fact, there is a tenfold increase in
acidity for every decrease by one whole pH unit. For example, a soil with a pH of 5.5 is ten
times more acidic than a soil with a pH 6.5, and a soil with pH of 4.5 is 100 times more acidic
than the soil with a pH of 6.5. Similarly, for every whole unit increase in pH above 7.0 there
is a tenfold increase in alkalinity.

Soil pH values are usually reported to the nearest 1⁄10 of a whole unit on a soil test
report. Many plant species show a preference in regard to the soil pH range. Whereas
rhododendrons and azaleas prefer soils in the range of pH 5.2 to 5.5, cool-season turfgrasses
usually grow best in soils ranging from pH 6.0 to 7.2. Kentucky bluegrass, the most widely
used cool-season turfgrass in Pennsylvania, grows best when soil pH is between 6.5 and 7.2.
Fine fescues, bentgrasses, turf-type perennial ryegrasses, and turf-type tall fescues are
somewhat more tolerant of slightly acidic soils (pH 6.0 to 6.5) than is Kentucky bluegrass.

Why do soils become acidic and the influence of acidity in turf grass quality.

Soils become acidic through natural processes and human activities. The pH of most
soils is controlled by the amount of rainfall. In humid areas, such as the northeastern United
States, water from rainfall percolates through the soil, leaching ions such as calcium and
magnesium (which prevent the soil from becoming more acid) and replacing them with acidic
ions such as hydrogen and aluminum. Other natural processes that increase soil acidity
include root growth and decay of organic matter by soil microorganisms. Human activities
that increase soil acidity include fertilization with ammonium-containing fertilizers and
pollution with industrial by-products such as sulfur dioxide and nitric acid that enter the soil
from acid rain. In most cases, changes in soil pH, whether they are caused by natural
processes or human activities, occur very slowly. This is the result of the tremendous
buffering capacity (resistance to change in pH) of most mineral soils.
Some turfgrass diseases are influenced by soil pH. Although the reasons for this are
not well understood, there is some evidence to suggest that in very acidic soils the
populations of microorganisms that suppress pathogenic fungi are reduced. In addition,
plants growing in acidic soils may be more susceptible to disease because they are suffering
from nutrient deficiencies or aluminum toxicity. Conversely, there are at least two turfgrass
diseases (take-all patch and Fusarium patch) that are suppressed in acidic soils. Fortunately,
these diseases rarely cause problems in home lawns.

Optimum pH (6.0 to 7.0) does not prevent turfgrass disease, but it can reduce the
severity of infestation. Acidic soils create conditions that favor growth of certain weed
species. One of the most common and difficult-to-control weeds, moss, is more prevalent in
moderately to strongly acid soils than in neutral soils or slightly acidic soils. Shepherds purse
is a lawn weed that is a good indicator of moderately to strongly acidic soils. Although weeds
cannot be controlled with lime applications, applying lime before soils become too acidic is
one means of preventing severe weed infestation. Research has shown that the activity of
some pesticides is influenced by soil pH. Strongly acidic soils can reduce the effectiveness
of some turfgrass herbicides and insecticides.

The soil's pH (acidity level, soil reaction) is a basic foundation of soil fertility and
productivity. It is 'step one' in turf grass quality because it regulates the use and efficiency of
so many of the soil elements essential to turf grass health and growth. Much fertilizer is
wasted because it is applied to soils that are too low or too high in pH for efficient nutrient
uptake. It also influences nutrient toxicities and microbial activity. Let's look at various
relationships dealing with the fertility of strongly acid (low pH) soils.

When soil pH is near 5 or less, cation exchange sites are mostly occupied by hydrogen
and aluminum ions. Manganese becomes much more soluble and toxicity can occur. I am not
usually comfortable with soil pH below 5.5. Acid problems can create deficiencies in the soil
supply of available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium, sulfur and
molybdenum. Deficiencies of available manganese, boron, copper and zinc begin to kick in
at about pH 5. Turf grass toxicities of aluminum, manganese and iron also will occur from
enhanced availability at these low pH levels and affect root growth and turf grass growth
development.

Extremes in soil pH affect microbial activity detrimentally, but more so from acidity.
Particularly affected in acid soils are those nitrogen mineralization systems involved in
organic matter ammonification to NH3 and the nitrification of NH3 to NO3-. Total bacteria
and actinomycete fungi decline steadily at soil pH 5.5 and below. They may be replaced by
other kinds of fungi.

Why is pH important?

Soil pH affects turf health in several ways. Strongly acidic soils (below pH of 5.5)
may result in calcium, magnesium and phosphorus deficiencies in some turfgrass species and
increase the availability of aluminum and manganese to levels that may be toxic. Soils with a
high pH (greater than 8.5) tend to make phosphorus less available to plants. Also, iron
chlorosis, an indication of iron deficiency, occurs more frequently on turf growing in high-pH
soils. Soil microorganisms aid in the breakdown of some nitrogen fertilizers and thatch. Soil
pH in the range of 6.0 to 7.0 usually favors such microbial breakdown. However, most of
these beneficial microbes do not thrive in strongly acid soils. Fertilizers that may be less
effective or slower-acting in strongly acid soils include ureaform, sulfur-coated urea and
natural organic sources.

Strongly acid soils create conditions that favor the growth of certain weed species.
One of the most common and difficult-to-control weeds--moss--is more prevalent in acidic
soils than in neutral or alkaline soils. Shepherd's purse is another lawn weed that is a good
indicator of acid soils. Soil pH influences some turfgrass diseases. Although the reasons for
this are not well understood, one possibility is that strongly acidic soils reduce populations of
microorganisms that suppress pathogenic fungi. Also, plants growing in strongly acidic soils
may be more susceptible to disease because they suffer from nutrient deficiencies.
Conversely, acidic soils suppress at least two turfgrass diseases (take-all patch and Fusarium
patch). Growing turfgrasses within their optimum pH ranges does not prevent all turfgrass
disease, but it can reduce the severity of some infestations. Research shows that certain pH
ranges reduce the effectiveness of some herbicides and insecticides.
Major soil chemical constraint on turf grass.

Acid soil complex - acid soil is a major soil chemical constraint on turf grass in our
humid climates (see a pH versus nutrient availability table). It produces a combination of
nutrient deficiencies, elemental toxicities and high soil strength (tight soil, compaction, poor
tilth). It is particularly a problem on non expanding clay soils (common in the humid South)
such as our Kaolinites, iron/aluminum oxides and Allophanes. It is a major limitation to turf
grass rooting, and maintaining a functional root mass during  stress is critical. It is normally
a problem throughout the entire soil profile rather than a soil surface problem and usually
increases with depth. Alleviating soil chemical constraints in the root zone is time
consuming and requires extra management, especially proper fertilization practices and
liming.

Example lime reactions to raise soil pH require several months to develop fully, so
instant relief will not be found. Very acid soils may show a lower cation exchange capacity
(CEC) that will improve with liming as exchanged Al ions make room for the basic ions that
constitute CEC measurement.

Excessive Induced Acidity (by over application of sulfur or acidic nitrogen carriers) -
primarily a problem in the soil surface (0.5 - 1 inch zone) of near neutral soils. This
condition exposes turf crown and rhizomes to aluminum and manganese toxicity and inhibits
root formation from the crown and stem nodes. Root tip injury from acid soil decreases water
and nutrient uptake (a  5 to 8 lb. /1,000 ft.2 surface application of lime should correct this
problem).

You might request a determination of lime response. A soil test reads only the active
acidity, but soil also has residual acidity (buffering); some have more than others. The soil
test's lime requirement answers how much pH change will occur on my soil for a given
amount of lime. This is essential information to proper liming of a soil and
maintaining adequate calcium fertility.

Acidifying fertilizers include:

 Ammonia (anhydrous)
 Ammonium sulfate
 Urea, SCU, MeU, IBDU and UF
 Diammonium phosphate (DAP)
 Monoammonium phosphate (MAP)
 Ammonium nitrate

Acidic Thatch in Turf - conditions favoring thatch development in sod:

 High use of acid nitrogen fertilizer applications

 High sulfur applications
 High rainfall regions where the thatch and soil basic elements are leached
 Sulfur deposition from the atmosphere and acid rain
 Irrigation water that is acid

Symptoms of acidic thatch conditions:

 Poor rooting into the thatch layer.

 Non rooting of stolons, rhizomes or crown regions growing in the thatch layer.
 Slow response to granular nitrogen fertilizer applications (especially ammonia sources
of nitrogen).
 Slow decomposition of organic matter, especially in grasses (perennial ryegrass, tall
fescue, etc.), that normally does not cause thatch buildup problems.
 Iron chlorosis (especially on cool-season grasses).

DISCUSSION
Cures for Acidic Turf & Liming Strategies

Liming is the practice of applying an agent to reduce soil acidity and make soils more
favorable for turf grass growth. Raising soil pH requires a quantity of liming material that is
determined by the degree of soil acidity as well as the quality and type of liming material.
Although soil acidity is determined by soil testing. Most university and commercial
laboratories, however, will provide sound recommendations of how much lime needs to be
applied to turf grass areas. Liming is needed if the pH of your soil is too low for optimum
growth of the turf species you want to maintain. Soil pH can be determined only by a soil
test. Although home test kits can provide a fairly good indication of soil pH, they cannot
provide meaningful liming recommendations.

Most commercial soil test laboratories also can determine soil pH and provide lime
recommendations for turf. Test results showing pH and nutrient status of your soil sample
and recommendations for limestone and fertilizer applications (if needed) will be mailed to
you. Apply limestone only if your soil test results show a need for it, and never guess at the
amount of limestone needed. Deep mixing of required lime before planting and
establishment is a good idea if feasible. You may try periodic topdressings of 5 - 8 lbs.
lime/1,000 ft.2 when cool, to maintain thatch pH above a 5.5 level. A combination surface
application of lime and subsurface lime injection or a topdressing of the turf with pelleted
lime plus core aerification and dragging will increase soil pH.

Use acidifying nitrogen fertilizers with lime to increase calcium solubility and

calcium movement into the lower root zone (if soil calcium has been critically low). Apply
soluble calcium materials such as gypsum or calcium nitrate, bone meal or rock phosphate to
increase exchangeable calcium in the rootzone without acidulation. These treatments enhance
downward movement of calcium into the rootzone. They do not raise soil pH like lime does.
Some soil physical improvements may occur because of the added calcium (improves soil
tilth). Except for adding calcium, these treatments do not change availability of other plant
nutrients. Calcium decreases the exchangeable aluminum on the soil exchange thus fighting
aluminium toxicity to roots.      

CONCLUSION
 Soil pH affects turfgrass health by influencing availability of plant nutrients and other
elements, thatch decomposition, some turfgrass pests, and pesticide activity. Strongly acidic
soils (pH < 5.5) may lead to deficiencies in calcium, magnesium, or phosphorus and increases
in availability of aluminum and manganese in amounts that may be toxic to turf grasses.

Liming improves plant nutrient availability and reduces toxicity problems in acidic
soils. In strongly alkaline soils (pH > 8.5), the formation of insoluble tricalcium phosphate
makes the phosphorus unavailable to the plant. Iron chlorosis, an indication of iron
deficiency, may be seen on some plants growing in soils high in pH. Since most soils in
Pennsylvania are not strongly alkaline, these types of deficiencies are not often encountered.
Exceptions may occur when too much lime is applied to established turf or to the soil prior to
planting.

Many beneficial soil microorganisms do not thrive in strongly acidic soils. Some of
these microorganisms breakdown certain nitrogen fertilizers, thereby releasing the nitrogen
for use by the turfgrass. Fertilizers containing nitrogen from ureaform, sulfurcoated urea, or
natural organic sources are not effective unless certain microorganisms are present in the soil
in sufficient quantities. Soil microorganisms also aid in the decomposition of thatch and
grass clippings. Thatch is the dense accumulation of organic material on the soil surface
beneath the grass. A thatch layer restricts movement of air, water, nutrients, and pesticides
into the soil. Soil pH in the range of 6.0 to 7.0 increases microbial activity and helps reduce
thatch.

REFRENCES
1. Liming Turfgrass Areas by John C. Harper II, professor emeritus of crop and
soil sciences.

2. http://www.lsuagcenter.com/en/lawn_garden/commercial_horticulture/turfgra
ss/soil_fertility/Acid+Soil+Problems+and+Strategies.htm

3. THE INFLUENCE OF HUMIC ACID ON TURFGRASS GROWTH AND

DEVELOPMENT OF CREEPING BENTGRASS by A. Hunter, A. Anders