Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-05-16
ACID SOIL SERIOUS NATTER:
HOW 1T MAY BE DETECTED

the formation Of a dark-colored solu-
ton. The method of conducting the
test is as follows: Place about tea
spoonful of soil in a clean tuna bier.
I'LL the tumbler two-thirds full Of
water free from lime Grain water or
distilled water), add about q tea
spoonful of ammonia water and stir.
A dark-colored solution. after settling
/ five minutes, indicates soil acidity,
and some idea as TO the degree Of
acidity may be gained, with a little
experience, by the depth Of colora-
ton.
Another proposed test is based on
the fact that soil containing carbon
ate of lime necessarily is free from
acid. Carbonate of lime effervesces
upon Treatment with hydrochloric
acid. The conclusion follows that
soil which effervesees upon treatment
with hydrochloric acid is not acid
Doubtless this conclusion is correct
but the converse does not necessarily
follow, as soil may be free from acid
and yet not contain enough calcium
carbonate so that effervescence with
acid can be detected. As a matter
Of fact there are very few soils aside
from limestone outcrops and certain
marsh-formed soils containing mari.
which contain enough calcium car
Donate TO be detected by this test
There may be cases where it viii
prove useful, but il certainly is not
a test to be generally recommended.
Nearly all soils exhibit a certain
absorptive action towards litmus, and
in certain cases this action is very
pronounced. After the coioring nat
ter of litnus paper has been thus
absorbed by the soil. the paper shows
dirty crab or tan color. which may
be mistaken for a definite acid reac-
ton In such cases the paper should
be left in contact with the soil
shorter length of time and resF,lts
confirmed by the ammonia fesf e
there is enough organic matter press
ent.
Proper Use of Lime
The great majority OF peaty O.
other swamp-formed soils viii reddef
minus paper to certain extent and
give a more or less colorsd SOLUTION
with ammonia, but this does not
necessarily mean that lime should
be used IN all such cases. Expert
ments conducted by the Indiana sta
ton show that a moderate degree of
acidity in such soils is not Sufficiently
injurious to corn, oats, onions. pota-
toes and other common crops SO that
II pays 10 lime. Such acidity might
perhaps be Injurious TO clover but
there is seldom any occasion for
growing clover on soils already
overly rich in nitrogen and organic
matter.
Nearly all Of the peaty, swamp
formed soils represented in the
fertilizer tests reported in bulletin III
of the Indiana station give colefe6
solutions with ammonia and react
acid to litmus, but application at lire
was not found to be profitable excent
in very few cases.
The excessively acid tyre of peaty
soil, which is unproductive beesa<e
Of the presence of soluble salts of
aluminium, as reported in Bulletin
No. 10 of the Indiana station. gives
& radically different reaction from
the ordinary peaty soils. Litmus rAd-
dens instantly. and the ammonia
solution takes on an inky llaclzi,esa
almost Immediately. From SO to %
per cent. of the total organic matter
ccI tent of the soil goes INFO solut ION
In the ammoniacal wafer. In such
cases lime in large amounts Is Inn
peratively needed. but in the case *
black soils which show a less marked
acid reoction, and upon whieh there
Is TO particular need of clover, Nnzn
Is not likely TO be A profitable IN
vestment. Potash Is the principal re-
quirement in such cases tllouki1
phosphoric acid also may be required,
and the probability that 4 wifi b.
required increases gith the ncicity
o. the soil. as acid soils are npfefs-
onsly deficient IN agSaiabie pizss~
pEoric acid.