The ideal soil pH range for most crops in India is between 6.5 and 7.5. This range allows for optimal nutrient availability and microbial activity, promoting healthy plant growth.

Acidic soil conditions in India can result from various factors, including excessive use of chemical fertilizers, heavy rainfall and leaching, and decomposition of organic matter. These factors contribute to the release of hydrogen ions, lowering the soil pH.

Soil pH significantly influences the solubility and absorption of nutrients by plants. It also affects microbial activity in the soil, which plays a crucial role in nutrient cycling and availability.

Rice is a crop that is relatively tolerant to acidic soil conditions. It can grow well in soils with a pH as low as 5.0.

In India, soil pH management involves a combination of practices, including liming to neutralize acidity, gypsum application to improve soil structure and reduce salinity, and organic matter addition to enhance soil fertility and microbial activity.

Liming is a process of adding alkaline materials, such as calcium carbonate or magnesium carbonate, to the soil to neutralize acidity and raise the pH.

The recommended gypsum application rate for managing soil pH in India typically ranges between 2 and 4 tons per acre.

Organic matter addition helps in reducing soil acidity by releasing organic acids and chelating metal ions, which lowers the concentration of hydrogen ions in the soil.

Long-term acidic soil conditions can lead to reduced crop yields, increased soil erosion, and loss of soil biodiversity, negatively impacting soil health and agricultural productivity.

Soil pH plays a crucial role in nutrient leaching. It influences the solubility and leaching of nutrients, and also affects microbial activity, which can further influence nutrient availability and leaching.

Soil pH significantly influences the growth and activity of beneficial soil microorganisms, such as nitrogen-fixing bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi. It also affects the microbial diversity in the soil, impacting nutrient cycling and soil health.

Potato is a crop that is sensitive to alkaline soil conditions. It grows best in soils with a pH between 5.0 and 6.0.

In alkaline soils, sulfur application is commonly used to lower the pH. Sulfur undergoes microbial oxidation to form sulfuric acid, which helps in reducing soil alkalinity.

Sulfur application in alkaline soils helps in reducing soil pH by forming sulfuric acid through microbial oxidation, which increases soil acidity.

Long-term alkaline soil conditions can lead to reduced crop yields, increased soil erosion, and loss of soil biodiversity, negatively impacting soil health and agricultural productivity.