Lavender pH adjustment – Lavender prefers a pH of 6.9 – 7.2
Curtis Swift, Ph.D., curtis@MesaLavenderFarms.com 979.778.7866
Lavender pH adjustment explains how to determine the amount of liming product to apply per acre.
- Select the desire pH level e.g. 7.0
- Subtract the buffer pH provided by the soil test report
- If no buffer pH is given, then use the pH provided on the soil test
- not all laboratories will provide the buffer pH unless you request that.
- g. 7.0 – 6.5 (pH on soil test report) = .5
- If no buffer pH is given, then use the pH provided on the soil test
- Multiply by 4 (.5 x 4 = 2.0)
- This gives you the tons of liming compound based on a neutralizing value of 100 % CCE.
- Note: CCE stands for the Calcium Carbonate Equivalent (= neutralizing value)
- If you are using calcium carbonate (100% CEC), it will take 2 tons per acre to adjust the pH to 7.0.
- To determine the tons of any other product you use, divide the tons of Calcium carbonate required (2 tons) by the neutralizing value of the product.
- If using calcium hydroxide (CCE of 135%) multiply 2 tons by 1.35 = 2.7 tons of calcium hydroxide.
- If using Magnesium hydroxide, divide 2.0 tons by 1.72 = 3.44 tons.
- The finer the product, the quicker the response. Check out https://nrcca.cals.cornell.edu/nutrient/CA5/CA0541.php for more detail.
Depending on your soil type and rain fall/irrigation, you might need to adjust the pH every few years. A soil test will indicate when the adjustment is necessary.