Name: ______Date:______Period:______

WS 3.4: Soil pH & Nutrients

  1. What range of soil pH is considered to be acidic?
  1. What range of soil pH is considered to be basic?
  1. Why do plants die from acidic or basic soil conditions?
  1. What is an optimal soil pH for most plants?
  1. Identify whether the following would RISE or LOWER soil pH

  1. Adding Lime ______
  1. Adding Sulfur ______
  1. Adding Gypsum______
  1. Acid rain______
  1. Minerals dissolving ______
  1. Adding peat moss ______

Indicate which bag you should buy to save your garden:


A /
B /
C

______6. A soil test in the fall revels that your soil has a pH of 8, but you have all winter to correct it before you replant

______7. You are given an acid loving plant that needs to be repotted within the next week

______8. A soil test done on your lawn shows a pH of 5

9.  What is the term used to describe a element that plants needed high amounts?

10.  What is the term used to describe a element that plants only need in small amounts?

Match one of the twee fertilizers to the correct plant scenario and give your defense:

A) 15 - 5 - 5 / B) 3 - 9 - 5 / C) 2 – 5 - 10
  1. A lettuce farmer’s lettuce is turning yellow Letter:_____ Why:______
  1. A orange farmer wants his crops to yield more fruit Letter:_____ Why:______
  1. A lawn specialist wants his clients grass to grow greener Letter:_____ Why:______
  1. A gardeners tomatoes are all leaves but are not blooming Letter:_____ Why:______
  1. A palm farmer’s plants keep wilting after it rains Letter:_____ Why:______

Fill in the table:

Nutrient name / Purpose / What do plants look like if they don’t have enough
C, H, O
Potassium
Calcium
Nitrogen
Phosphorous

Use the table above to explain what nutrient each plant needs

______