alkaline soil
Chalky garden ground
Alkaline soil has a pH above 7, making it basic rather than acidic.
Common in arid regions where calcium and magnesite accumulate, alkaline soil affects which plants can thrive—some nutrients become less available at higher pH levels.
Gardeners may amend alkaline soil with sulfur or organic matter to lower pH: The roses struggled in our alkaline soil.
- calcium carbonateMineral in shells and marble
- pHMeasure of solution acidity
- arid regionsAreas lacking precipitation
- calcareousContainingite calcium carbonate chalk
- limestoneCarbonate sedimentary rock
garden lime · nutrient deficiencies · chlorosis · nitrogen fixation · cover crops · desert ecosystems · desert plants · salt flats · salinity · hardpan · organic fertilizers · drainage systems · chalky · crop rotation · barren · clay · arid · dry climate