Abstract

Although soil is commonly referred to as “fertile substrate”, not all soils are favorable for crop cultivation. Soils ideal for agriculture are balanced in terms of mineral, organic, air and water. Each of these factors plays a direct role in obtaining a good quality soil for agriculture. Soil pH is a very important element to be known because it occurs in many physicochemical and biological soil mechanisms. Optimal soil pH range for plant growth varies from one crop to another. Generally, soil pH 6.0-7.5 is acceptable for most plants like most nutrients are available in this pH range. The use of mineral fertilizers, although beneficial and imperative to obtain good qualitative and quantitative crops, changes the soil pH. The present paper proposes a laboratory study on changes in pH caused by the use of mineral fertilizers such as urea, ammonium nitrate, NPK complex fertilizer, combinations of these, with or without the addition of calcium carbonate as an amendment. The research has revealed the direct link between the use of fertilizers and the modification of soil pH values.