The pH-reaction of the peat in long-term soil improvement and fertilizing trials at the Leteensuo experimental station

Authors

• Yrjö Pessi Peat Cultivation Society, Experimental Station Leteensuo

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23986/afsci.71589

Abstract

The investigation is a report on the pH-reaction in the plough layer of the soil improvement and fertilizing tests carried on at the Experimental Station of Leteensuo during several decades. The tests were located on two areas with a peat layer consisting of Sphagnum peat with pH 3.3, derived from S. fuscum moss in one case, and of forest sedge peat with pH 4.1 in the other. The clay and sand employed as soil improving agents had pH 5.9 and 4.4, respectively. The effect of liming has proved to be relatively prolonged on Sphagnum bog as well as on fen soil. In the test with different rates of lime addition on Sphagnum bog, the pH value was found to increase linearly with the lime quantity. Addition of mineral soil has produced a remarkable increase in pH. Its effect, too, has been highly prolonged. In spite of their different inherent reactions, the sand and clay have exerted largely similar effects on the pH value of the plough layer. Stable manure possesses an effect resulting in an increase of the pH value and this value is also increased by calcium nitrate fertilization, whereas fertilizing with potassium salt and with superphosphate or fine-ground rock phosphate did not affect the reaction of the peat in any noteworthy and distinct degree.