Soil pH are a measurement of how acid the or alkaline the soil is, and soil pH determines how many nutrition an fruit tree can absorb from the soil. If the soil pH isnt at the correct levels, the nutrients in the soil will be unavailable to the tree, and the tree wont be able to use the nutrients even if you add fertilizer to the soil. Because the tree cannot use the nutrients, the tree may show signs of distress, and these signs of distress includes yellow leaves or brown leaf edge.
Every fruit tree have a specific soil pH range that is ideal for that fruit tree, and different fruit trees requires different soil pH ranges. For example, apple trees and peach trees prefer a relatively neutral soil pH, but avocado trees requires a very specific and narrow soil pH range. In contrast, olive trees can grow in many different soil pH level because olive trees are more tolerant of different soil conditions than avocado trees are.
How Soil pH Affects Fruit Trees
If you dont maintain the correct soil pH for a specific fruit tree, the fruit tree may develop iron chlorosis, and iron chlorosis cause the leaves of the fruit tree to turn yellow between the vein. Additionally, if the soil pH is incorrect, the fruit tree may develop calcium deficiency, and calcium deficiency cause the edges of the leaves to turn brown and die. Soil pH is not a permanent measurement, and the soil pH will change over time because of various environmental factor.
Rainfall can change the soil pH, and the use of fertilizer can change the soil pH, and the addition of organic matter to the soil can also change the soil pH. Because the soil pH changes frequent, you must test the soil pH every year to ensure the soil pH remains in the correct range for your fruit tree. You can use test strip to check the soil pH, but a digital meter or a testing kit will provide more detailed information about the soil pH then test strips will provide.
Once you have test the soil pH, you can use amendments to change the soil pH to the correct level. If the soil pH is too acidic, you can add lime or compost to the soil to increase the soil pH. If the soil pH is too alkaline, you can add elemental sulfur or peat moss to the soil to decrease the soil pH.
You should not change the soil pH too quick, because a rapid change in soil pH can shock the root system of the fruit trees. You should of made small and gradual change to the soil pH over several month, because gradual changes to the soil pH are safer for the fruit trees than sudden change to the soil pH.