Effect of different amounts of acid application in fertigation on calcareous soil pH

This study was carried out during 3 different periods and in 24 various greenhouses. Average pH values of the irrigation water (7.61, 7.55, 7.29) and average soil pH values before fertigation (7.61, 7.57, 7.55) were measured. Average fertigation pH values were measured to be 6.80, 6.61 and 6.44. Depending on fertigation pH values, average soil pH values decreased at the rate of 0.52, 0.65 and 0.60 compared to those before fertigation. Although average soil pH decreased depending on acid doses used by growers in the greenhouse, this decrease was not sufficient. In conclusion, if growers fertilize with lower fertigation pH doses, availability of plant nutrients can be increased. Additionally, this may lead to less fertilizer use by increasing availability of fertilizers used in fertigation in soils that have calcareous and high pH values. It is clear that further studies should be done with this approach.