TEST YOUR SOIL

FOR ACIDITY~);

~~
By C. 11. LINSLEY A}fD ~
F. C. BAUER
T.
HE NEED for a method of testing and mapping soils for
acidity that a farmer could use, has been evident for several
years. The plan described in this circular has been designed to
meet such a need. It has been used by many hundreds of Illinois farm­
ers, who have found it both simple and practical and the means of
saving many tons of limestone and many bushels of clover seed.
According to this plan, 23 surface samples, 5 subsurfac e, and 5
subsoil samples are collected from definite points in a 40-acre field.
These are tested by means of the potassium thiocyanate method, and
the result recorded on a map sheet. The completed map shows where
limestone is needed and approximately how much should be applied
to the acre.
This circular, together with the blank map forms (which can be
obtained free of charge by addressing the Agronomy Department,
University of Illinois, Urbana), gives complete directions for making
the test. The materials and equipment are easily obtained, as described
on pages 6 and 7. Below is a color chart, referred to on page 10,
which is the necessary guide for reading the tests.

Color Chart fo r Reading Acidity T est

I-N 0 acidity. No limestone needed.

2-Slightly acid. Needs 2 tons of limestone to acre.

3-Medium acid. Needs 3 tons of limestone to acre.

4-Strongly acid. Needs 4 tons of limestone to acre.

Urbana, Illinois August, 1929

 UNIVERSITY Of JWHO"
llBRARY-CH£IISTRY

Test Your Soil For Acidity

Systematic Testing Saves Clover Seed and Limestone
By C. M. LINSLEY, Assistant Chief in Soils Extension and
F. C. BAUER, Chief, Soil Experiment Fields
Failure to test their soils for acidity is costing Illinois farmers
many thousands of dollars every year in both clover seed and lime­
stone. l\1any farmers sow at least 40 acres of red clover or sweet
clover each year on land that is too acid to grow these crops suc­
cessfully. This is an expensive practice. It means throwing away
fifty to one hundred dollars in seed each year for every 40 acres
seeded. If this money had been used to buy limestone, many farmers
by this time would have all the acid land on their farms limed. A
systematic test of the soil, which any farmer can make, will indicate
where limestone will be needed in order to grow clovers successfully.

Not All Soils Need Limestone

Farmers who apply limestone without first testing their soil to
determine whether or not limestone is needed and, if it is needed,
how much is required to the acre to correct this acidity, are taking
up their liming program blindly. Some will be throwing away high­
priced clover seed by their failure to apply sufficient limestone, others
will be wasting limestone by applying it to land that already con­
tains plenty. Much of the land in Illinois, it is true, is acid, but there
is nevertheless a large acreage that still contains plenty of limestone
from the native supply. The soils of this state, often within a single
field, vary widely in their need for limestone. Areas of sweet soil,
slightly acid, medium acid, and strongly acid soil may all be present
in the same field. It is important, therefore, that a systematic and
detailed test be made of the field so that limestone may be applied
according to the need for it.
The experience of a farmer in one of the northern Illinois coun­
ties is typical of many. This man had ordered 120 tons of limestone
for a 4O-acre field. While the shipment of limestone was on the road,
he became interested in soil testing thru the farm bureau. When
he collected samples from the field according to directions, he found
that only about 60 tons of limestone were needed to correct the
acidity of the field. This meant a saving of 60 tons of limestone,
worth $120. Instead of wasting the limestone on land that already
contained a supply, he had it for use on another field.

3
4 CIRCULAR No. 346

What is Soil Acidity?

The waste of clover seed is often due to lack of a clear under­
standing of what soil acidity is. For a practical working basis, it
is sufficient to say that an "acid" soil is one that does not contain

FIG. I.-HERE LIMESTONE HAS MADE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN

A CROP OF SWEET CLOVER AND No CROP

Left,· no limestone; right, limestone. Sweet clover is one of the most

sensitive crops to soil acidity. This crop will not grow on acid soils until
limestone has been applied.

enough lime for the successful growth of our common legumes, par­
ticularly clovers and alfalfa. A "sweet" soil on the other hand is
one that does contain sufficient lime for the vigorous growth of these
crops.
Soils Become Acid From Cropping ·and Leaching
Because sweet clover grows luxuriantly along the roadside, a
farmer often concludes that it should grow in the field across the
fence. Accordingly, he may seed sweet clover year after year in a
field that is too acid to grow this crop successfully and wonder why
he never gets a stand. A test of the roadside soil where these patches
of sweet clover are found will almost invariably show that it is sweet,
even tho the soil in the cultivated field may test distinctly acid.
The reason for the above difference is that lime has been removed
more rapidly from the cultivated field than from the sod along the
roadside. The crops harvested during fifty to seventy-five years of
farming and the more rapid leaching in the cultivated field have
reduced the lime supply. The lime removed in crops, however, prob­
ably accounts for only a small part of the total loss; the greater loss'
has resulted from leaching. Rains seeping down thru the soil dis­
solve a large amount of the lime in the soil, and it is then carried
away in the drainage water. As much as 500 pounds, it has been
estimated, may be leached from an acre of cultivated land each year.
The lime under sod dissolves much less rapidly and hence the loss is
not so great.
 TEST YOUR SOIL FOR ACIDITY
5
Sweet Clover More Sensitive to Acid Soil Than Red Clover
Land that will grow a fair crop of red clover during favorab
le
years, it has been assume d, should also grow sweet clover.
This is
not a sound assump tion, for sweet clover is much more sensitiv
e to
soil acidity than is red clover. Altho red clover often grows
fairly
well on soils that are slightly to medium acid, especially if the
soil is
fertile and the season favorab le, sweet clover will seldom grow
on
soils that are even slightly acid.

Soil, Not Unfavorable Seasons, Usual Cause of Clover Failures

Unfavo rable weathe r is often blamed for clover failures . The
re­
mark is frequen tly heard, "It is not the soil but the .unfavo
rable
seasons that cause my clover failures . The clover always comes
up
a good stand but it burns out during the hot, dry spell after
harves t
or freezes out during the winter. "
Altho weathe r conditi ons have much to do with the failure of
the
clover crop, the conditi on of the soil is more often the direct cause
of

FIG. 2.-EFFE CT OF SOIL TREATM ENT ON RED CLOVER

A fair stand of red clover is often secured on acid soils when
the season is favorabl e, but the crop usually is light. The heavy
crop at the right was grown on the same soil and under the same
weather conditio ns as that on the left, but soil treatmen t, includ­
ing limeston e, was applied.

failure. It is not unusua l to see a field of clover killed by hot,

dry
weathe r while anothe r field across the road will come thru these
same
hardshi ps in good condition. The differen ce in soil conditi ons will
often
explain why the clover holds on one field and not on the other.
One
field is "swee t"-in other words, contain s plenty of lime-w hile
the
other field is "acid." The acid soil does not produc e a strong, vigorou
s
plant, and such plants are less able to withsta nd the hardsh ips
of un­
favorable weathe r.
6 CIRCULAR No. 346

How Is a Farmer to Know Whether His Lafid

Needs Limestone?

It is possible, of course, to test soils for acidity by sowing sweet

clover. Growth or lack of growth will indicate where the soil is sweet
and where acid, for sweet clover seldom will grow on a soil that is acid.
This, however, is an expensive kind of test.
Fortunately there is a simple and inexpensive method for deter­
mining whether or not a soil is acid and, consequently, whether or not
it needs limestone. This is known as the Comber, or potassium thio­
cyanate, test. The material used in making the test is a solution of
potassium thiocyanate in alcohol, or some other suitable solvent. A
4-percent solution of potassium thiocyanate in alcohol-4 grams of
potassium thiocyanate in 100 cubic centimeters of 9S-percent alcohoP­
is satisfactory.
The test is made by placing a small amount of soil in a test tube
or small glass vial and adding some of the testing solution. The soil
and testing solution are then thoroly mixed by shaking. After allowing
the soil to settle, the color of the solution indicates whether or not
the soil is acid. If the solution remains colorless, the soil is "sweet,"
in other words, it already contains plenty of limestone. If the solution
turns red, the soil is acid and the degree of acidity is indicated ap­
proximately by the degree of redness.

Equipment for Making Test

The following equipment is used in carrying out the above test:
1. A bottle of testing solution.
2. A set of vials or bottles of 1- or 2-dram capacity and corks.
Thirty-three of these bottles are necessary for making the test in a 40­
acre field. These bottles can usually be purchased thru a local drug
store (Fig. 3).
3. A rack for holding bottles. A convenient rack ' can be made
from a stick of wood measuring about 1 by 1Y2 by 34 inches. Bore
part way thru the stick 33 holes on inch centers. Make holes of such
a size that the bottles will fit them snugly. A thin strip of wood of
the same length and width as the rack can be used to hold the bottles
in place while shaking them.
4. Envelopes or small paper sacks for collecting samples. These may
be found more convenient than bottles for this purpose. The ad­
lSince undenatured alcohol is difficult to obtain, some of the denatured
alcohols have been tested for making this solution. Completely denatured
alcohol made over U. S. formula No. 1 and No. 4 has been found satisfac­
tory. For the information of the reader it may be stated that a satisfactory
solution ready for use may now be purchased commercially. So far as is known
the only source of such a solution in Illinois is the Urbana Laboratories,
Urbana, Illinois. It is manufactured under the trade name of "Richorpoor."
 TEST YOUR SOIL FOR ACIDITY 7

vantage in envelopes is that the samples will dry more thoroly in them
than in the bottles if the samples happen to be frozen or wet when col­
lected. However, the bottles will usually be found satisfactory.

Number of Samples to Collect

Twenty-three surface samples collected from a 4O-acre field ac­
cording to the systematic plan described below and 5 subsurface and
5 subsoil samples should locate the areas of sweet and acid soil fairly

FIG. 3.-EQUIPMENT FOR MAKI G SYSTEMATIC TEST OF SOIL FOR ACIDITY

Thirty-three small bottles are necessary in making the systematic test of a
40-acre field. A rack for holding the bottles will keep the samples in order. A
thin strip of wood can be used over the tops of the bottles to hold them in place
while shaking. Envelopes or small paper sacks are convenient for collecting
samples, or the rack of bottles may be taken to the field and the soil samples
placed in them as they are collected.

accurately. One or two samples will not usually give accurate infor­
mation; in fact, they may often be misleading because of wide varia­
tions within a field.
How the acidity may vary in a 40-acre field of the corn belt is
shown in Fig. 10. If only one sample had been collected from this
field, it might have been taken from the sweet soil, in which case it
would have been assumed that the entire field was sweet and did not
need limestone. On the other hand, a sample from the strongly acid
area would have indicated that the entire field needed 4 tons of lime­
stone to the acre. Systematic testing prevents these mistakes.

Points at Which Samples Should Be Collected

The points on a 40-acre field from which the samples should be
collected are indicated in Fig. 4. Envelopes or testing bottles marked
"surface" and numbered from I to 23 should be taken to the field
for use as containers for the surface samples. In the same manner
a set of containers marked "subsurface" and numbered from 1 to 5,
and a set marked "subsoil" and numbered from 1 to 5, should be pre­
pared for collecting the samples from the lower depths.
In taking samples, follow the lines in the direction indicated by the
arrows on the soil sampling diagram. The numbers along the lines
8 CIRCULAR No. 346

indicate the number of 3-foot paces to take in locating the points where
the soil samples are to be collected.
To collect" samples, start in the northwest corner of the field. Locate
the first point by walking 8 rods (or 44 three-foot paces) east and
an equal distance south. At this point take sample number 1 of the
surface and place in the container marked number 1. Walk south 44
more paces to locate the point where subsurface and subsoil sample
number 1 is to be collected. Continue sampling around the field, fol­
lowing the lines indicated in the diagram and placing each sample in
the properly marked envelope.
Be sure the samples are collected approximately at the points indi­
cated in order that the map to be made from the diagram will represent
the true condition of the field.

Collecting the Samples

In taking samples the following details should be observed:
1. Collect about 1 tablespoonful of soil if the samples are collected
in envelopes or in small paper sacks. If collected in the testing bottles,
fill the bottles full.
2. Take the surface samples from a depth of 1 to 2 inches using a
knife if the soil is not loose.
3. Take the subsurface samples from a depth of 12 inches.
4. Take the subsoil samples from a depth of 20 inches. A soil
auger, post-hole digger, or spade can be used for taking subsoil
samples.
5. Be careful to have each sample representative of the depth at
which it is taken and free from a mixture of soil lying above. If a
spade is used, this may best be done by digging a hole, one side of
which is vertical. A thin slice may be cut from the vertical side of
the hole and the samples taken from it.
6. See that the samples are dry when tested. Soil that is in good
working condition can be considered dry enough. If samples are col­
lected when wet or frozen, they shoufd be allowed to become air-dry
before testing. An excessively wet soil interferes with the formation
of the red color developed by an acid soil, and as a result the test
will show less acidity than it would if the soil were dry. The samples
should not be allowed to become excessively dry by too long exposure
to the heat of stoves, furnaces, or the sun.

Making the Test

Having collected the samples, proceed with the test as follows:
1. Fill testing bottle one-third full of soil.
2. Place the 33 samples in the rack and add enough testing solution
to fill the testing bottles about two-thirds full. It is important to have
equal volumes of soil and solution.
 TEST YOUR ~ SOIL FOR ACIDITY
' 9

3. Place corks in bottles.

4. Hold strip of wood over corks of bottles to keep bottles in place,
and shake them thoroly.
5. Allow samples to stand for ten minute s.

Cl Take one surface sample. 0 Take one subsurface and one subsoil sample.

FIG. 4.-S0IL SAMPLIN G DIAGRAM FOR 40-AcRE

FIELD
In taking samples, follow the lines in the directio n of the
arrows. The larger numbers along the lines indicate the number
of 3-foot paces to take in locating the points where the samples
are to be collected. The numbers in squares indicate where
the
23 surface samples are taken, and the numbers in circles where
the 5 subsurfa ce and subsoil samples should be taken.

Record ing the Results

1. Read and record the results for each surface sample on a dia­
gram similar to Fig. 8, using the following symbols:
o for sweet (neutra l or basic)

for slightly acid

for medium acid

- for strongl y acid

10 CIRCULAR No. 346

The color chart on page 2 of this circular,

will be of assistance in reading the results.
2. Record results of subsurface and
subsoil tests as shown in Fig. 8.
3. If subsurface and subsoil samples
do not show acidity, they may be tested
for carbonates
(limestone) with
hydrochloric acid
and the res ults
recorded in the
blank spaces pro-

FIG. 5.-COLLECTING

SAMPLES

If the envelopes or

paper sacks are used, 1

tablespoonful of soil

should be collected. If

testing bottles are used,

the bottles should be

filled full. Surface sam­

FIG. 6.-ADDING
ples should be collected
SOLUTION

from a depth of -1 to 2 When making the

inches, subsurface sam­ test the bottles

ples from a depth of 12 should be filled one­

inches, and subsoil sam­ third full of soil

ples from 20 inches. and enough testing

solution added to fill

FI G. 7 .-lIAKING THE TEST
the bottles two­
vided at the bottom of thirds full. The soil and solution
I t is
important to haveshould be mixed by shak­
the map diagram. If ing the bottles vigorously
equa l volumes of
carbonates are present, for 2 or 3 minutes . The
soil and solution.
bubbling or efferves­ samples should then be
cence will take place. allowed to stand for 10
CAUTION: Do not handle hydro­ minutes, after which they
should be read.
chloric acid or make any tests with it
until all samples have first been tested
for acidity with potassium thiocyanate solution. Contamination with
the acid may give an acid reaction to soil samples that might not other­
wise be acid.
4. Make a soil acidity map for the surface samples. Trace in with
lead pencil the areas of equal acidity. This is done by assuming that
the gradation is uniform from one area to another. Thus a neutral
area cannot be adjacent to an area of strong acidity. Lines represent­
 TEST YOUR SOIL FOR ACIDITY
11

ing slight and medium areas of acidity should be placed betwee n

neutral
areas and areas of strong acidity. In drawin g these lines, therefo
re,
no one line should meet or touch anothe r line. The map will
be more
interes ting and better unders tood if the differe nt areas are colored
with
various shades of red, which can be easily done with a red pencil.
The various steps in making an acidity map are illustra ted in
Figs.
8 to 10, pages 12 to 14.

Completed Map Shows Where and How Much

Limestone Is Needed

The field map, develop ed from the tests describ ed above, will show
where the acid areas are located and the intensi ty of the acidity.
This
inform ation will be useful both in choosin g the legume s to be
grown
and in determ ining the amoun ts of limesto ne needed to grow
such
legumes as sweet clover. The followi ng table indicat es what
can be
done with the various areas, assumi ng that the subsurf ace and
sub­
soil are not acid. Note modific ations with respect to limesto ne
appli­
cations that are necessa ry when. these strata contain limesto ne
or are
acid.
Degree of acidity Possibil ities of cropping 'Without Tons of limeston e
in surface soil the use of lime needed per acre
Sweet ........ .... \Vill grow alfalfa and sweet clover .... . , 0

Slight . .. . ... . .... Will grow red clover, alsike, soybean s,

etc., but only poor alfalfa and probably

no sweet clover ........ ........ ....... . 2

Medium . ........ . May grow alsike, soybean s, etc., but will

probably not grow a good crop of red

clover ....... " ........ ........ ........ . 3

Strong ........ ... Will not produce good crops of any of

the common ly grown legumes ........ .. . 4

1. When only the subsoil is sweet, reduce above amounts ;4.

2. When both the subsurfa ce and subsoil are sweet, reduce above
amounts lh.
3. When the subsurfa ce is medium to strongly acid, add ;4 to
above amounts .
4. When both the subsurfa ce and subsoil are medium to
strongly acid,
add t3 to above amounts .
The above recomm endatio ns are made on the basis of the averag
e
agricul tural limesto ne now on the market , which contain s conside
rable
fine materia l. If the stone is of poor quality and somew hat
coarse,
more will have to be used.

How Often Should Limed Field Be Tested?

Where enough limesto ne has been applied to correct the acidity,
anothe r applica tion may not be necessa ry for ten to fifteen years.
A
numbe r of fields where limesto ne was applied from ten to fifteen
years
ago still contain enough limesto ne to grow good crops 0 f sweet
clover.
Howev er, it would be a good plan to test the field after six years.
If
the soil tests sweet, then the farmer is assured that limesto ne
is not
12 CIRCULAR No. 346

Nortb

1- 10=
0 19=

0 9= 11=

20 11= 20­

a=
0 17=

,- lZ= 21­

,- II­

4-
0 &S- 2Z 0

6- ISO
0
s- &.0 as-

Acidity Ca rbonate
No. Record subsurface and subsoil
Subsurface Subsoil Subsurface Subsoil
tests for both acidity and ca r­
I bonates as indica ted by sy m­
1 bols or names.
=
=
I

FIG. 8 .-FIRST STEP IN MAKING AN ACIDITY MAP

The results of the test are recorded by means of symbols. Those for the
surface are placed directly on the map, and those for the subs1J.rface and subsoil
are placed in the blanks at the bottom of the diagram. The numbers within
circles indicate the five points on the field at which subsurface and subsoil
samples were taken and the acidity at each point is recorded by the correspond­
ing number in the table below the map. 0 means no acidity; - means slight
acidity; = means medium acidity; and == indicates strong acidity.
 TEST YOUR SOIL FOR ACIDITY 13

North

1- 10=
o

Acidity Carbonate
No. Record subsurface and subsoil
Subsurface Subsoil Subsurface Subsoil
tests for both acidity and car­
bonates as indicated by sym­
bols or names.
= =
= =

FIG. 9. LINES ARE DRAWN To INDICATE THE AREAS OF ACIDITY

IN THE SURFACE SOIL
The change in acidity from one area to another is gradual. A neutral area,
for example, will never be adjacent to an area of strong acidity. Areas of slight
and medium acidity will intervene between neutral areas and areas of strong
acidity. With this point thoroly understood, it will be easy to see that the
boundary lines of the different areas should be so drawn that no one line will
meet or touch another at any point on the map.
14 CmCUI.A R No. 346

1­

3­

4­

5­

Acidity Carbonate
No. Record subsurface and subsoil
Subsurface Subsoil Subsurface Subsoil
tests for both acidity and car·
bonates as indicated by sym­
bols or names.
=
=

FIG. 10.-THE COMPLETED MAP

The areas of acidity in the surface soil are colored with an ordinary red
pencil. Those portions of the field left uncolored are sweet in this stratum.
The area colored with the lightest shade of red is only slightly acid and needs
2 tons of limestone to the acre. The medium red area indicates a 1nedium acid
soil that needs 3 tons of limestone to the acre. The dark red area indicates a
soil that is strongly acid and therefore needs 4 tons of limestone to the acre.
Since the subsurface and subsoil of the medium and strongly acid areas are
medium acid (see samples from areas 3 and 4), the limestone applications
should be increased according to the suggestions on page 11.
 TEST YOUR SOIL FOR ACIDITY 15

needed for the present. How­

ever, an acid test on limed land
does not always mean that more
<::>
limestone is needed.
The systematic testing of a
limed field will often show a
number of acid samples. Altho
this indicates that the limestone
is getting low, it does not always
o mean that more limestone is
o needed. Often such a field will
grow excellent sweet clover.
This may be accounted for by
the fact that the limestone has
FIG. ll . -A FIELD ON WHICH THE SOIL not yet become evenly distrib­
WAS PRACTICALLY ALL ACID uted thru the soil or, if limestone
Altho the systematic test of such a has been on for some years, the
field does not mean much saving in finer particles may have been
limestone, it does show how much used up, leaving only the coarser
limestone should be applied on the
areas of various degrees of acidity.
particles. Each particle of lime­
stone corrects the acidity in a
thin zone of soil around it.
Where the limestone has not become evenly distributed, or where the
particles are few in number, as would be the case when the finer part
of a limestone application has
been used up, there will be zones
of acid soil in between these
zones of sweet soil surrounding <::> '0
each particle. Altho the exten­ ·0
sive root system of the clover or
'0 .. 0
alfalfa plant may be able to
reach the sweet soil zones to "0

secure enough lime, yet when '0 "0

samples are collected, soil may
0 "0 -0
be taken from the acid zones be­
tween these particles. Where '0 "0 0
limed land shows a number of -0 "0

samples testing acid, the farmer

can probably decide whether or
FIG. 12.- A FIELD ON WHICH THE SOIL
not more limestone is needed by TEST SAVED 90 TONS OF LIMESTONE
watching the clover growth.
The owner of this 40-acre field had
Some Crops Less Sensitive to planned to apply 3 tons of limestone to
Soil Acidity Than Others the acre. The systematic test showed
that approximately 30 acres were
Sweet clover and alfalfa are sweet. This knowledge meant a sav­
the most sensitive of any of the ing of 90 tons of limestone.
16' TEST YOUR SOIL FOR ACIDITY

commonly grown farm crops to soil acidity and seldom will grow
successfully on acid soils. Red clover will often make a fair growth
on soils of slight to medium acidity especially if the soil is fertile
and the season favorable. Alsike is less sensitive to soil acidity than
is red clover and consequently can be grown on soils that are too acid
for red clover. Cow peas and soybeans are the least sensitive of any of
the legumes commonly grown in this state and will produce fair crop
on medium to strongly acid soils. However, the yield of these so-called
acid-tolerant legumes are usually increased appreciably by the use of
limestone on soils that are medium to strongly acid.
The grain crops such as corn, oats, wheat, and barley are little
affected directly by soil acidity. The benefit to grain crop from lime­
stone comes thru the better legume crop. However, applications of
limestone may increase corn yields by reducing some of the corn
diseases. j. '

This test should not be expected to tell positively whether red clover
will or will not grow on a particular soil, but it does indicate fairly
accurately where limestone can be used at a profit. Red clover can be
grown with various degrees of success on soils that test acid according
to this method. There is no sharp dividing line between a sweet and
acid soil on one side of which red clover will make a maximum growth
and on the other side of which it will not grow. The stand and growth
will vary with the acidity. On sweet soils a maximum crop of red
clover will be produced providing other conditions are favorable, while
the stand and growth on acid soil will usually decrease with the in­
crease in acidity. Altho good stands of clover may be obtained on
acid soils, especially if the season is favorable, it usually pays to apply
limestone because the yield will be increased from one-half to one ton
to the acre, depending on the degree of acidity of the soil.

Don't Guess--- TEST/

FIG. 13.-A GROUP OF FARMERS LEARNING To TEST SOIL AT A

FARM BUREAU TESTING MEETING