SOME EFFECTS OF pH ON THE GROWTH OF CITRUS IN SAND AND SOLUTION CULTURES

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Abstract
An investigation was undertaken to study the effects of pH on the growth of citrus, with special reference to the direct effects as contrasted with the well-recognized indirect effects. Three separate culture expts. are reported: 2 in sand and 1 in soln., under conditions which ranged from pH 2 to 11. At these extremes, citrus plants were killed in a few days. At pH 2.5 and 3, plant life persisted for months, but little or no growth occurred. Good growth was obtained between pH 4 and pH 9.7, though difficulties due to indirect effects were encountered and the actual limits at which H and OH ions begin to exert direct deleterious effects were consequently not established. Despite these complications, the results warrant the conclusion that H- and OH-ion concs. corresponding to pH values ranging from slightly below pH 4 to somewhat above pH 9 exert no appreciable direct ill effect on the growth of sweet-orange plants.