Do acids and bases have effects on plant growth?

Question

Do acids and bases have effects on plant growth?

Answer 1

Absolutly.  One example would be a condition called chlorosis.  This is when a plant is unable to take up nutrients from the soil because the soil is too alkaline (basic).  A basic soil binds up nutrients like iron and magnesium in the soil making it unavailable to the plant and thus the plant, in some instances, is unable to make chlorophyll and the plant will literally starve to death. If you have seen a tree where the leaves look really pale or have bright green veins with the rest of the leaf pale it is suffering from chlorosis.  If you acidify the soil then this frees the nutrients and the plant can uptake the elements it needs. This will cure the chlorotic condition of the plant. Chlorosis is common with some oaks and maples.

This is just one example ....some plants like alkaline soils and some plants like acidic soils. I included pictures of leaves that are suffering from chlorosis.