Is Clay Soil Acidic?

Generally speaking, clay soil is not necessarily more acidic than sandy or loamy soil. "Clay" defines the soil's texture, not its acidic or alkaline pH level. However, clay soil acts acidic in a number of ways even when it is not actually acidic, and there are some cases where the two properties are connected.

The power of hydrogen, or pH, measures whether a liquid is an acid or a base by determining how many hydrogen atoms it has. Substances with lots of hydrogen, such as battery acid, vinegar or lemon juice, are very acidic and have low pH numbers, from about 6 to 1. Substances with fewer hydrogen ions, such as baking soda or bleach, are more basic, or alkaline, and measure from about 8 to 15 on the scale. Water is neutral and has a pH of 7.

According to editors of The New Sunset Western Garden Book, most plants do well in mildly acidic soil. Plant acid-loving azaleas (Rhododendron indicum) if you live in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 through 8, or sword ferns (Nephrolepis exaltata), also called Boston ferns, in USDA zones 10 through 12.

Clay soil has tiny particles of dirt that hold together when they're damp, forming a firm ball when you squeeze the damp earth in your hand. The dense nature of the soil holds both water and nutrients in it for longer periods of time than sandy soil, where nutrients and water flow through the soil quickly. As a result of the water runoff, plants in clay soil have more chances to absorb both water and nutrients than plants growing in sandy soil.

Soil scientists measure minerals in the soil, which are both acidic and basic, using a cation exchange capacity number, or CEC number. The number measures the capacity of the soil for holding minerals by looking at the electric charge of the minerals' molecules and atoms.

The relationship between clay soil and CEC suggests that clay soil is acidic. That my be the case typically in some areas, but it's not always true.

Clay soil has a higher CEC count than sandy soil, meaning that it has more capacity to hold hydrogen ions, but not that it necessarily holds enough hydrogen ions to make it consistently acidic.

Clay soil requires fewer chemicals to lower the pH than sandy soil does, making it appear more acidic. But the amount of additives has more to do with the chemicals running through the soil than it does the pH of the soil to begin with.

Areas with lots of rainfall frequently have acidic soil, sometimes due to acid rain, and they also tend to have clay soil. But although these are typical features, the texture and pH don't necessarily have a cause-and-effect relationship.

Most nurseries sell soil test kits that you can use to determine whether your garden soil is more acidic or more basic.