The cheapest way to lower the soil pH is to add elemental sulfur to the soil. Soil bacteria change the sulfur to sulfuric acid, lowering the soil pH. If the soil pH is greater than 5.5, apply elemental sulfur (S) to decrease the soil pH to 4.5 (see Table 1).

How much does sulfur lower pH?

An unfounded soil management suggestion is that soil pH can be successfully reduced by applying moderate rates of elemental sulfur (about 100 to 200 lb/acre elemental S).

Does sulfate increase pH?

Sulfate added directly to the soil does not alter soil pH because soil is acidified by hydrogen ions that are released during the chemical reaction that transforms sulfur into sulfate.