Acidity (pH) - soil

The acidity (pH) of the soil is an important soil property to measure when looking at soil life, as acidity influences microbial growth. Fungi generally favour a lower acidity (pH 5,5) but can also grow at a higher acidity. Bacteria favour a higher and a smaller range of acidity (pH 6-7). At a higher acidity (pH 7), organic matter mineralizes quicker. In general, bacteria are more sensitive to changes in pH than fungi.