bs, I have yet to have someone explain the advantages of this fertilizer system that makes sense. There have been many past threads on this subject. The traditional method(that is why it is the traditional method)is easier, more efficient, more dosage controllable, does not affect the irrigation system itself over time and doesn't cost any initial cost or equipment installation. Why go through the hi-tech agony your questions illustrate? Sorry to be such a negative vibber, must be something I ate. JMHO GL Aloha

TAB, Below is a google search for treating high alkaline soils. http://www.ehow.com/info_8444050_alkaline-soil-treatment.html I forgot about adding organic matter to your soil. The way to do this is the aerate your lawn. This essentially takes cores of soil out of your lawn. Then top dress with good highly organic topsoil and flood it into the core holes. Over a period of time doing this you will really improve your ph. Using sulfur fertilizer may be the fastest way but is not producing long term improvement. The Lawn Care Forum could give you more detail. aloha

Best way is to use a Mixrite 571CW injection pump. Hook it right up to your irrigation system after the backflow per instructions. Be sure to buy the 75-11-1 Tip Kit, This will allow you to dilute the concentrated fertilizer with ratios of 750:1, 1000:1, 1500:1, or 2000:1. Works perfectly, and with these low ratios you can leave the injector permanently on and you'll have micro fertigation, which plants really like. Only drawback: Even though the pump is non-electric, it is very loud. I had to build an insulated box around mine. Looks like the links don't take you to the products. Just do a search when you get to the website...

Completed my build of a Mazzei Injector fertigation assembly (see pic below). Main Injector Assembly Components: Mazzei 283 PP injector ($20.44) PVC Ball Valve (x3; $2.27 each) PVC Tee (x4; $0.60 each) ½ Male Adaptor (x2; $0.38 each) ½ Female Adaptor (x3; $0.64 each) PVC Union (x2; $2.56 each) PVC 90 elbow (x2; $0.28 each) Pipe bushing (x2; $4.18 each) Brass fitting ($4.74) ¼” NPT Pressure Gauge (100PSI; x2; $9.98 each) Smith-Cooper International 167L Series Brass Vacuum Breaker, Potable Water Service, Inline, 3/4" NPT Male ($10.60) DIG 3/4 in. Hose Thread Screen Filter ($6.68) *all PVC fittings ½” Filter Assembly components: 3/8-Inch Diameter by 1/4-Inch Clear Vinyl Tubing ($7.19) S-84 Mazzei Strainer ($7.95) SS Hose clamp (x2; $0.78 each) Additional materials/tools: ½” PVC pipe (to make 2” connectors between fittings) PVC pipe cutter PVC Cement (all weather) Teflon tape Measuring tape ½" galvanized pipe clips Some notes on my build: I decided to build my assembly similar to the Mazzei assembly illustration noted earlier in this thread. This increases the price a bit due to the pressure gauges. The benefit is that you can easily identify your inlet and outlet pressures. The outlet pressure must be dialed to a certain pressure to regulate the water flow (gpm) suction of the Mazzei injector as noted above in the Mazzei performance table. Your gpm may need to change depending upon your fertilizer type and concentration. I also decided to go with all PVC ball valves, even for the pressure adjusting valve (red valve in pic). I’ve noted several builds used the more expensive brass gate valve but I was told by a plumber that brass gate valves eventually leak on the stem below the hand wheel so it’s actually better to go with straight PVC ball valves. The blue valves allow me to completely shut down the Mazzei injector arm of the assembly when I want to irrigate with only water. The red valve is my pressure regulator which will allow me to adjust the outlet pressure as needed. I also used 2” PVC cemented connectors with my assembly instead of going with threaded fittings. This was basically b/c my Home Depot didn’t have all the fittings I needed in threaded form, so I went with straight slip on adapters. If you can obtain all threaded adapters that’s probably the best way to go as you can easily disassemble your injector if necessary. Since I glued mine together I can’t do that. My injector also has a check valve upstream and a filter downstream of the injector. This should protect fertilizer from accidentally back flowing into my water system (via the check valve) and reduce clogging of my drip irrigation adapters (via the filter). I will be attaching this assembly to a ¼” plywood board (using the galvanized pipe clips). This will allow me to easily hang it on my fence during the summer and then remove and store it during the winter months hopefully extending its lifespan. All parts were purchased @ Home Depot except for: Mazzei 283 PP Injector (Kisco Sales) Mazzei S-84 Filter (Berry Hill Irrigation) Smith-Cooper ½” Check Valve (Amazon) 3/8” to ¼” Vinyl tubing (Amazon) Please let me know if you have any questions.