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Soil Acidity: Development, Impacts, and Management

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Structure and Functions of Pedosphere

Abstract

Soil acidity is a serious problem worldwide. Its causes can be both natural and anthropogenic. Natural processes involve (a) leaching losses of base cations such as calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), and potassium (K+) and replacing with proton (H+) and aluminum (Al3+) on the surface of soil particles wherever rainfall is substantial; (b) weathering of rock and soil minerals; (c) hydrolysis of Al3+; (d) differential uptake, i.e., more cations than anions are absorbed by plants; and (e) oxidation of soil organic matter and sulfide minerals. Human-induced processes include (a) the release of SO2 and NOx gases into the atmosphere by fossil fuel consumption that forms acid rain and (b) the excessive use of ammonium (NH4+)-containing fertilizers. Soil acidity reduces crop production, forest health, and aquatic lives. The main culprits are the toxicities of Al and/or manganese (Mn) and the deficiency of Ca and to a lesser extent of Mg, phosphorus (P), and molybdenum (Mo). Aluminum toxicity usually damages the root system first, whereas Mn toxicity adversely affects above-ground plant parts. Calcium deficiency impairs cell growth and integrity causing poor crop production and quality. To manage soil acidity, liming with OH−-producing materials (e.g., CaCO3, CaMg(CO3)2, or CaSiO3) is traditionally employed; alternatively, materials such as gypsum, animal and green manures, or biochar, if available, could be applied for “short-term” amelioration. Selecting and growing acidity-tolerant plants are also a viable strategy in dealing with acid soils that occupy nearly 30% of the ice-free land area of the world.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, USA

    Nguyen Hue

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  1. Nguyen Hue
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Correspondence to Nguyen Hue .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Swami Shraddhanand College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India

    Bhoopander Giri

  2. Department of Botany, University of Delhi, Delhi, India

    Rupam Kapoor

  3. College of Horticulture & Gardening, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China

    Qiang-Sheng Wu

  4. Amity Institute of Microbial Sciences, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Ajit Varma

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Hue, N. (2022). Soil Acidity: Development, Impacts, and Management. In: Giri, B., Kapoor, R., Wu, QS., Varma, A. (eds) Structure and Functions of Pedosphere. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-8770-9_5

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