Soil Acidification

Soil Acidification

A new study highlights acidification may strip Indian Soils of 3.3 billion tonnes of essential carbon

  • It is a process by which soil pH decreases over-time.
  • Acidic soils – Those that have a pH value of less than 5.5.
  • Factors Accelerating Soil Acidification –
    • Leaching of nitrogen released from ammonium-based fertilizers.
    • Organic acids released during the decomposition of organic residues.  
    • Roots, during active growth stages, release CO2 into soil resulting in formation of carbonic acid.
  • Impacts of Soil Acidification –
    • Loss of Soil Inorganic Carbon (SIC) from topsoil. 
      • SIC includes mineral forms of carbon produced by weathering of parent material or from reaction of soil minerals with atmospheric CO2
      Loss of Microbes – Bacteria cannot survive in acidic conditions.
    • Aluminium Toxicity – When soil pH drops, aluminium becomes soluble, and its amount in soil solution increases
  • Managing Soil Acidification –
    • Liming – Incorporation of Lime, Gypsum, or dolomite into upper cultivable soil layer.
    • Using Industrial By-products – Basic slags from iron and steel industries, flue dust from cement plants etc. can be used.
    • Growing acid-tolerant crops such as Sugarcane and bananas.

Source: Down To Earth


Previous Year Question

Which of the following statements regarding laterite soils of India are correct?
1. They are generally red in colour.
2. They are rich in nitrogen and potash.
3. They are well-developed in Rajasthan and UP.
4. Tapioca and cashew nuts grow well on these soils.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2013 Prelims]

(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 2, 3 and 4
(c) 1 and 4
(d) 2 and 3 only

Answer: (c)
Explanation:

Statement 2 is not correct. These soils are poor in organic matter, nitrogen, phosphate and calcium while iron oxide and potash are in excess.
Statement 3 is not correct. The laterite soils are commonly found in Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and the hilly areas of Odisha and Assam.


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