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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Parlier, California » San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center » Water Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #299080
Title: Intensified soil acidification from chemical N fertilization and prevention by manure in an 18–year field experiment in the red soil of southern China

Author
item CAI, ZEJIANG - Chinese Academy Of Agricultural Sciences
item WANG, BAIREN - Chinese Academy Of Agricultural Sciences
item XU, MINGGANG - Chinese Academy Of Agricultural Sciences
item ZHANG, HUIMIN - Chinese Academy Of Agricultural Sciences
item HE, XINHUA - University Of Western Australia
item ZHANG, LU - Chinese Academy Of Agricultural Sciences
item Gao, Suduan

Submitted to: Journal of Soils and Sediments
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/17/2014
Publication Date: 2/1/2015
Citation: Cai, Z., Wang, B., Xu, M., Zhang, H., He, X., Zhang, L., Gao, S. 2015. Intensified soil acidification from chemical N fertilization and prevention by manure in an 18–year field experiment in the red soil of southern China. Journal of Soils and Sediments. 15:260–270.

Interpretive Summary: Intensive farming and overuse of chemical nitrogen fertilizers have accelerated the acidification process in red soils causing soil degradation and crop yield reduction in southern China. This research determined the acidification rate from different fertilization regimes including chemical and organic as well as in combinations in an 18-year field study. Continuous annual application of manure to supply 70% or higher total nitrogen for crops fully prevented the red soil acidification. These findings suggest that manure incorporation into acidic soil can be an effective and economic tool in soil nitrogen management and may promote overall agricultural sustainability.

Technical Abstract: Soil acidification from chemical N fertilization has worsened and is a major yield-limiting factor in the red soils of southern China. Assessment of the acidification process under field conditions over a long term is essential to develop strategies for maintaining soil productivity. The objective of this study was to quantify soil acidification rates from chemical fertilizers and determine the annual amount of manure needed to alleviate the acidification process from long-term (1990-2008) field applications in a wheat-corn cropping system. Treatments included non-fertilized control, chemical N only (N), chemical N and P (NP), chemical N, P and K (NPK), pig manure only (M), and NPK plus M (NPKM; 70% total N from M). Annual soil sampling and analysis were carried out. Soil pH decreased sharply from an initial pH of 5.7 and then stabilized after 8 to 12 years of fertilization in N, NP, and NPK treatments with a final pH of 4.2, 4.5, and 4.5, respectively. These three treatments significantly increased soil exchangeable acidity dominated by Al, decreased soil exchangeable Ca2+ and Mg2+, and elevated acidification rates (from 3.2 to 3.9 kmol (H+) ha-1 yr-1). In contrast, the manure applications (M or NPKM) showed either an increase or no change in soil pH and increases in soil exchangeable base cations. This research concluded that as 70% total N source, continuous manure application can fully prevent or reverse the red soil acidification process. As an effective animal waste management tool, manure incorporation into acidic soil promotes overall agricultural sustainability.