Dear scientific communities, I want to learn in detail how soil pH (acidity/alkalinity) influences nutrient availability to plants. The problem of soil acidity is common in tropics and sub-tropics, areas receiving ample amount of rain to leach out soluble salts from the root zone. Whereas soil alkalinity is problematic soil in arid and semi-arid areas. If not managed, strong acidity/alkalinity declines crop yield by more than 50%. It is a major challenging natural treat to agricultural production.
Therefore, I want to know:
* How soil pH (soil reaction) influences nutrient availability to plants
* Possible management options and long lasting solutions
Thanks in advance for you contribution.
Interesting points Farid. When soil is acidic, the environment becomes unsuitable for bacteria that decompose OM to release nutrients or nitrogen fixing bacteria. But how soil acidity affects nutrient solubility?
hi
the pH-Eh conditions of the soil determined in which form should the nutrient exist. for example nutrient present as volatile compounds in certain pH-Eh conditions. so in such conditions the nutrient could escape from the root zone into atmosphere as a gas phase (nitrate and sulfate). the above mentioned microbial availability has a big effect on this processes.
Exactly Mohammad. That means the oxidation status of the soil. In anaerobic conditions, when soil microbes starts to suffer from shortage of oxygen, they start to consume it from oxygen containing compounds such as NO3. In such as case, plant available form of nitrate is reduced unavailable forms such as NO2-, N2O.... This is also one cause.
What about fixation of nutrients by certain elements at pick pH values?
it is also possible in other ph-eh condition. for example in sulfur rich soil aluminium react with sulfate to form alunite or basaluminite. this may limit the absorption of sulfate by roots. this phase predominates in presence of high alkalinity.
Yes indeed Mohammad sir. At pH more than 9, Ca and Mg fix nutrients such as P. In acidic soils, fixation of nutrients by Al as you said is the major problem.
What about the osmotic effect of salts on nutrients availability at higher pH values?
Is genetic engineering to produce acid tolerant crop genotypes or use of amendments is the best option for sustainable management of acid soils?
Dear scientific community,
Does soil pH has a strong correlation with soil gene bank?
Your question is probably tends to gravitate towards soil gene Bank and PH correlation. However, there is a strong correlation between germinating seed and PH. The question also could be considerate of many physical and chemical factors of the soil gene Bank.
“Effect of pH on Seed Germination“
Germination of R. confertus seed occurred in a range from 5 to 8 of buffered pH solutions but the highest germination occurred at pH 5.6 (deionized water control) and 6. Seeds did not germinate when pH was 4 or 9 (Figure 5).
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The other issue to consider is how responsive the seed itself is.
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