Selective Dissolution Analysis of Major and Trace Elements in an Allophanic Andisol Acidified by Long‐Term Fertilizer Application

Abstract

A long‐term (61 years) experimental field was used to examine the effect of acidification on the chemical composition of an allophanic Andisol in northeastern Japan. The pH values of the 1:10 water extract of the plow layer soils were 4.1, 4.7, and 6.2 for three fertilizer application treatments: chemical fertilizers only (CF), CF and compost (CFC), and CFC with liming, respectively. Three batch dissolution analyses were conducted to determine water‐soluble and exchangeable (D1), D1 plus, inorganically bound elements to noncrystalline clays and organically bound elements (D2), and total concentration of elements (TCE, 45 elements). The D1 fraction of 20 elements increased, and that of eight decreased with acidification. The D2 fraction of lithium increased, and that of eight elements decreased with acidification. Because the D2 fraction of many other elements and TCE were not strongly altered, present acidification of this soil can be restored with liming and other necessary amendments.