Abstract
Soil acidification in agroecosystems is a natural process that could be accelerated, mainly by the inappropriate application of mineral fertilizers, or prevented, by sustainable management practices. On the basis of a three-year field study in a grassland agroecosystem, the impact of different rates of fertilization with nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) on soil chemical parameters related to soil acidity was evaluated. It was found that high-rate fertilization with ammonium nitrate accelerated the soil acidification process, which was additionally intensified by the application of superphosphate and potassium salt. The sum of exchangeable base cations, the values of base saturation and hydrolytic acidity in the soil reflected the interactions between the applied NPK-fertilizer levels. Considering chemical parameters related to soil acidity studied in this experiment, it seems that the best strategies for mitigating soil acidification in grasslands are reducing nitrate leaching, changing fertilizer types and increasing the input of base cations.
Highlights
Soil acidification, one of the primary constraints for the global productivity and sustainability of agriculture, affects almost 40% of the world’s farmlands
The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of different rates of fertilization with nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) and their interactions on chemical parameters related to soil acidity
Other authors reported that fertilization with ammonium nitrate reduces the soil pH in timothy agroecosystems
Summary
One of the primary constraints for the global productivity and sustainability of agriculture, affects almost 40% of the world’s farmlands It threatens agroecosystem functions and services and leads mainly to: (i) a decrease in cation exchange capacity and a reduction in the potential of soils for the retention of macro- and microelements in cation forms, which are subsequently susceptible to losses; (ii) a limitation of biological processes in soils that have remarkable cascading impacts on biodiversity and nutrient cycling, mainly nitrogen and carbon, including the formation of greenhouse gases; (iii) less availability/deficiencies of nutrients; (iv) the mobilization of potentially toxic elements and their subsequent transfer in the food chain; (v) the depression of crop growth and yields [1,2,3,4,5,6,7]. Increased food demand and dietary changes are likely to contribute to the further intensified use of fertilizers and soil acidification [11,12,13]
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