Open AccessSoil acidification in a continuous cotton production system
Author(s) -
Ghimire Rajan,
Parajulee Megha N.,
Acharya Pramod,
Dhakal Dol P.,
Hakeem Abdul,
Lewis Katie L.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
agricultural and environmental letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.681
H-Index - 12
ISSN - 2471-9625
DOI - 10.1002/ael2.20048
Subject(s) - soil acidification , soil ph , soil carbon , chemistry , agronomy , nitrogen , zoology , environmental chemistry , human fertilization , environmental science , soil water , soil science , biology , organic chemistry
Effects of nitrogen (N) fertilization on soil organic carbon (SOC) and total N are well established, but their effects on soil acidification and emerging soil health indicators such as labile N and carbon (C) pools are not adequately documented. This research evaluated soil N and C pools and soil pH with long‐term N management in continuous cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.) production. Residual soil inorganic N, potentially mineralizable N and C, total N, SOC, pH, and electrical conductivity were measured after 17 yr of continuous N application. Comparison of five N rates (0, 56, 112, 168, and 224 kg ha –1 ) showed an increase in residual inorganic N pools and decrease in pH with an increase in N application rate, while other parameters did not change significantly. Soil acidification was significant with 168 and 224 kg N ha –1 rates. Soil pH dropped by 0.039 per kilogram increase in residual inorganic N. Optimizing N rate that minimizes residual inorganic N can reduce soil acidification.