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Sulfuric Acid Treatment of Calcareous Soils: Effects on Phosphorus Solubility, Inorganic Phosphorus Forms, and Plant Growth
Author(s) -
Ryan John,
Stroehlein Jack L.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1979.03615995004300040022x
Subject(s) - chemistry , soil water , calcareous , phosphorus , titratable acid , sulfuric acid , calcareous soils , solubility , organic matter , environmental chemistry , dry matter , agronomy , inorganic chemistry , botany , food science , soil science , geology , biology , organic chemistry
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of acid (H 2 SO 4 ) application on three P‐deficient calcareous Arizona soils. The acid was mixed with the soils in order to reduce their respective buffering capacities, as measured by the acid titratable basicity (ATB), by 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100%. Two soils, Cave and Comoro, were cropped with tomatoes ( Lycopersicum esculentum ) after treatment. Significant responses in dry matter yield and P uptake persisted through three successive growth periods. Treatment significantly increased water‐soluble P and P‐supplying‐capacity of the soils. Increasing the H 2 SO 4 rate reduced the H 2 SO 4 ‐P fraction, increased NH 4 Cl‐P and NH 4 F‐P, and to a lesser extent NaOH‐P but had little effect on reductant soluble‐P. Both extractable Al and Fe increased with increasing amounts of H 2 SO 4 applied. Though difficulties may be encountered in field application, these results show that H 2 SO 4 , a waste product mainly from the copper smelting industry, has potential for improving P‐deficient calcareous soils.