Acidification may strip Indian soils of 3.3 billion tonnes of essential carbon: Study | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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    Acidification may strip Indian soils of 3.3 billion tonnes of essential carbon: Study

    Posted 16 Apr 2024

    2 min read

    • Key findings
      • Over 30% of cultivable land in India is said to carry acidic soil, impacting plant growth.
        • Acidic soils are those that have a pH value of less than 5.5.
      • Soil acidification might lead to the loss of Soil Inorganic Carbon (SIC) from topsoil. 
        • SIC includes mineral forms of carbon like calcium carbonate produced by the weathering of parent material or from the reaction of soil minerals with atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2).
    • Soil Acidification is a process by which soil pH decreases over time. 

     

    • Factors Accelerating Soil Acidification
      • Leaching of nitrogen released from ammonium-based fertilizers.
      • Organic residues on decomposition release organic acids.
      • Roots, during active growth stages, release CO2 into the soil resulting in the formation of carbonic acid.

     

    • Impacts of Soil Acidification
      • Loss of SIC: SIC is mostly carbonate. Low pH levels dissolve carbonate and remove it either as CO2 gas or release it directly into water.
      • Loss of Microbes: Bacteria cannot survive in acidic conditions.
      • Aluminum Toxicity:  When soil pH drops, aluminum becomes soluble, and its amount in soil solution increases which is toxic to the roots of sensitive plant species.
      • Other Impacts: Rise in Pathogenic fungi, Decreased Nutrients availability, etc.

    Managing Acid Soils

    • Liming: Incorporation of Lime, Gypsum, or dolomite into upper cultivable soil layer.
    • Using Industrial By-products: Press mud from sugarcane industry, basic slags from the iron and steel industries, and flue dust from cement plants can be used.
    • Growing acid-tolerant crops e.g. Sugarcane and bananas
    • Tags :
    • Soil Acidification
    • Acid Soil
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