Whether dealing with acidic or alkaline soils, excessive soil acidity can hinder the normal growth and development of crops, as well as reduce the effective utilization of certain nutrient components. Therefore, when fertilizing on acidic or alkaline soils, it's essential to increase the application of organic fertilizers on one hand, and pay attention to the methods of amending and fertilization techniques for these two different types of soils on the other.
Neglecting soil acidity or the pH of fertilizers can diminish the effectiveness of fertilization in the field and impede crop growth and development. Moreover, highly acidic soils are prone to problems like soil infertility and soil compaction, while excessively alkaline soils are more likely to experience reduced fertility, deterioration of soil granule structure, and severe soil salinization and alkalization.
Key points for fertilizing acidic soils:
1. When fertilizing on acidic farmlands, the first consideration should be the application of well-rotted organic fertilizers or farmyard manure, or the cultivation of green manure. Organic fertilizers and farmyard manure can effectively adjust soil pH, activate loose soil, increase the population of beneficial soil microorganisms, and inhibit soil pests and diseases. Please note that increasing the application of well-rotted organic fertilizers or farmyard manure on alkaline soils can also help lower alkalinity and balance soil pH.
2. When fertilizing acidic farmlands, it's advisable to annually incorporate 40-50 kg of quicklime per mu (combined with farmyard manure for better results) or 40-50 kg of wood ash (wood ash is also an alkaline fertilizer) as basal fertilizer. This utilizes the alkalinity of quicklime to neutralize or reduce soil acidity, with the practice being discontinued when the soil gradually reaches a neutral or slightly alkaline state within 2-3 years. However, quicklime should not be used excessively, as it may inhibit the absorption of trace elements such as zinc, iron, manganese, and boron by crops.
3. Fertilizing acidic soils should involve avoiding the use of acidic fertilizers (which can exacerbate soil acidity) and choosing alkaline fertilizers as much as possible to gradually lower soil acidity using the alkalinity of the fertilizers. Examples of alkaline fertilizers include calcium-magnesium phosphate fertilizer, calcium silicate fertilizer, ammonium hydrogen carbonate, ammonia water, lime nitrogen, and wood ash (which is alkaline).
4. In acidic soils, potassium and calcium ions are prone to leaching, so it's important to increase the dosage of potassium and calcium fertilizers appropriately when fertilizing acidic soils.
5. Since acidic soils tend to lead to molybdenum and sulfur deficiencies in crops, it's essential to supplement molybdenum fertilizers, such as ammonium molybdate, when cultivating crops on acidic soils.
6. When amending acidic soils, you can also use soil conditioners specifically designed for acidic soils.
Remember to adapt these techniques and fertilization practices according to your specific soil conditions and crop requirements for optimal results.
