Effect of Soil Acidity on Nutrient Availability and Phytohormonal Responses: A Review

Abstract

More than half (52%) of all fertile and productive soils worldwide are currently considered to be degraded by various factors. Among those factors, soil acidification is a very important issue. About 70% of the potential arable land and 30 % of the total land area experience some degree of soil acidity. There are several reasons why soil becomes acidic, but rainfall and leaching, acidic parent material, harvesting of high yielding crops, improper nitrogen fertilizer application, and organic matter decays are the principal ones. Acid soil affects plant growth, development and production in a number of ways. In one way, it reduces plant productivity by introducing several toxicities like Al³⁺, Mn²⁺, and H⁺ and in another way it affects nutrient availability primarily by altering the form of nutrients in the soil. Major plant nutrients including N, P, K, S, Ca, and Mg, and trace elements like Mo are less readily available in it and may be insufficient to support plant growth and development. Not only plants the functioning of soil microbes is also impaired by acidic conditions. Most microbial functions, such as the decomposition of organic matter and the cycling of nutrients are reduced in it. As a result, it greatly reduces the pace at which nutrients are mineralized by soil microbes into plant-available forms, potentially reducing plant absorption. Significantly, it can prevent the establishment of symbiosis and legume nodulation. Plants attempted to withstand all the effects of acid soil by exhibiting a variety of morphological and physiological responses. Mainly they tried to acclimate and adapt by altering the biosynthesis and action of phytohormones.

Keywords: acid soil; nutrient availability; effects of acid soils; phytohormones

DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/13-11-03

Publication date:July 31^st 2023