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Processes of soil acidification during nitrogen cycling with emphasis on legume based pastures

  • Chapter
Plant-Soil Interactions at Low pH

Part of the book series: Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences ((DPSS,volume 45))

Abstract

In areas that remain unaffected by industrial pollution soil acidification is mainly caused by the release of protons (H+) during the oxidation of carbon (C), sulphur (S) and nitrogen (N) compounds in soils. In this review the processes of H+ ions release during N cycling and its effect on soil acidification are examined. The major processes leading to acidification during N cycling in soils are: (i) the imbalance of cation over anion uptake in the rhizosphere of plants either actively fixing N2 gas or taking up NH +4 ions as the major source of N, (ii) the net nitrification of N derived from fixation or from NH +4 and R-NH2 based fertilizers, and (iii) the removal of plant and animal products containing N derived from the process described in (i) and losses of NO3-N by leaching when the N input form is N2,NH +4 or R-NH2. The uptake of excess cations over anions by plants results in the acidification of the rhizosphere which is a “localized” effect and can be balanced by the release of hydroxyl (OH−) ions during subsequent plant decomposition. Nitrification of fixed N2 or NH +4 and R-NH2 based fertilizers, and loss of N from the soil either by removal of products or by leaching of NO3-N with a companion basic cation, lead to ‘permanent’ acidification.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fertilizer and Lime Research Centre, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

    N. S. Bolan, M. J. Hedley & R. E. White

Authors
  1. N. S. Bolan
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  2. M. J. Hedley
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  3. R. E. White
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Agricultural Research Service Appalachian Soil and Water Conservation Research Laboratory, United States Department of Agriculture, Beckley, West Virginia, USA

    R. J. Wright , V. C. Baligar  & R. P. Murrmann ,  & 

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© 1991 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Bolan, N.S., Hedley, M.J., White, R.E. (1991). Processes of soil acidification during nitrogen cycling with emphasis on legume based pastures. In: Wright, R.J., Baligar, V.C., Murrmann, R.P. (eds) Plant-Soil Interactions at Low pH. Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences, vol 45. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-3438-5_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-3438-5_18

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-5520-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-011-3438-5

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