Response of Soil Properties and Productivity to Application of Calcium Carbonate and Organic Matter in Acidic Vegetable Fields
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Chongqing Key Laboratory of Interface Process and Soil Health, College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University

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Supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (No. 2016YFC0502303)

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    Abstract:

    【Objective】Vegetable production is frequently associated with high nitrogen fertilizer application and intensive crop rotation, resulting in soil acidification, structural degradation, and proliferation of harmful microorganisms. These factors significantly impede the sustainable development of vegetable farming. 【Method】Therefore, this study investigated the short-term effects of organic fertilizer, potassium humate, calcium carbonate, and their combinations on soil properties, organic carbon components, and microbial community structure in acidic vegetable fields with an untreated control (CK). 【Result】(1) Results showed that the sole application of full-dose organic fertilizer significantly increased total nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium in non-rhizosphere soil, while significantly increasing easily oxidizable organic carbon (EOC) in non-rhizosphere (by 22.70%) and rhizosphere (by 9.76%) soils. The sole application of full-dose calcium carbonate significantly raised soil pH but reduced available phosphorus in non-rhizosphere soil and alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen, available potassium, and organic carbon (SOC) in rhizosphere soil. Most notably, the combined application of all three amendments significantly increased soil pH and Chinese cabbage yield, compared to CK, while also increasing SOC, EOC, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and the abundance of soil bacteria, fungi, Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, and actinomycetes. (2) Correlation analysis between soil physicochemical properties and microbial community structure revealed that alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen and EOC were significantly positively correlated with all measured microbial groups in the non-rhizosphere, where DOC correlated positively with bacteria. Also, in the rhizosphere, DOC correlated positively with bacteria and Gram-negative bacteria. Redundancy analysis showed that in non-rhizosphere soil, alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen had the greatest influence on microbial communities. In rhizosphere soil, available potassium and DOC were the main factors affecting microbial communities. (3) Correlation analysis between soil properties and Chinese cabbage yield indicated that yield correlated positively with non-rhizosphere pH and rhizosphere exchangeable Ca2? and Mg2?, but negatively with rhizosphere alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen. Structural equation modeling revealed that exchangeable Ca2+, available phosphorus, and alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen had significant positive effects on cabbage yield, with Gram-negative bacteria indirectly influencing yield through available phosphorus. 【Conclusion】Based on these results, it can be concluded that the combined application of calcium carbonate and organic amendments effectively mitigated soil acidity, enhanced soil organic carbon sequestration, increased microbial biomass, and stabilized soil productivity. This study provides an important reference for research aimed at managing soil acidification and improving crop yields in acidic soils.

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History
  • Received:March 13,2025
  • Revised:July 22,2025
  • Adopted:August 20,2025
  • Online: August 28,2025
  • Published:
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