Information Statistics and Property Analysis of Commercially Acidic Soil Amendments
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1.College of Resources and Environment,Southwest University;2.Agricultural Technology Extension Station of Nanchuan District;3.Chongqing General Agricultural Technology Extension Station

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Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41701256) and the Undergraduate Innovation Fund of Southwest University(No. 202110635097)

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    Abstract:

    【Objective】Direct application of soil amendments represents a crucial approach for ameliorating acidic soils. Grasping the fundamental properties of commercially available acidic soil amendments is vital for developing strategies to improve acidic soils in China. 【Method】In this study, detailed information regarding product registration and patent applications for acidic soil amendments in China was gathered and systematically organized. Subsequently, the basic properties; including particle size distribution, pH, contents of CaO and MgO, crystalline minerals, and functional groups, of 24 randomly selected commercial soil amendments were determined. The crystalline minerals and functional groups of soil amendments were identified by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses. 【Result】The results indicate that a substantial number of acidic soil amendments exist in China, accounting for 78% of all types of soil amendments. Driven by market demand, raw material availability, and agricultural development characteristics, the manufacturers of acidic soil amendments are predominantly located in Guangdong and Shandong provinces. The authorization rate of patents for acidic soil amendments in China is less than 10%. Among the authorized patents, the primary raw materials are organic matter and by-products from industry and agriculture, followed by natural minerals and chemical products. Specifically, the main raw materials listed in product registrations were carbonate minerals and oyster shells and most of the amendments were available in powder and granular forms, with a product registration ratio of approximately 2:1. However, the adoption of the powder products face challenges in promotion due to dust generation during application. The pH value, CaO content, and MgO content are the core indicators that most effectively reflect the ability of acidic soil amendments to mitigate soil acidity and replenish soil base nutrients. Even though some of the soil amendments did not fully disclose these three parameters on their packaging, the experimental evidence indicated that they were highly alkaline and exhibited high pH values and CaO contents, and most products also contained small amounts of MgO. These measured indicators aligned with their labeled values or ranges and the XRD and FTIR analyses further demonstrated that the predominant component in the commercially available amendments was CaCO₃. In addition, other alkaline constituents such as Ca(OH)₂, CaO, CaMg(CO₃)₂, and MgO were also present in some of the soil amendments, depending on their raw materials and production technologies. Moreover, most of the amendments also contained silicate minerals or SiO₂. 【Conclusion】The results of this study revealed that the primary function of the commercially available amendments for acidic soils in China is the amelioration of soil acidity. However, due to the single functionality of these products, there are significant challenges in market promotion. To meet the diversified needs of agricultural production, it is necessary to further develop multi-functional acidic soil amendment products that can both regulate soil acidity and enhance soil fertility, thereby improving product practicability and market competitiveness. In addition, acidified soil amelioration is a systematic project. Besides strengthening the development of new products, it is also necessary to simultaneously advance various aspects of work such as soil acidification monitoring and early warning, and integration of acidified soil improvement technologies and models, in order to effectively promote the improvement and sustainable utilization of China""s acidic cultivated land.

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History
  • Received:March 29,2025
  • Revised:June 21,2025
  • Adopted:July 31,2025
  • Online: August 25,2025
  • Published:
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