Soil acidification in Buenos Aires Province and the requirement for lime amendments

Abstract

Soil acidity is considered one of the primary constraints for agricultural production worldwide. In temperate regions, the acidification process is fundamentally generated by the export of bases through agricultural production without replenishment, or by the application of fertilizers with a high acidity index. Different levels of soil acidification are thought to result from varying buffering capacities, which are related to organic matter (OM) content, texture, and dominant mineral types. The objectives of this study are to provide guidelines for the treatment of acid soils through the generation of thematic cartography—based on analytical data from 1:50,000 scale soil maps—and to produce a map of Buenos Aires Province delimiting zones with different theoretical doses of calcium carbonate used as a basic amendment. This approach considers the buffering capacity of the surface horizon of the predominant soil series in each soil mapping unit.