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Influence of Nitrogen Fertilizer Application on Soil Acidification Characteristics of Tea Plantations in Karst Areas of Southwest China

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  • Yanling Liu

    (Institute of Soil and Fertilizer, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang 550006, China
    Scientific Observing and Experimental Station of Arable Land Conservation and Agricultural Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Guiyang 550006, China)

  • Meng Zhang

    (Institute of Soil and Fertilizer, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang 550006, China
    Scientific Observing and Experimental Station of Arable Land Conservation and Agricultural Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Guiyang 550006, China)

  • Yu Li

    (Institute of Soil and Fertilizer, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang 550006, China
    Scientific Observing and Experimental Station of Arable Land Conservation and Agricultural Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Guiyang 550006, China)

  • Yarong Zhang

    (Institute of Soil and Fertilizer, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang 550006, China
    Scientific Observing and Experimental Station of Arable Land Conservation and Agricultural Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Guiyang 550006, China)

  • Xingcheng Huang

    (Institute of Soil and Fertilizer, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang 550006, China
    Scientific Observing and Experimental Station of Arable Land Conservation and Agricultural Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Guiyang 550006, China)

  • Yehua Yang

    (Institute of Soil and Fertilizer, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang 550006, China
    Scientific Observing and Experimental Station of Arable Land Conservation and Agricultural Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Guiyang 550006, China)

  • Huaqing Zhu

    (Institute of Soil and Fertilizer, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang 550006, China
    Scientific Observing and Experimental Station of Arable Land Conservation and Agricultural Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Guiyang 550006, China)

  • Han Xiong

    (Institute of Soil and Fertilizer, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang 550006, China
    Scientific Observing and Experimental Station of Arable Land Conservation and Agricultural Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Guiyang 550006, China)

  • Taiming Jiang

    (Institute of Soil and Fertilizer, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang 550006, China
    Scientific Observing and Experimental Station of Arable Land Conservation and Agricultural Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Guiyang 550006, China)

Abstract

Nitrogen (N) fertilizer application is one of the causes of soil acidification at tea plantations. However, the effect of N fertilizer application on the soil acidification characteristics of tea plantations with different acidities remains unclear. In this study, field experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of different nitrogen fertilizer application rates on the pH, pH buffer capacity (pHBC), exchangeable total acidity (ETA), exchangeable base cations (EBCs), and cation exchange capacity (CEC) in the topsoil of non-acidified (NA), mildly acidified (MA), and heavily acidified (HA) tea plantations. The results showed that the exchangeable Al 3+ (E-Al) and CEC were HA > MA > NA in all tea plantations, whereas the EBCs and base saturation percentage (BSP) were HA < MA < NA. In the tea plantations with pH > 4.0, the pH, EBCs, and BSP showed decreasing trends with increasing N fertilizer application, whereas E-Al showed an increasing trend. In the tea plantations with pH < 4.0, the soil pH showed a small increasing trend with the increase in N fertilizer application, whereas the soil exchangeable H + (E-H), E-Al, and CEC showed decreasing trends. Meanwhile, in the pH range of 4–6, the soil acid–base buffer curve rose sharply, and an excessive application of N fertilizer (N900) significantly reduced the pHBC. In addition, a stepwise regression analysis showed that the BSP, EBCs, and exchangeable Mg 2+ (E-Mg) had significant direct effects on the soil pH, whereas the CEC and N application had significant direct effects on the soil pHBC. In conclusion, a decrease in the BSP and an increase in E-Al were the main mechanisms of acidification at tea plantations, whereas a decrease in the BSP caused by the application of N fertilizer was the main cause of exacerbated soil acidification in non-acidified tea plantations.

Suggested Citation

  • Yanling Liu & Meng Zhang & Yu Li & Yarong Zhang & Xingcheng Huang & Yehua Yang & Huaqing Zhu & Han Xiong & Taiming Jiang, 2023. "Influence of Nitrogen Fertilizer Application on Soil Acidification Characteristics of Tea Plantations in Karst Areas of Southwest China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-14, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:13:y:2023:i:4:p:849-:d:1120857
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hui Wei & Yalan Liu & Huimin Xiang & Jiaen Zhang & Saifei Li & Jiayue Yang, 2019. "Soil pH Responses to Simulated Acid Rain Leaching in Three Agricultural Soils," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Chunlian Qiao & Shamim Mia & Yeqin Wang & Jiajia Hou & Burenbayin Xu, 2021. "Assessing the Effects of Nitrification Inhibitor DMPP on Acidification and Inorganic N Leaching Loss from Tea ( Camellia sinensis L.) Cultivated Soils with Increasing Urea–N Rates," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-8, January.
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