Abstract
Soil acidity is a common, long-existing problem in smallholder farmer crop production systems of South Africa. Soils that have low cation exchange capacity, high aluminium content, and low basic cation status are especially prone to rapid acidification under intensive cultivation. Yield response to lime and gypsum applications is high on these soils, but the prohibitive costs of liming, coupled with the slow movement of lime and gypsum under no-till, are major problems encountered by farmers. This chapter proffers options for integrated acidity management under smallholder systems, towards reducing the reliance upon lime for sustainable crop production. Soil management practices that improve the soil organic matter content bring about opportunities to better manage acidity through increases in the buffering capacity of the soil against pH change. Within the context of conservation agriculture, farmers need recommendations for no-tillage techniques to improve liming efficiency. These recommendations include a ‘once-off tillage’ for lime incorporation, split lime applications, mulching for improving infiltration, and timely application of the lime, among others. The impact of soil acidity in crop production systems could also be reduced by adoption of acid-tolerant cultivars. Various organic amendments such as animal manures and composts are proven to increase the pH and significantly reduce exchangeable acidity. Biochar in particular is a potentially sustainable alternative to lime for soil acidity management.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Auler AC, Caires EF, Pires LF, Galetto SL, Romaniw J, Charnobay AC (2019) Lime effects in a no-tillage system on inceptisols in Southern Brazil. Geoderma Reg 16:e00206. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geodrs.2019.e00206
Axelsson L, Franzén M, Ostwald M, Berndes G, Lakshmi G, Ravindranath NH (2012) Perspective: jatropha cultivation in Southern India: assessing farmers’ experiences. Biofuels Bioprod Biorefin 6(3):246–256. https://doi.org/10.1002/bbb
Barnard RO, du Preez CC (2004) Soil fertility in South Africa: the last twenty five years. S Afr J Plant Soil 21(5):301–315. https://doi.org/10.1080/02571862.2004.10635066
Berihun T, Tadele M, Kebede F (2017) The application of biochar on soil acidity and other physico-chemical properties of soils in Southern Ethiopia. Zeitschrift Fur Pflanzenernahrung Und Bodenkunde 180(3):381–388. https://doi.org/10.1002/jpln.201600343
Bista P, Ghimire R, Machado S, Pritchett L (2019) Biochar effects on soil properties and wheat biomass vary with fertility management. Agron 9(10):623. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy9100623
Brady NC, Weil RR (2008) The soils around us. In: The nature and properties of soils, 14th edn. Pearson Prentice Hall, London, pp 1–31
Brown TT, Koenig RT, Huggins DR, Harsh JB, Rossi RE (2008) Lime effects on soil acidity, crop yield, and aluminum chemistry in direct-seeded crop** systems. Soil Sci Soc Am J 72(3):634–640. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2007.0061
Caires EF, Alleoni LRF, Cambri MA, Barth G (2005) Surface application of lime for crop grain production under a no-till system. Agron J 97(3):791–798. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj2004.0207
Caires EF, Garbuio FJ, Churka S, Barth G, Corrêa JCL (2008) Effects of soil acidity amelioration by surface liming on no-till corn, soybean, and wheat root growth and yield. Eur J Agron 28(1):57–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eja.2007.05.002
Caires EF, Haliski A, Bini AR, Scharr DA (2015) Surface liming and nitrogen fertilization for crop grain production under no-till management in Brazil. Eur J Agron 66:41–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eja.2015.02.008
Chao M, Nguyen P, Trung M, Nilsson SI (2010) Effects of compost and lime amendment on soil acidity and N availability in acid sulfate soil. World p. 52–55
Clark RB, Duncan RR (1991) Improvement of plant mineral nutrition through breeding. Field Crop Res 27:219–240
Condon J, Li G (2018) Farmers inspiring farmers addressing soil acidity: subsurface soil amend
Cornelissen G, Jubaedah, Nurida NL, Hale SE, Martinsen V, Silvani L, Mulder J (2018) Fading positive effect of biochar on crop yield and soil acidity during five growth seasons in an Indonesian Ultisol. Sci Total Environ 634(0806):561–568. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.03.380
Costa A, Rosolem CA (2007) Liming in the transition to no-till under a wheat-soybean rotation. Soil Tillage Res 97(2):207–217. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2007.09.014
Crusciol CAC, Artigiani ACCA, Arf O, Carmeis Filho ACA, Soratto RP, Nascente AS, Alvarez RCF (2016) Soil fertility, plant nutrition, and grain yield of upland rice affected by surface application of lime, silicate, and phosphogypsum in a tropical no-till system. Catena 137:87–99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2015.09.009
De Neergaard A, Saarnak C, Hill T, Khanyile M, Berzosa AM, Birch-Thomsen T (2005) Australian wattle species in the Drakensberg region of South Africa—an invasive alien or a natural resource? Agr Syst 85(3 SPEC. ISS):216–233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2005.06.009
De Wit MP, Crookes DJ, Van Wilgen BW (2001) Conflicts of interest in environmental management: estimating. Biol Invasions 3(2001):167–178. http://www.springerlink.com/content/ml9v46g1w88bfj7a/fulltext.pdf
Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (2017) Annu Rep 2016/17. https://nationalgovernment.co.za/department_annual/171/2017-department:-agriculture-forestry-and-fisheries-(daff)-annual-report.pdf
Department of Environmental Affairs South Africa (2015) Assessment of the potential to produce biochar and its application to South African soils as a mitigation measure 84. https://www.environment.gov.za/sites/default/files/reports/biocharreport2015.pdf
Derpsch R (2008) No-tillage and conservation agriculture: a progress report. In: Goddard T, Zoebisch MA, Gan YT, Ellis W, Watson A, Sombatpanit S (eds) No-till farming systems. World Association of Soil and Water Conservation, Bangkok, pp 7–39
dos Santos DR, Tiecher T, Gonzatto R, Santanna MA, Brunetto G, da Silva LS (2018) Long-term effect of surface and incorporated liming in the conversion of natural grassland to no-till system for grain production in a highly acidic sandy-loam Ultisol from south Brazilian Campos. Soil Tillage Res 180:222–231. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2018.03.014
Dvorak J, Epstein E, Galvez A, Gulick P, Omielan JA (1992) Genetic basis of plant tolerance of soil toxicity. In: Stalker HT, Murphy JP (eds) Plant breeding in the 1990s. CAB Intl, Wallingford, pp 201–217
Flower KC, Crabtree WL (2011) Soil pH change after surface application of lime related to the levels of soil disturbance caused by no-tillage seeding machinery. Field Crop Res 121(1):75–87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2010.11.014
Foy CD (1992) Soil chemical factors limiting plant root growth. In: Hatfield JL, Stewart BA (eds) Advances in soil science: limitation to plant root growth, vol 19. Springer-Verlag, New York, NY, pp 97–149
Foy CD, Scott JB, Fisher JA (1988) Genetics and breeding of plants tolerant of manganese toxicity. In: Graham RD, Hannam RJ, Uren NC (eds) Manganese in soil and plants. Kluwer, Amsterdam, pp 293–307
Fuentes JP, Bezdicek DF, Flury M, Albrecht S, Smith JL (2006) Microbial activity affected by lime in a long-term no-till soil. Soil Tillage Res 88(1–2):123–131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2005.05.001
Gardiner DT, Miller RW (2004) Soils in our environment. Pearson Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ, pp 126–165
Giller KE, Witter E, Corbeels M, Tittonell P (2009) Conservation agriculture and smallholder farming in Africa: the heretics’ view. Field Crop Res 114(1):23–34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2009.06.017
Godsey CB, Pierzynski GM, Mengel DB, Lamond RE (2007) Management of soil acidity in no-till production systems through surface application of lime. Agron J 99(3):764–772. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj2006.0078
Harding AP, Hughes BW (2019) Latest strategies for treatment of soil acidification. https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/grdc-update-papers/tab-content/grdc-update-papers/2019/02/latest-strategies-for-treatment-of-soil-acidification
Haynes RJ (1982) Effects of liming on phosphate availability in acid soils–a critical review. Plant and Soil 68(3):289–308. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02197935
Horst WJ (1999) Physiology of manganese toxicity and tolerance in Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. J Plant Nutr Soil Sci 162(3):273–274. https://doi.org/10.1002/(sici)1522-2624(199906)162:3<263::aid-jpln263>3.0.co;2-a
Joris HAW, Caires EF, Bini AR, Scharr DA, Haliski A (2013) Effects of soil acidity and water stress on corn and soybean performance under a no-till system. Plant and Soil 365(1–2):409–424. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-012-1413-2
Kassam A, Friedrich T, Derpsch R (2019) Global spread of conservation agriculture. Int J Environ Stud 76:29–51. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207233.2018.1494927
Lauricella D, Butterly CR, Clark GJ, Sale PWG, Li G, Tang C (2020) Effectiveness of innovative organic amendments in acid soils depends on their ability to supply P and alleviate Al and Mn toxicity in plants. J Soil Sediment 20:3951. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-020-02721-0
Le Maitre DC, Gaertner M, Marchante E, Ens EJ, Holmes PM, Pauchard A, O’Farrell PJ, Rogers AM, Blanchard R, Blignaut J, Richardson DM (2011) Impacts of invasive Australian acacias: implications for management and restoration. Divers Distrib 17(5):1015–1029. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1472-4642.2011.00816.x
Li GD, Conyers MK, Heylar KR, Lisle CJ, Poile GJ, Cullis BR (2019) Long-term surface application of lime ameliorates subsurface soil acidity in the mixed farming zone of South-Eastern Australia. Geoderma 338:236–246. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2018.12.003
Liebenberg A, van der Nest JR, Hardie AG, Labuschagne J, Swanepoel PA (2020) Extent of soil acidity in no-tillage systems in the western cape province of South Africa. Land 9(10):1–17. https://doi.org/10.3390/land9100361
Ligowe IS, Naliyata PC, Njoloma J, Makumba W, Thierfelder C (2017) Medium-term effects of conservation agriculture on soil quality. Afr J Agric Res 12:2412–2420
Major J, Rondon M, Molina D, Riha SJ, Lehmann J (2010) Maize yield and nutrition during 4 years after biochar application to a colombian savanna oxisol. Plant and Soil 333(1):117–128. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-010-0327-0
Malik Z, Yutong Z, ShengGao L, Abassi GH, Ali S, Imran Khan M, Kamran M, Jamil M, Al-Wabel MI, Rizwan M (2018) Effect of biochar and quicklime on growth of wheat and physicochemical properties of Ultisols. Arab J Geosci 11(17):1–12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-018-3863-1
Manson A, Findlay F (2015) Agricultural uses of lime and gypsum. KZN Department of Agriculture & Rural Development Soil Fertility Research, Analytical Services, Cedara
Maru A, Haruna AO, Asap A, Majid NMA, Maikol N, Jeffary AV (2020) Reducing acidity of tropical acid soil to improve phosphorus availability and Zea mays L. productivity through efficient use of chicken litter biochar and triple superphosphate. Appl Sci 10(6):2127. https://doi.org/10.3390/app10062127
Masud MM, Al Baquy MA, Akhter S, Sen R, Barman A, Khatun MR (2020) Liming effects of poultry litter derived biochar on soil acidity amelioration and maize growth. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 202:110865. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.110865
Materechera SA, Mkhabela TS (2002) The effectiveness of lime, chicken manure and leaf litter ash in ameliorating acidity in a soil previously under black wattle (Acacia mearnsii) plantation. Bioresour Technol 85(1):9–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0960-8524(02)00065-2
McCauley A, Jones C, Jacobsen J (2009) Soil pH and organic matter. Nutrient management modules, no. 8. Montana State University Extension Service, Bozeman, MT
Mehmood K, Li JY, Jiang J, Masud MM, Xu RK (2017) Effect of low energy-consuming biochars in combination with nitrate fertilizer on soil acidity amelioration and maize growth. J Soil Sediment 17(3):790–799. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-015-1219-y
Midgley GF, Bond WJ (2015) Future of African terrestrial biodiversity and ecosystems under anthropogenic climate change. Nat Clim Chang 5(9):823–829. https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate2753
Mitchell CJ (2005) FarmLime: low-cost lime for small-scale farming. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, London, 250(1), 121–126
Miyazawa M, Pavan MA, Franchini JC (2002) Evaluation of plant residues on the mobility of surface applied lime. Braz Arch Biol Technol 45(3):251–256. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1516-89132002000300001
Morris TL, Esler KJ, Barger NN, Jacobs SM, Cramer MD (2011) Ecophysiological traits associated with the competitive ability of invasive Australian acacias. Divers Distrib 17(5):898–910. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1472-4642.2011.00802.x
Mosharrof M, Uddin MK, Jusop S, Sulaiman MF, Shamsuzzaman SM, Haque ANA (2021) Changes in acidic soil chemical properties and carbon dioxide emission due to biochar and lime treatments. Agri 11(3):219. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11030219
Naramabuye FX, Haynes RJ (2006) Effect of organic amendments on soil pH and Al solubility and use of laboratory indices to predict their liming effect. Soil Sci 171(10):754–763. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.ss.0000228366.17459.19
Ngwira AR, Aune JB, Mkwinda S (2012) On-farm evaluation of yield and economic benefit of short term maize legume intercrop** systems under conservation agriculture in Malawi. Field Crop Res 132:149–157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2011.12.014
Oelofse M, Birch-Thomsen T, Magid J, de Neergaard A, van Deventer R, Bruun S, Hill T (2016) The impact of black wattle encroachment of indigenous grasslands on soil carbon, eastern cape, South Africa. Biol Invasions 18(2):445–456. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-015-1017-x
Panwar NL, Pawar A, Salvi BL (2019) Comprehensive review on production and utilization of biochar. SN Appl Sci 1(2):1–19. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-019-0172-6
Rao IM, Ayarza MA, Thomas RJ, Fisher MJ, Sanz JI, Spain J, Lascano C (1992) Soil-plant factors and processes affecting productivity in ley farming. In: Pastures for the tropical lowlands: CIAT’s contribution. CIAT, Cali, CO, pp 145–175
Rao IM, Zeigler RS, Vera R, Sarkarung S (1993) International agricultural research || selection and breeding for acid-soil tolerance in crops. BioScience 43(7):454–465. https://doi.org/10.2307/1311905
Rheinheimer DS, Tiecher T, Gonzatto R, Zafar M, Brunetto G (2018) Residual effect of surface-applied lime on soil acidity properties in a long-term experiment under no-till in a southern Brazilian sandy Ultisol. Geoderma 313:7–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2017.10024
Rogovska N, Laird DA, Karlen DL (2016) Corn and soil response to biochar application and Stover harvest. Field Crop Res 187:96–106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2015.12.013
Somasundaram J, Sinha NK, Dalal RC, Lal R, Mohanty M, Naorem AK, Hati KM, Chaudhary RS, Biswas AK, Patra AK, Chaudhari SK (2020) No-till farming and conservation agriculture in South Asia–issues, challenges, prospects and benefits. Crit Rev Plant Sci 1:236–279. https://doi.org/10.1080/07352689.2020.1782069
Sumner ME (1979) Response of alfalfa and sorghum to lime and P on highly weathered soils. Agron J 71(5):763–766. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj1979.00021962007100050014x
Swanepoel CM, Swanepoel LH, Smith HJ (2018) A review of conservation agriculture research in South Africa. S Afr J Plant Soil 35(4):297–306. https://doi.org/10.1080/02571862.2017.1390615
Thomas RJ, Lascano C, Sanz JI, Ara M, Spain J, Vera R, Fisher MJ (1992) The role of pastures in production systems. In: Pastures for the tropical lowlands: CIAT’s contribution. CIAT, Cali, CO, pp 121–144
Topoliantz S, Ponge JF, Ballof S (2005) Manioc peel and charcoal: a potential organic amendment for sustainable soil fertility in the tropics. Biol Fertil Soils 41(1):15–21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-004-0804-9
Verheijen F, Jeffery S, Bastos AC, Van Der Velde M, Diafas I (2010) Biochar application to soils: a critical scientific review of effects on soil properties, processes and functions. 8(4):2183-2207. https://doi.org/10.2788/472
Wang L, Butterly CR, Wang Y, Herath HMSK, ** YG, **ao XJ (2014) Effect of crop residue biochar on soil acidity amelioration in strongly acidic tea garden soils. Soil Use Manage 30(1):119–128. https://doi.org/10.1111/sum.12096
Western Cape Department of Agriculture (WCDA) (2015) Conservation agriculture: promoting climate smart intensification of winter grain production while improving soil health in the Western Cape 16. http://www.greenagri.org.za/assets/documents-/SmartAgri/Case-Studies/2.-Case-Study-CA-FINAL.pdf
Wu S, Zhang Y, Tan Q, Sun X, Wei W, Hu C (2020) Biochar is superior to lime in improving acidic soil properties and fruit quality of Satsuma mandarin. Sci Total Environ 714:136722. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.136722
Yuan JH, Xu RK, Wang N, Li JY (2011) Amendment of acid soils with crop residues and biochars. Pedosphere 21(3):302–308. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1002-0160(11)60130-6
Zhao R, Coles N, Kong Z, Wu J (2015) Effects of aged and fresh biochars on soil acidity under different incubation conditions. Soil Tillage Res 146(PB):13–138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2014.10.014
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Swart, N., Jordaan, J., Fanadzo, M., Dunjana, N., Dube, E. (2023). Integrated Soil Acidity Management for Sustainable Crop Production in South African Smallholder Farming Systems. In: Fanadzo, M., Dunjana, N., Mupambwa, H.A., Dube, E. (eds) Towards Sustainable Food Production in Africa. Sustainability Sciences in Asia and Africa(). Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-2427-1_6
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-2427-1_6
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-99-2426-4
Online ISBN: 978-981-99-2427-1
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)