Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Auburn, Alabama » Soil Dynamics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #410314
Research Project: Sustaining Productivity and Ecosystem Services of Agricultural and Horticultural Systems in the Southeastern United States

Location: Soil Dynamics Research

Title: Potential of loblolly pine, maize, and soybean residues to alter acidity of soils with low and high buffering capacities

Author
item DE ALBUQUERQUE, CARLA - Federal University Of Parana Polytechnic Center
item MOTTA, ANTONIO - Federal University Of Parana Polytechnic Center
item GAVELAKI, FABIANA - Federal University Of Parana Polytechnic Center
item DE ROCHA, GRAZIELLI - Federal University Of Parana Polytechnic Center
item Prior, Stephen
item ERCOLE, TAMIRES - Universidade De Sao Paulo
item DIECKOW, JEFERSON - Federal University Of Parana Polytechnic Center

Submitted to: Revista Brasileira De Ciencia Do Solo
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/8/2026
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Managing agroecosystems and ensuring environmental sustainability rely on knowledge of factors influencing soil acidity. Pine (Pinus taeda), corn (Zea mays), and soybean residue decreased active acidity (pH) and Al3+ (exchangeable Al) and was associated with the sum of cations, C/N ratio, and plant residue alkalinity. Findings followed a descending order of soybean > corn > pine, which was related to different residue quality/compositions. The effect of the three residues was proportional to applied rates, and soybean had the greatest capacity to mitigate soil acidity in the short-term due to low C/N and high available alkalinity but more prolonged and less intensive with maize and pine residues.

Technical Abstract: Background and Aim Benefits of crop residues are well known, but their effects on soil acidity is poorly understood. This study evaluated the effect of three residue amendments on horizons (A and B) of two soils [Oxisol (low buffering capacity) and Inceptisol (high buffering capacity)] with and without liming. Methods Pine (Pinus taeda) litter, maize (Zea mays), and soybean (Glycine max) residues applied at equivalent rates of 0, 6, 12, 24, and 48 t ha-1 were incubated with soils samples for 0.75, 30, 90, 180, 270, and 365 days. At incubation time intervals, pH and exchangeable Al were measured. Results Regardless of residue and soil type, there was a reduction in soil acidity according to pH and exchangeable Al; this effect lasted up to 30 days and was more intensive for soybean residue but more prolonged and less intensive with maize and pine residues. The influence on soil acidity was directly related to rate and residue cation abundance and inversely proportional to C/N. This was associated with residue composition in terms of lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose. The decrease in acidity was greater in soils without lime; the greatest 'pH (+1.35) occurred in the Oxisol B horizon with soybean, while the greatest 'Al (-2.87 cmolc kg-1) occurred in the Inceptisol B horizon. Conclusion While acidic residue with low cation content (Pinus taeda) reduced acidity, the degree of effect of each plant material depends on soil buffering capacity, time, and soil pH.