Acid Soils of India: Their Distribution, Management and Future Strategies for Higher Productivity

摘要

The world has 39.50 million sq km of acidic soils, which form 25.9% of the total geographical area. In India, 0.93 million sq km of geographical area has acidic reaction and about 0.49 million sq. km cultivated area pH in the acidic range. Broadly, acid soils in India can be classified into seven groups viz. (i) Laterite, (ii) Laterite and Lateritic red, (iii) mixed red, black and yellow, (iv) ferruginous red, (v) podsolic brown forest soils, (vi) foot-hill soils and (vii) peat soils. These soils have the problem of high H~+ and Al~(3+) activities, rendering some of the nutrients less available to the growing crops, low CEC, high capacity of solid phase to adsorb anions and low activities of organic and biological fraction. Due to poor fertility, the acid soils have restricted settlements. The acid soils need proper management (land, plant and nutrients) for proper crop growth and optimum productivity. Selection of suitable production systems, use of crops and crop varieties tolerant to soil acidity, soil management and optimum microbial activity can enhance the productivity of acid soil.