Impact of Novel Crop Species on Acidic Soil Fertility: An Agrochemical Analysis of the Soil-Plant System

Abstract

Soil acidity is one of the major constraints limiting crop productivity by reducing nutrient availability and increasing exchangeable aluminum toxicity. Liming is widely recognized as an effective strategy for improving the chemical fertility of acidic soils; however, crop-specific responses remain insufficiently documented under diversified cropping systems. This study evaluated the effects of calcium oxide (CaO 95%) amendment on soil chemical properties and the uptake of macro- and micronutrients by ten crop species, including legumes, cereals, buckwheat, mustard and sweet sorghum, cultivated on an acidic Luvisol. Soil analyses included pH, organic matter, available phosphorus and potassium, exchangeable bases, hydrolytic acidity, cation exchange characteristics, exchangeable aluminum and mobile micronutrients. Plant tissues were analyzed for nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, copper, zinc, manganese and iron concentrations. Liming substantially improved soil chemical quality by increasing soil pH and base saturation while reducing hydrolytic acidity and exchangeable aluminum. Available phosphorus and potassium generally increased following amendment application, whereas changes in soil organic matter indicators were comparatively small. Plant nutrient acquisition exhibited marked species-specific responses. Wheat and triticale showed enhanced accumulation of several macroelements, particularly phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium, whereas legumes displayed more variable responses, reflecting differences in rhizosphere processes and biological nitrogen fixation. Despite the increase in soil pH, micronutrient concentrations in plant tissues generally remained within the ranges considered adequate for plant nutrition, indicating that the applied liming rate did not induce nutritional imbalances.