Acidification

What is it?

Acidification is where the pH level of soil decreases and reduces plant vigour. While soil acidification is a natural process (especially in higher rainfall regions), agricultural practices can greatly accelerate the rate of acidification.

Strongly acidic soils are defined as those having a pH less than 4.5 (in water), with a pH of 7 being neutral.

Soil acidity occurs naturally in higher rainfall areas and can vary according to geology, clay mineralogy, soil texture and buffering capacity. Agricultural production also increases acidity through unbalanced nitrogen cycling (excessive use of nitrogen fertilisers and nitrogen leaching) and the continued removal of alkaline plant/animal materials (grain, hay, wool, meat).

A diagrammatic representation of the causes of soil acidity showing the importance of product removal and nitrate leaching in the process

Impact

Acidification of topsoils, and more seriously, subsoils will lead to lower yields, reduced pasture and crop options and contribute to wider catchment problems such as weed infestations, salinity and erosion.

In acidic soils, aluminium, iron and manganese can reach concentrations toxic to the roots and there may be deficiencies in molybdenum, boron, calcium, magnesium and potassium.

The impacts of soil acidity on agriculture and the wider community include:

Increased nitrate contamination of groundwater and reduced water quality
Reduced agricultural yields, farm income and domestic/export earnings
Reduced options for agriculture (as only acid-tolerant plants can grow well in these conditions)
Reduced vegetative cover, leading to accelerated run-off and erosion
Irreversible clay structure damage (or hard setting)
Declining pH of streams
Increased infrastructure costs, and
Decreased land values

Management

Preventative measures:

Monitor pH status of your paddocks (soil testing)
Use forms of nitrogen fertilisers with a lower acidifying effect (Ammonium sulphate, MAP and DAP have ahigh acidifying potential)
Feed out hay and silage on acidic paddocks
Use better grazing and irrigation management
Avoid irrigating when soil nitrate levels are highest ie. straight after grazing
Growing deep-rooted perennial species that take up nitrogen from greater depth

Corrective measures:

Applying lime, hence raising the pH
Retain and sow deep-rooted perennial grasses (such as phalaris, cocksfoot) to reduce nitrate leaching
Apply maintenance dressing of lime after the first remedial rate has been applied, especially after hay cutting
Match fertiliser inputs to plant needs (to avoid excessive leaching)
Use strategic grazing practices
Use acid tolerant species (subterranean clover, perennial ryegrass, cocksfoot and native grasses)

Related Links

DPI Information Note AG1182: Acid soils (PDF - 165 KB)
Impact of acid soils in Victoria
Measuring and interpreting soil pH
Soil Acidification in Australia (external link) on the Australian Natural Resources Atlas website

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