Long-Term Application of Chemical Fertilizers and Rice Straw on Soil Aluminum Toxicity.

The red soil region in China is very important to agriculture. However, soil aluminum (Al) toxicity often occurs as a result of the high soil acidity. In a long-term experiment, we analyzed soil samples to determine the effect of fertilization on soil acidity and potential Al toxicity. The results showed that after 12 years of utilization, Al toxicity occurred in the soil of the control plot. Chemical fertilizer further decreased soil pH and intensified Al toxicity. However, rice straw effectively improved soil pH and ameliorated soil Al toxicity from 0 to 50 cm deep, which may be attributed to the accumulated soil organic matter (SOM) and the decomposition of the rice straw. Corresponding to the lower Al content in soil, peanut crops grew healthier with greater yields in the rice straw plot, indicating that returning crop stalks to the field should be a feasible fertilization strategy in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]