1. Acid Soil Infertility Soil(lution)= Liming +Nutrient+Organic Matters
Paul Reed Hepperly, PhD
Fulbright Scholar/Rachel Carson Scientist

2. Rodale Farming Systems Trial
Started in 1981
Eight Replicates
Large Field Plots
Input Agriculture compared to
Biologically Based
Side by Side

3. Transformation of Soil through Biologically Based Management
Conventional
Inputs
Biological
Based
Management
The Rodale Institute Farming Systems Trial shows that biological management including cover crops adds to soil color and texture.

4. Why should we Care?
One third World Soil is acid or is prone to acidity
One third is prone to excess salinity
Acidity and salinity are key causes of infertility and poor agronomic and horticultural performance
pH adjustment and Organic matter improvement work together
To alleviate both excess Acidity and Alkalinity

5. Weathered Acid Soils Problematic on National and World Lands

6. Red Acid Soils Common In Older Soils from Humid Areas

7. Lime Eliminate Aluminum and Manganese Toxicities
Provide Calcium, Magnesium and Micronutrient
Increase Phosphorus, Molybdenum and Boron availability
Better forage and grain production and quality
Increase biological nitrogen fixation
Increase microbial activity probiosis
Improve soil structure

8. Australian Acidified Areas

9. Liming + Sub soiling = Synergy
Coventry, E Acid soils in Australia. Ruthergen Res. Inst., Victoria.

10. Glenelg Hopkins acidified catchment areas
Glenelg Hopkins Soil Health Strategy

11. Descriptive Scale of Acidity
Less than 3.5 Ultra Acid
3.6 to 4.5 Extremely Acid
4.6 to 5.0 Very Strong
5.1 to 5.5 Strongly Acid
5.6 to 6.0 Moderately Acid
6.1 to 6.5 Slightly Acid
6.6 to 7.3 Neutral
7.4 to 7.8 Slightly Alkaline
7.9 to 8.4 Moderately Alkaline
8.5 to 9.0 Strongly Alkaline

12. Acidity and Alkalinity
Governs biological capacity
Influences decay and synthesis of soil organic matter
Integral to soil tilth or structure of fertility
Gives exchange capacity for nutrients
Removes toxicities

13. Most Crops are favored by near neutral pH of 5.5 to 7.0

14. Soil pH/Organic Matter Optimize Nutrient Availability

15. Nutrient Efficiency Influenced by pH

16. Root Extension shows Acid/Aluminum Toxicity

17. Acidic/Aluminum toxicity restricts root growth,
plant growth and crop yield
Dense root growth
High yield
Aluminium toxicity in acidic soils inhibits root growth
Reduced yield
Low yield

18. Mn Toxicity Mg Deficiency
Acid Soil Infertility Toxicity and Deficiency
Mn Toxicity Mg Deficiency

19. Sources Excess Acidity
Ammoniated fertilizer
Harvest
Rainfall in excess
Acid rainfall from emissions
Irrigation water quality

20. Agricultural practices can increase soil acidification

21. Optimum pH Depends on Crop Species and Soil type
Generally from 5.5 to 7.0
Liming under acid conditions
Sulfuring for alkaline environments

22. Liming counteracts soil acidity

23. Lime Cost Effective Remedy Optimizes Soil Productive Capacity

24. Bag and Bulk Solutions are Available

25. Lime Factors Limestone sources different Magnesium can be important
Fineness determines reactivity
Lime needs spreading and incorporation

26. Limestone from different quarries vary considerably.
When there is a need to correct Magnesium deficiency soil test of less than 100 Mg. Use dolomitic limestone for correcting the acidity of the acid soil.

27. Living Capacity of Soil
Nutrient Cycles are geological, chemical and biological in nature
Microbes are critical to soil’s capacity for providing nutrients and preventing toxicity
Living soil from organic materials provides habitat, feeding and protection for nature’s labor force

28. Earthworms

29. SOIL BIOLOGY SUPPORTS HEALTHY
PLANT GROWTH
Cycles and retains nutrients
Makes nutrient available to plants
Builds soil organic carbon
Builds soil structure
Increases water infiltration and retention
Promotes plant root systems
Suppression of disease causing organisms
Reduce soil acidity and break down toxins

30. The rhizosphere

31. What’s happening in the rhizosphere?
Plants secrete "exudates" from the roots feeding bacteria and fungi
Fungi extend hyphae threads through the soil, finding nutrients like phosphorus and carrying them back to the root
Protozoa and nematodes eat the bacteria and fungi excrete nutrients feeding the plant
The whole process is controlled by the plant

32. Organic Matter and Acidity determine Soil Fertility through Exchange Capacity Effects
Helling et al Wisconsin soil tests SOM and Clay fractions separated

33. Optimizing Biological Nitrogen Fixation

34. Liming needed for Biological N Fixation

35. Mycorrhizal fungi Expand Root System Availability of Water, Phosphate, Zn and Cu

36. Overfeeding Kills Symbiosis

37. Formation and Persistence of Soil Particles based on Fungi

38. The Importance of putting Black Back

39. Biology holds the Chemistry Together

40. Biological Tillage and Amendment

41. Virtuous Cycle Microbes and earth worms promote humic material
Humic material promotes chelation and absorption
Microbes release nutrients, chemicals and hormone stimulants to promote plant health
Stimulated plants are the source of new generations of organic materials, earth worms and microbial populations

42. A Virtuous Cycle When Life Begets Life Fertile Soil is the Dividend
Photosynthesis produces plant food
Plant food feeds fungal soil web
Soil web feeds the soil and bines it together so it is not lost
Clay is bound to organic matter through cationic mortar Calcium
Persistent dark fertile soil yields
Provision for plant nutrition
Holds and supplies scarce water and nutrients
Protects plants in stress environments
Protects the Environment
Improves economy and energy efficiency
Tisdale and Oades how soil binds/holds 1981

43. Lime, Residue, Amendment work with biology to improve Soil
Plant Residue Manure Compost
Lime
Earthworms
Castings
Soil Aggregation
Increased Porosity
Drainage and Aeration
Root Exudate
Soil Aggregation
Improved Structure
Lower Bulk Density

44. Improved Soil Road Map Test the soil completely
Get the Acidity (pH) right
Optimize Soil Organic Matter (SOM)
Establish a SOM goal
Create SOM tool box
Devise SOM strategy
Test, re-test, monitor and adapt methods
Use Foliar Analysis to complement soil tests
Look for positive biological changes from habitat development
Test the soil completely
Adjust the pH with lime or sulfur
Adjust Macro and Micro nutrient deficiency
Remove physical plow pans
Eliminate mineral pesticide toxicity

45. Thank You for your kind Attention
Any Questions?
Comments?