Characterization of the acidity of soils under different land use patterns in Nagaland

An experiment was conducted to characterise the acidity component in seventeen soils under different land use patterns in Nagaland state. The physico-chemical properties such as pH, organic carbon, CEC, exchangeable Ca2+, exchangeable Mg2+, and texture were studied. The acidity components like, exchangeable Al3+, exchangeable acidity, pH-dependent acidity and extractable acidity of soils were also determined. Significant correlation was found between acidity component, and physico-chemical properties of soils. Each form of acidity viz., exchangeable acidity, extractable acidity, non-exchangeable acidity and pH-dependent acidity had contributed to total acidity pool in varying proportions. The pH-dependent acidity was the dominant form of acidity and its contribution towards total acidity was more than 75%, which was followed by extractable acidity. The mean value of total potential acidity was quite high, resulting in severe acidity problem in these soils. Liming is essential in overcoming such problems and increasing productivity.