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China's cropland acidification has ceased—but recovery is slow

A new study published in Nature Geoscience reveals that China's cropland soils have stabilized in pH levels since 2013, linked to agricultural policy reforms. However, recovery has been slow and uneven across different types of farmland, with paddy fields showing signs of improvement but dryland soils remaining acidic.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalNature Geoscience·TypeObservational study·DateOct 27, 2025

Barley’s root defense: The secret to surviving acidic, aluminum-rich soils

A new study reveals the first detailed structure of HvAACT1, a barley root protein that enables plants to tolerate aluminum-rich acidic soils. This breakthrough provides the structural basis for citrate efflux in plants and has implications for designing crops that can withstand difficult conditions.

SourceOkayama University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeImaging analysis·DateSep 18, 2025

New inexpensive method to detect lime in soil

University of Adelaide scientists developed a new simple and inexpensive method to detect low concentrations of agricultural lime in soils. The Mid Infrared spectroscopy technique allows for accurate detection of very small amounts of lime, enabling farmers to manage their soils more effectively.

SourceUniversity of Adelaide·JournalGeoderma·DateDec 13, 2021

Work on barren soil may bear fruit

Australian and Chinese researchers have made significant progress in determining the causes of soil acidification. By examining a massive transect of land in China, they found different drivers of soil acidification processes in various types of soils.

SourceJames Cook University·JournalBiogeosciences·DateAug 18, 2015

Acid soils in Slovakia tell somber tale

A new study published in Nature Geoscience reveals the devastating impact of increased nitrogen deposition on Slovakian soil acidity, compromising plant fertility and surface water quality. Researchers warn that many soils are already susceptible to this process due to decades of human-influenced pollution.

SourceU.S. Geological Survey·JournalNature Geoscience·DateNov 17, 2008