Techniques to improve acidic soils. [Photo/news.hzau.edu.cn]

Nearly one-third of the world's arable land faces the threat of soil acidification, a problem particularly acute in major agricultural regions like the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River in China. Traditional lime application methods are often costly and disrupt microbial communities, underscoring the urgent need for multidisciplinary solutions.

On Oct 30, Professor Ding Guangda's team at Huazhong Agricultural University (HZAU), in collaboration with Surya Kant's team at La Trobe University, Australia, published a major review in the top international journal Trends in Plant Science, titled "Acidic soils: sustainable mitigation technologies". The paper systematically outlines the risks of acidic soils and proposes crucial, sustainable remediation strategies for safeguarding global food security.

The research advocates for a synergistic "Traditional Methods + Modern Technology" approach, utilizing cross-disciplinary tools to tackle acidification challenges.

Precision agriculture for soil management: Utilizing digital soil mapping and real-time sensors for site-specific pH and nutrient monitoring allows farmers to apply lime and fertilizer on demand, reducing environmental impact and costs.

Gene editing for acid tolerance: Employing molecular marker selection and gene editing to accelerate the breeding of acid-tolerant crops, improving their adaptability to harsh soil conditions.

Nanomaterials as root protection: For severely acidic soils, the development of nanomaterials (like silica nanoparticles) can create a buffer layer around roots, neutralizing acidity, blocking toxic metal ions, and promoting nutrient absorption.

Microbial inoculation for soil health: Introducing specialized beneficial microbial agents to acidic soils helps rebuild the microbial community, secretes organic acids to regulate pH, and enhances soil fertility.