Effects of alkaline ameliorator additions on the acidic buffering abilities of aluminum-rich alfisols

Lime and coal flying ash applications could mitigate pollution from acid deposition and improve the buffering ability of two acidic soils sampled from Zhejiang Province. The results showed that soil alkalinity and acidified buffering capacities (QpHs ) were significantly increased, especially for liming treatment; whereas, the amounts of SO24- adsorbed by treated soils were decreased to some degrees because net negative charges of soil oxide colloidal surfaces were increased with the decrease in soil acidity, although the soil fixation abilities for adsorbed SO24- were not reduced. These facts indicated that after the alkaline ameliorators were applied, the positive and adverse effects resulted from sulfate-type acid deposition were simultaneously existed in these soil treatments.