Researchers at the Qiyang Experimental Station of the Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning (IARRP), part of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), have made significant progress in understanding the effects of inorganic amendments on soil organic carbon (SOC) in acidic cropland. 

Their research, published in International Soil and Water Conservation Research, reveals that inorganic amendments such as lime, gypsum, and calcium-based conditioners not only ameliorate soil acidification and boost crop productivity but also enhance soil carbon sequestration globally.

This study conducted a meta-analysis of 269 independent field experiments worldwide, covering 6,034 paired observations, and found that the application of inorganic amendments significantly increased soil organic carbon by an average of 2.8% and crop yield by 14.6%. The magnitude of SOC improvement was influenced by factors such as crop types, duration and dosage of amendment application, initial SOC content, and aridity index. 

Crop rotation and composite amendment are critical for enhancing organic carbon levels. Applying inorganic amendments to chemically fertilized soil is more effective at elevating SOC than when applied to organically fertilized soil. A positive correlation was also observed between the responses of SOC and crop yield, suggesting that enhancing soil carbon storage contributes to higher agricultural productivity. These findings provide valuable theoretical and practical guidance for optimizing acidic soil management strategies and enhancing carbon sequestration in cropland worldwide. 

The paper's first author is Associate Professor Han Tianfu from the College of Agriculture, Zhengzhou University, and the corresponding author is Professor Zhang Huimin from IARRP, CAAS. The study was supported by the State Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Arid and Semi-Arid Farmland, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and other related programs.

Link to the paper: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iswcr.2025.09.009