Principles underlying the practice of determining lime requirements of acid soils by use of buffer methods

Abstract

A buffer is generally a mixture of a weak acid and a salt of the same weak acid. Hence it can neutralize both acids and bases, and thus resists marked changes in pH of a system. Yet systematic change in pH of a buffer caused by addition of an acidic substance can be used to indicate the total acidity represented by the change in buffer pH. Since acid soil is itself a buffer, when it is added to a buffer mixture for the purpose of measuring its acidity or lime requirement (LR), the resulting double‐buffer suspension (soil‐buffer) is a relatively complex system. Much of the complication in interpreting the changes in buffer pH brought about by mixing soil and buffer stems from the facts: i) that much of the acidity is pH‐dependent, and ii) that quick‐test methodology involves reaction of only a fraction of the total soil acidity with the buffer. Marked change in relative amounts of H ions dissociating from the soil‐SMP‐buffer system at soil‐buffer pH 6.9 and above accounts for relatively wide variations between buffer‐indicated and CaCO₃ incubation‐measured LR of low LR soils. Similarly, decreased reactivity of H⁺ in high organic matter soils and increased reactivity of H in acid‐leached soils cause errors in buffer‐indicated LR. Awareness of these principles helps avoid pitfalls of existing buffer methods, and has led to incorporation of the double‐buffer feature for improving the SMP method.     

Buffer Ph methods for estimation of lime requirement of tropical acid soils

Abstract

Lime requirements (LR) of 26 agricultural acid soils were estimated using the following buffer methods: Shoemaker‐McLean‐Pratt (SMP) single buffer (SMP‐SB), SMP double buffer (SMP‐DB), Mehlich buffer method for crops with high LR (MEHLICH I), and Mehlich buffer methods for crops with low LR (MEHLICH II). The LR were determined to three pH targets (6.5, 6.0 and 5.5). The LR values were then evaluated through regression analysis using LR values obtained by the Ca(OH)₂ titration (for the 6.5 pH target) and moist CaCO₃‐incubation (for the 6.0 and 5.5 pH targets) as reference methods. All the buffer methods were well correlated with the reference methods but the SMP‐DB gave the best results for both high and low LR soils, and was particularly impressive at the lowest pH target.     

A rapid procedure to calculate lime requirements based on single titration with base

The lime requirement (LR) in 39 surface acid soil samples (0–30 cm) from western Greece was calculated using a single-addition titration of successive 3-mL 0.022 M calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH)₂]. Soil pH measurements and titrations were performed in soil/water (1:2) and in a soil/0.01 M CaCl₂ (1:2) suspension while being stirred. The results were referred to as ‘pH data group I’ and ‘pH data group II’, respectively. In each ‘pH data group’, the samples were separated into ‘pH data subgroups’, according to the total volume (mL) of 0.022 M Ca(OH)₂ added to increase the initial pH (pH_a) to a target value of 6.5 (pH_t). The fitted linear regression equation pH_t = b × volume + pH_a was used for each ‘pH data group’ to determine the slope b. The b-weighted mean for each ‘pH data group’ was calculated. The LR was then calculated as follows: Mg CaCO₃ ha^?1 = 0.495 (pH_t – pH_a)/b, where b is the average weighted mean from the two ‘pH data groups’ and is equal to 0.227. The validity of the above equation was confirmed after incubation with Ca(OH)₂ for 72 h. This procedure is simple and gives a rapid and accurate estimation of LR with respect to the environment.     

A comparison of lime requirements by five methods on grassland mineral soils in Ireland

Liming is necessary for good nutrient availability and crop growth. Lime use in Ireland is now the lowest in half a century. A recent study shows that grassland mineral soils in Ireland has a mean pH of 5.4 and mean lime requirement (LR) of 9.3 t/ha ground limestone. There have been a number of studies in the USA to re-evaluate LR, but little activity in the European Union (EU) in recent years. The primary aim of our research was to compare five methods for estimating LR, which included the Shoemaker–McLean–Pratt (SMP) buffer method currently used in Ireland (IRL), the Sikora buffer method used at the University of Kentucky (UKY), Ca(OH)₂ titration used at University of Georgia (UGA), the modified Mehlich buffer method used at Penn State University (PSU) and the UK RothLime model, using 57 representative grassland mineral soils from Ireland with a pH range from 4.8 to 6.6. The secondary aim was to explore an alternative to the SMP buffer that does not involve the use of toxic chemicals. The results show good agreement between the pH measured by the Irish and three US laboratories and reasonably good agreement in LR estimated by five methods. The main conclusions are: (1) a significant proportion of grassland on mineral soils in Ireland would benefit from liming to increase soil pH, (2) on average, LRs as recommended in Ireland are higher than those advised elsewhere , ( 3) the target pH in Ireland is high compared with that in other countries and should be reduced from pH 6.5 to 6.2, (4) the SMP buffer method should be replaced by a suitable alternative and, in principle, any of the four methods studied would be suitable, (5) to find the most suitable alternative for accurate LR advice it would be necessary to compare the different methods to the actual LR from incubation of representative soils with calcium hydroxide.     

New buffer pH method for rapid estimation of exchangeable acidity and lime requirement of soils

Abstract

A new buffer pH method (BpH) for the rapid estimation of unbuffered salt‐exchangeable acidity (ACe) and lime requirement (LR) has been developed. The buffer reagent, consisting of sodium glycerophosphate, acetic acid, trletlianolamine, ammonium chloride and barium chloride, was useful within the pH range 3.8 to 6.6. Delta values from BpH were converted into buffer pH acidity values (AC) and calibrated against ACe of 91 mineral soils and 100 acid Histosols. The correlation coefficients between AC and ACe were 0.966 and 0.956 for the mineral soils and Histosols, respectively. The corresponding regression equations in terms of meq/100 cm were ACe ‐ ‐0.54 + 0.96 AC and ACe = ‐7.4 + 1.6 AC for mineral soils and Histosols, respectively.

To predict lime requirement of mineral soils a curvilinear equation was required. The equation, LR in meq CaCO₃/100 cm³ = 0.1 (AC)² + AC, was tested successfully against rates of lime carried out under laboratory conditions and against crop response in the greenhouse. Field studies on acid Histosols with maize and soybeans showed optimum yield when the rate of lime added was approximately equivalent to ACe.     

石灰和聚丙烯酰胺处理的酸性土壤对烤烟生长及生理特性的影响

以K326烤烟品种为材料,在土培条件下研究了石灰和聚丙烯酰胺（PAM）处理的酸性土壤对烤烟生长及生理特性的影响。结果表明:石灰和PAM处理的酸性土壤,在PAM含量低时（0.1%）,烤烟生物量显著提高,光合速率（Pn）、蒸腾速率（Tr）、气孔导度（Gs）增高,根系活力增大,相对电导率和丙二醛（MDA）含量下降,但随PAM用量的增大,烤烟生长减缓。在酸性土壤中,烤烟叶片和根系的超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、过氧化物（POD）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）活性最低;在加入石灰的土壤中,烤烟叶片和根系的三种酶活性升高,同时加入石灰和PAM的土壤,在PAM含量低时,三种酶活性下降,但随着PAM含量增高（0.2%）,酶活性又开始上升。石灰和PAM处理的酸性土壤,土壤交换性H、交换性Al含量的改变是由石灰引起的,PAM的影响不显著;相反,石灰对土壤含水量、水势、比重、孔隙度的影响不显著,而PAM影响显著,低PAM含量时（0.1%）,土壤含水量增加,但随PAM用量加大,土壤比重、孔隙度进一步增大,土壤含水量则逐渐降低,土壤水势显著下降。因此推测,石灰显著降低了酸性土壤交换性H、交换性Al含量,适量PAM提高了土壤孔隙度,增加土壤含水量,从而促进烤烟生长;但是当PAM过量,会导致土壤水势下降,烤烟吸水困难,其生长减缓。     

Addition of lignin to lime materials for expedited pH increase and improved vertical mobility of lime in no‐till soils

Soil acidification caused by long‐term nitrogen (N) fertilizer applications has been a growing concern for dryland crop production in both tilled and no‐till soils in the Pacific Northwest (PNW). Many no‐till soils have stratified soil pH in the 5–10 cm depth due to repeated N fertilizer applications at this depth. In the PNW, the practice of liming to correct low soil pH is complicated due to lack of affordable lime sources and because the inherent difficulty in ameliorating stratified soil acidity in no‐till systems. An intact soil‐column incubation study was conducted to investigate whether mixing lime materials with lignin‐containing black liquor—a by‐product from the pulp industry—could elevate soil pH change in both conventional and no‐till systems and expedite vertical downward movement of lime in no‐till system. Results indicate that mixing lime with black liquor has the potential to not only elevate the increase in soil pH in both conventional till and no‐till systems, but also accelerate downward movement of lime to correct soil pH below the soil surface. Mixing agricultural lime or super fine micro lime with black liquor increased soil pH to a depth of 25–30 cm within 147 days after surface application to a no‐till soil.     

中国东南部红壤施用石灰和石膏后底土酸性的减缓

Application of lime or gypsum is a common agricultural practice to ameliorate soils with low pH which prohibits crop production. Its integrated effect on soil properties in a red soil derived from Quaternary red clay in Southeast China is discussed in this paper. Application of gypsum in the topsoil without leaching raised soil pH and promoted the production of soil NH₄, but lime addition had a contrary effect. Generally, application of lime and/or gypsum has little effect on soil electrical properties. Gypsum had a little effect on soil exchange complex and its effect went down to 30 cm in depth. The effect of lime reached only to 5 cm below its application layer. With leaching, Ca transferred from top soil to subsoil and decreased exchangeable Al in subsoil. Gypsum application led to a sharp decrease in soil exchangeable Mg but had no effect on K.     

A Modification to the Adams‐Evans Soil Buffer Determination Solution

Abstract

Many soil analysis labs routinely determine lime requirement of acidic soils using different buffer solutions for optimum plant growth. The Adams‐Evans lime determination solution was introduced more than 40 years ago and has been used by many soil analysis labs. Even though many buffer solutions have been developed since then, very little attention has been paid to address the toxic nature of chemicals involved in buffer solutions. The most commonly used buffer solutions, such as the Adams-Evans, Shoemaker‐McLean‐Pratt (SMP), Woodruff, and others, contain p‐nitrophenol, which is toxic to humans and the environment. Use of p‐nitrophenol requires prescribed containment and disposal procedures, that creates extra burden on soil analysis labs that provide their invaluable service at low cost. Replacing p‐nitrophenol with monobasic potassium phosphate (KH₂PO₄), which has similar buffering capacity but with no known toxicity, is beneficial to soil testing labs and the environment. The original Adams‐Evans buffer solution was compared with the modified Adams‐Evans buffer solution with soils of different pH, cation exchange capacity and lime requirement. The linear regression between the buffer pH values and lime recommendations made by Adams‐Evans and the modified Adams‐Evans solutions were highly significant. Thus, the modified Adams‐Evans buffer solution can be used without loss of established recommendation criteria as the original buffer solution.     

Lime requirement for agricultural soils: A review of the current and potential methods for routine use

Liming is one of the key agronomic practices to improve crop yields in acid soils because, among other things, it reduces aluminum toxicity and creates favorable conditions for crop growth. For an effective liming program, the methods to determine lime requirement should be as precise as possible. This paper reviews the existing lime requirement methods and discusses the potential of a new one suitable for routine use in the laboratory to test most agricultural soils. The most widely used lime requirement methods can be categorized into four groups: titration, incubation, buffer, and field methods. Other methods such as spectroscopy method or the use of empirical equations have also been adopted. Although some methods are highly reliable, they are not optimal for routine use because they are inconvenient during the laboratory procedures or cannot be validated for all conditions. Based on the linearity between soil pH and the added base in the pH range from 4.5–6.5 in most agricultural soils, a titration-based method on 1:1 soil:0.01 M CaCl₂ slurry of a single sample appears to be a promising candidate for routine use. In further studies, this generally applicable method should be evaluated to provide a better comparison to established methods for lime requirement determination.     

长白山地区不同植被下土壤酸度状况

The acidity regimes of representative soils on the north slope of the Changbai Mountains were examined through determinations of pH and pCa of the soil paste as well as in-situ determinations,For soils under broad-leaf forest or broad-leaf-Korean pine forest,the pH decreased from the litte to lower layers gradually until it did not change or decreased further slightly .For soils under coniferous of Erans birch forest,ther was a minimum in pH at a depth of 3-6 cm where the content of humus was high,The pCa increased gradually from the soil surface downward to a constant value.The lime potential(pH-0.5pCa) showed a similar trend as the pH in its distribution.For a given soil,the measured pH value of the thick paste,ranging from 4.5 to 5.5,was lower by about 0.5 units than the value determined by the conventional method with a water to soil ratio of 5:1 ,The pH determined in situ was even lower.It was found that there was a firly close relationship between soil acidity and the type of vegetation.The pH showed a trend of decreasing from soils under broda-leaf forest through broad-leaf-conifer mixed rorest and coniferos forest to Ermans birch forest,and the pCa showed an opposite trend in variation.     

Classification schemes for the acidity,base saturation,and acidification status of forest soils in Switzerland

Soil chemical parameters related to soil acidity were determined for 1450 soil samples taken from individual mineral soil horizons in 257 forest soils in Switzerland, 196 developed from carbonate‐containing and 61 from carbonate‐free parent material. The distribution of pH values and exchangeable base cations in corresponding pH ranges were related to the capacity and rate of buffer reactions in the soil. Based on this, five acidity classes for individual soil samples were defined. To describe and classify the status of soil acidity and base saturation (BS) of an entire soil body, the pH and the BS of the total fine earth in the soil were calculated from the pH and BS, respectively, of the individual soil horizons and the estimated volumetric content of fine earth. The status of soil acidification of soil profiles was assessed primarily using the total amount of exchangeable acidic cations in percent of the CEC of the fine earth in the entire soil profile. As a second factor, the gradient between the acidity class of the most acidic soil horizon and the estimated acidity class at the beginning of soil formation was used. The application of these classification schemes to our collection of soil profiles revealed the great influence played by the type of parent material. The acidification status of most soils on carbonate‐containing parent material was classified as very weak to weak, whereas soils on carbonate‐free parent material were found to be strongly to very strongly acidified. In terms of parent rock material, microclimate, and natural vegetation, the results of this study and the proposed classification schemes can be considered appropriate for large parts of Europe.     

Effect of a four-decade long application of fertilizers,farmyard manure and lime,on forms of soil acidity and their relationship with yield of wheat and maize in an acid Alfisol

The present investigation was undertaken in the on-going long-term fertilizer experiment initiated during 1972 at experimental farm of Department of Soil Science, Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur, India. Continuous application of fertilizers either alone or in combination with farmyard manure (FYM)/lime affected different forms of soil acidity (total acidity, total potential acidity, pH dependent acidity, extractable acidity, exchangeable acidity, and non-exchangeable acidity) significantly, in surface and sub-surface layers. Continuous cropping with the application of lime and optimal doses of fertilizers decreased different forms of soil acidity at all the depths, significantly. Highest productivity of wheat and maize was recorded in 100% (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) NPK + FYM, which was at par with 100% NPK + lime. Different forms of soil acidity were found to be negatively correlated with wheat and maize yield. Grain and straw/stover yield of wheat and maize showed the highest negative correlation values with non-exchangeable acidity.     

澳大利亚东部地区一些酸性硫酸盐土壤磷的特征

Forty-five acid sulfate topsoil samples (depth < 0.5 m) from 15 soil cores were collected from 11 locations along the New South Wales coast, Australia. There was an overall trend for the concentration of the HC1-extractable P to increase along with increasing amounts of organic C and the HCl-extractable trivalent metals in the topsoils of some less-disturbed acid sulfate soils (pH < 4.5). This suggests that inorganic P in these soils probably accumulated via biological cycling and was retained by complexation with trivalent metals or their oxides and hydroxides. While there was no clear correlation between pH and the water-extractable P, the concentration of the water-extractable P tended to increase with increasing amounts of the HCl-extractable P. This disagrees with some established models which suggest that the concentration of solution P in acid soils is independent of total P and decreases with increasing acidity. The high concentration of sulfate present in acid sulfate soils appeared to affect the chemical behavior of Pin these soil systems. Comparison was made between a less disturbed wetland acid sulfate soil and a more intensively disturbed sugarcane acid sulfate soil. The results show that reclamation of wetland acid sulfate soils for sugarcane production caused a significant decrease in the HCl-extractable P in the topsoil layer as a result of the reduced bio-cycling of phosphorus following sugarcane farming. Simulation experiment shows that addition of hydrated lime had no effects on the immobilization of retained P in an acid sulfate soil sample within a pH range 3.54.6. When the pH was raised to above 4.6, soluble P in the soil extracts had a tendency to increase with increasing pH until the 15th extraction (pH 5.13). This, in combination with the poor pH-soluble P relationship observed from the less-disturbed acid sulfate soils, suggests that soluble P was not clearly pH-dependent in acid sulfate soils with pH < 4.5.     

石灰用量对酸性土壤pH值及有效养分含量的影响

采用室内培养法,设置不施生石灰和生石灰用量0.3、0.9、1.8、2.4、4.8 g/kg,共6个用量梯度,研究不同生石灰用量对酸性土壤pH值动态变化、有效养分含量的影响及土壤pH值与有效养分含量之间的相关性。结果表明,生石灰的施入,可以显著提高土壤pH值,改善土壤酸度。培养到第90 d,生石灰用量4.8、2.4、1.8g/kg处理较对照分别提高了2.88、1.16和0.74个pH单位。施用生石灰对土壤全氮含量影响不大,但对土壤无机氮影响显著。生石灰用量在0~2.4 g/kg范围内,土壤硝态氮含量随生石灰用量的增加而显著增加,增幅为12.4%~146.8%,当生石灰用量2.4 g/kg时,土壤硝态氮含量显著降低。土壤铵态氮的变化趋势则刚好相反,随着生石灰用量的增加而减少;土壤有效磷含量随着生石灰用量的增加先升高后降低;对于土壤速效钾来说,当生石灰用量0.9 g/kg,其含量随着石灰用量的增加而显著降低,降幅为2.9%~21.7%。施用生石灰可以显著提高土壤有效Ca含量,且随生石灰用量的增加而显著增加,增幅为32.3%~543.0%。生石灰的施用显著降低了土壤有效Fe、Mn、Cu、Zn的含量,且当生石灰用量≥2.4 g/kg时,土壤有效Mn、Zn含量均已处于极其缺乏的状况。土壤pH值与土壤全氮、铵态氮、速效钾、有效Fe、Mn、Cu、Zn呈显著线性负相关,与有效Ca呈极显著线性正相关,与土壤硝态氮、有效磷和有效Mg则符合二次函数,各相关系数均达到极显著水平。土壤养分与土壤酸度有着较好的相关性,在施用石灰改良酸性土壤时,要特别注意其施用量及土壤有效Mn、Zn等微量元素的及时补充。     

缓冲液种类对土壤酸性磷酸酶活性的影响

土壤酸性磷酸酶影响土壤有机磷矿化。选择不同的缓冲液种类和不同p H值测定土壤酸性磷酸酶活性,可影响数据的可比性。为明确缓冲液及p H值对不同土壤磷酸酶活性的影响程度,选取p H值4～8的土壤样本,测定了在醋酸盐缓冲液、柠檬酸盐缓冲液和MUB缓冲液3种不同培养条件下酸性磷酸酶活性变化。结果表明,采用MUB缓冲液条件可获得较稳定的土样区分序列,且与缓冲液的p H值的变化无关。在醋酸盐缓冲液和柠檬酸盐缓冲液条件下,不同p H值范围的不同土样之间土壤酸性磷酸酶活性变异系数变化剧烈,而采用MUB缓冲液获得的变异系数较其他缓冲液大,且趋势平稳。综合考虑,进行土壤酸性磷酸酶活性测定,可优先选用MUB缓冲溶液。     

Comparing the effects of paper pulp and lime additions to acid tropical soils using batch experiments

Paper mill residuals may beneficially be used to improve the fertility of tropical acid soils. The effects of paper pulp on soil pH, exchangeable Al and soil solution composition of three acid tropical soils were compared with the effects of equivalent rates of lime in two batch experiments. Paper pulp was more effective than lime in increasing soil pH. However, both amendments were equally effective in decreasing exchangeable Al. Paper pulp and lime similarly influenced the composition of the soil solution by increasing soil solution pH, dissolved organic carbon, inorganic carbon, NO₃, SO₄, Ca and Mg. The supply of nitrate by the soil, however, was reduced in paper pulp treatments compared to lime treatments. Nitrate had a major role in controlling nutrient concentrations in the soil solution. Reduced NO₃ concentrations in paper pulp treated soils compared to limed soils could therefore result in lower nutrient availability and limited losses by leaching.     

Evaluation of available silicon content and its determining factors of agricultural soils in Japan

To evaluate the available silicon (Si) content in agricultural soils in Japan and to investigate the determining factors of this content, we collected 180 soil samples from the surface layer of paddies and upland fields in Japan and determined their available Si contents. A phosphate buffer (PB; 0.02 M, pH 6.9) or an acetate buffer (AB; 0.1 M, pH 4.0) was used to extract available Si from the soil samples, and the Si concentrations in the extracts were determined by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emissions spectroscopy (ICP-AES). The total Si content and selected physicochemical properties were also determined for the soil samples. The median values of the available Si contents by the PB and AB methods were 48.8 and 79.7 mg kg^?1 and corresponded to 0.017% and 0.027% of the total Si content, respectively. The overall data showed log-normal distributions. The available Si content of the upland soils was significantly higher than that of the paddy soils by both the PB (p < 0.01) and AB methods (p < 0.05). The available Si contents by the PB and AB methods had a significant positive correlation (p < 0.01) and they had significant negative correlation with the total Si content (p < 0.01). The values of the available Si contents by the PB and AB methods correlated positively with the pH, total carbon (C) content, and dithionite-citrate bicarbonate extractable iron (Fed) and aluminum (Ald), acid oxalate extractable iron (Feo) and aluminum (Alo), Fed-Feo and Alo+1/2Feo values (p < 0.01). A multi-regression analysis indicated that pH, amorphous minerals and crystalline iron (Fe) oxides were the dominant determining factors of available Si in the soils, and these three variables explained approximately two thirds of the variation of available Si content in agricultural soils in Japan. In terms of soil type, Terrestrial Regosols, Dark Red soils and Andosols had relatively high available Si contents, whereas Sand-dune Regosols, Red soils and Gray Lowland soils had relatively low contents. In terms of region, the soils in the Kanto and Okinawa regions had relatively high available Si contents and those in the Kinki, Shikoku and Chugoku regions had relatively low contents. In conclusion, the available Si content and its determining factors for agricultural soils in Japan were quantitatively elucidated, and this will contribute to the establishment of rational soil management?—including the application of silicate materials, taking into account the Si-supplying power of the relevant soils—for sustainable and productive agriculture in Japan.     

石灰用量对污染红壤和黄泥土中有效态铜锌含量的影响

采用外源加入重金属铜锌硝酸盐的方法,制成铜、锌单一及复合污染的三级污染红壤和黄泥土（Cu 200mg/kg、Zn 400 mg/kg）,稳定一个月,施入低（0.50 g/kg）、中（1.50 g/kg）和高（2.50 g/kg）3种不同用量的石灰,稳定两个月后测定土壤有效态铜、锌含量和pH值,以阐明石灰用量对不同污染土壤中重金属有效态含量的影响。结果表明,随石灰用量的增加,复合污染红壤中有效态铜含量较对照依次降低31%、76%和87%;而石灰用量对黄泥土中有效态铜影响的差异不显著;两种土壤中有效态锌含量均随石灰用量的增加而显著减少;复合污染较单一污染相比,有效态铜及有效态锌的含量差异不显著。在复合污染下,低、中量石灰使黄泥土中有效态铜含量较红壤减少89%和63%,有效态锌减少27%和65%。但加入高量石灰,两种土壤差异不显著。石灰能够降低单一与复合污染铜、锌有效态的含量,但其效果因土壤类型而异,在红壤上选择施用高量石灰而在黄泥土上则适宜施用低中量石灰,以取得最佳的修复效果和效益。     

施用碱稳定固体减轻酸性土壤的酸度和铝毒

A pot experiment was catried out to study alleviation of soil acidity and Al toxicity by applying analkaline-stabilised sewage sludge product (biosolids) to an acid clay sandy loam (pH 5.7) and a strongly acidsandy loam (pH 4.5). Barley (Hondeum vulgare L. cv. Forrester) was used as a test crop and was grownin the sewage sludge-amended (33.5 t sludge DM ha^-1) and unamended soils. The results showed that thealka1ine biosloids increased soil pH from 5.7 to 6.9 for the clay sandy loam and from 4.5 to 6.0 for the sandyloam. The sludge product decreased KCl-extractable Al from 0.1 to 0.0 cmol kg^-1 for the former soil and from 4.0 to 0.1 cmol kg^-1 for the latter soil. As a result, barley plants grew much better and grain yield increased greatly in the amended treatments compared with the unamended controls. These observations indicate that alkaline-stabilised biosolids can be used as a liming material for remedying Al phytotoxicity instrongly acid soils by increasing soil pH and lowering Al bioavailability.