Soil acidification is a big problem worldwide. The pH buffering capacity of soil affects how fast it gets acidic and is influenced by land use and soil type. In South China, forest soils have higher pH buffering capacity than agricultural soils. Acid sulphate soil has the highest buffering capacity, while lateritic red soil has the lowest. In agricultural fields, soil buffering capacity is linked to cation exchange capacity and soil organic carbon. In forest fields, it is related to soil organic carbon and exchangeable aluminum. Different land uses and soil types affect soil pH buffering capacity through complex processes.