Optimizing soil management boosts citrus growth and fights soil acidification.
Reducing aluminum in acidic soil is crucial for improving root growth in citrus orchards. By studying pomelo orchards in Southeast China, researchers found that soil acidification has worsened over the years, leading to high levels of aluminum toxicity in roots. They tested different fertilization and liming methods and discovered that optimizing nutrient application and adding lime significantly reduced aluminum levels in the soil and roots. This resulted in increased root activity, length, tips, and surface area, ultimately improving citrus production in acidic soil.