Year: 2025 | Month: December | Volume 12 | Issue 2

Exchangeable Acidity Management with Integrated Amendments to Enhance Potato (Solanum tuberosum) Productivity and Nutrient Use Efficiency in Acidic Soils

Emmanuel R. Mwakidoshi Catherine Muui Esther M. Muindi Sagar Maitra and Harun . Gitari
DOI:10.30954/2347-9655.02.2025.1

Abstract:

Potato cultivation is severely hampered by acidic soils, particularly in the Kenyan highlands, where crop growth, yield, and nutrient availability are all impacted. With an emphasis on combining organic and inorganic amendments, this paper looks at how soil additions might improve potato yield and reduce soil acidity. Anthropogenic and natural factors are the main determinants of soil acidity, which is common in the highlands of Kenya. The pH of soil has significantly decreased as a result of the acidic parent material, which is derived from volcanic rocks, as well as human-induced behaviors like constant cultivation and an over-reliance on inorganic fertilizers. The presence of hazardous acidic cations (H? and Al³?) causes exchangeable acidity, which hinders potato root growth and nutrient uptake and lowers crop output. Although a number of amendments, including mineral fertilizers, lime, and organic manure, have demonstrated promise in reducing soil acidity and enhancing soil fertility, little is known about how these amendments work together to affect exchangeable acidity and how that affects potato production. Given that soil acidity changes at different depths and influences nutrient availability, root penetration, and water infiltration, this review emphasizes the need for a greater understanding of soil profile characteristics. Although they provide temporary advantages, traditional supplements like lime efficiently neutralize the pH of soil. Compost, biochar, and farmyard manure are examples of organic amendments that enhance soil structure, water retention, and nutrient cycling, all of which promote long-term soil health. Potato yield has been demonstrated to rise when organic and inorganic additions work in concert to promote soil fertility and nutrient uptake. More focused treatments, including deep liming and subsurface amelioration, can be guided by accurate profiling, improving crop yields and nutrient usage efficiency (NUE). Furthermore, sustainable additives like biochar are becoming more well-known due to their capacity to raise soil pH and sequester carbon. These strategies have potential, but there are still issues with high amendment costs, restricted access to soil testing, and a lack of farmer understanding. In order to support the adoption of sustainable soil management practices for increased potato productivity in acidic soils, this review emphasizes the need for more research into integrated amendment strategies, the creation of affordable and environmentally friendly amendments, and better extension services. Notwithstanding the difficulties, maintaining soil acidity in potato farming appears to have a bright future thanks to the combination of organic and inorganic amendments, improvements in precision agriculture, and simulation models. The purpose of this review is to fill in the information gap about how these changes can boost potato yield and manage exchangeable acidity, which would ultimately increase regional food security.

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