Characterizing Physical and Chemical Properties of Sandy Soil in Vietnamese Mekong Delta Province

Abstract

The study aimed to evaluate the physical and chemical properties of the sandy soil group in Vung Liem and Tra On districts, Vinh Long province, Vietnam. Soil quality parameters were bulk density, soil acidity, total organic matter (OM%), mechanical composition (sand, fined sand, limonite, clay), cation exchange capacity (CEC), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), readily digestible potassium (K 2 O), total sulfur (SO 4 2-), total soluble salts, density, pH H2O , electrical conductivity (EC), easily digestible phosphorus (P 2 O 5 ), exchangeable cations (K + , Na + , Mg 2+ , Ca 2+ , Al 3+ , Mn 2+ , Zn), soil buffering capacity, buffered (BaCl 2 buffered at pH 8.2 and unbuffered CEC, saturated extracted cations (K + , Na + , Mg 2+ , Ca 2+ ), dissolved aluminum (Al 3+ ) and soil structural stability. The analysis results showed that the sandy soil in the study area has low natural fertility due to light mechanical composition, high percentage of sand; organic matter and nutrients content (total N, total K, P 2 O 5 ), CEC, cations and trace elements were from low to moderate. In addition, the soil's bulk density and density were relatively high; the porosity, buffering capacity and soil structure strength were low. However, the total P content in the sandy soil was very rich. The research results provide important scientific information of sandy soil properties for community's development of essential crops.