The Importance of Sustainable Management of Acid Soils in the Humid Tropics Under Climate Change and the Future Research Directions

Abstract

Oxisols, ultisols, and acid sulfate soils are the three common acid soils in the humid tropics. These soils are a concern agriculturally and environmentally because of acidity, cationic toxicity, and low nutrient availability, and there is a need to manage them. This review has synthesized relevant research from the past 20 years and establishes how acid soils were formed, their causes of acidity, and their impacts. Sustainable practices such as protecting the natural forest, using organic matter, and alternative soil nutrient sources to manage acid soil’s acidity, toxicity, and low nutrients are covered. Research is needed to improve agricultural productivity in the farms and protect the various ecological services provided to humanity in the general environment in the light of climate change. These research needs were synthesized and presented as future research directions.