Ameliorative Effect of Calcium Poly(aspartic Acid) (Pasp-Ca) and Calcium Poly-Γ-glutamic Acid (Γ-Pga-ca) on Soil Acidity in Different Horizons.

Soil acidification is a worldwide eco-environmental problem detrimental to plant growth and threatening food security. In this study, calcium poly(aspartic acid) (PASP-Ca) and calcium poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA-Ca) were obtained through cation exchange and used to mitigate soil acidity owing to high solubility and complexing capability. Three rates at 6.7, 13.4, and 20.1 g kg−1, denoted as PASP-Ca1, PASP-Ca2, and PASP-Ca3, and γ-PGA-Ca (7.4 g kg−1) were surface-applied and compared with conventional lime (CaCO3, 2.5 g kg−1) along with control in two soil layers (top soil 0–10 cm, subsoil 10–20 cm). After leaching, various soil properties and aluminum fractions were measured to assess their ameliorative performance and mechanisms. Although lime achieved the highest soil pH (6.91) in the topsoil followed by PASP-Ca and γ-PGA-Ca (pH: 5.57–6.33), it had less effect on subsoil increase (5.3) vs. PASP-Ca and γ-PGA-Ca (pH: 5.44–5.74). Surface-applied PASP-Ca demonstrated efficiency in elevating soil pH and reducing exchangeable acidity, mainly as exchangeable Al3+, whereas γ-PGA-Ca addition superiorly improved soil pH buffering capacity (pHBC). Moreover, PASP-Ca and γ-PGA-Ca addition improved organic carbon by 34.4–44.9