Articles | Volume 11, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-11-899-2025
https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-11-899-2025
Original research article
 | 
30 Oct 2025
Original research article |  | 30 Oct 2025

Organic-matter-mediated leaching of alkalinity in limed acid soils is affected by dissolved organic carbon adsorption and soil structure

Hannah Van Ryckel, Lynn Van Aelst, Toon van Dael, and Erik Smolders

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Cited articles

Amery, F., Degryse, F., Van Moorleghem, C., Duyck, M., and Smolders, E.: The dissociation kinetics of Cu-dissolved organic matter complexes from soil and soil amendments, Anal. Chim. Acta, 670, 24–32, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aca.2010.04.047, 2010. 
Atkinson, J. A., Hawkesford, M. J., Whalley, W. R., Zhou, H., and Mooney, S. J.: Soil strength influences wheat root interactions with soil macropores, Plant Cell Environ., 43, 235–245, https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.13659, 2020. 
Azam, G. and Gazey, C.: Slow movement of alkali from surface-applied lime warrants the introduction of strategic tillage for rapid amelioration of subsurface acidity in south-western Australia, Soil Res., 59, 97–106, https://doi.org/10.1071/SR19329, 2020. 
Bergen, B., Moens, C., De Winter, A., Ricou, F., and Smolders, E.: Colloids facilitate cadmium and uranium transport in an undisturbed soil: A comparison of soil solution isolation methods, Sci. Total Environ., 890, 164419, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164419, 2023. 
Beven, K. and Germann, P.: Macropores and water flow in soils, Water Resour. Res., 18, 1311–1325, https://doi.org/10.1029/WR018i005p01311, 1982. 
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Short summary
Soil acidity below the plow layer harms crops and is difficult to correct with surface lime applications. Adding organic matter may help lime move deeper, but its effectiveness remains uncertain. We set up column leaching experiments to identify the mechanisms of subsurface liming. We found that combining lime with organic amendments can improve deeper soil conditions, but only in soils that do not strongly retain organic carbon. These insights can help develop better soil management strategies.
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