Context

Acidification may strip Indian soils of 3.3 billion tonnes of essential carbon, affecting crop growth, sequestration

About

• Over 30 per cent of cultivable land in India is said to carry acidic soil, impacting plant growth.
• Acidic soil also leads to loss of soil inorganic carbon
• Soils are turning acidic due to industrial activities and intense farming.
• Acidic soils affect crop growth and productivity by reducing the availability of plant nutrients.
• Soil acidity can be improved by adding lime or limestone (calcium carbonate) and similar compounds.