The
nutrient deficiency component integrated most chemical variables that significantly influenced maize
growth and revealed as the only soil quality statistically correlated to biomass production function.
Organic matter and soil texture despite their key role in several soil and ecosystem functions showed
no direct effect on biomass production. The last component that reflected HCl-P indicated that this
P pool was less bioavailable. In summary, this study indicates that efficient management of acid soils
needs to alleviate their P deficiency, low levels of basic cations, and aluminum toxicity.