Chemicals Used in Agriculture and Their Harmful Impact on Soil
3.1 Ammonium Sulfate
(NH4)2SO4 contain 24% sulfur. In the soil, reacts with water to produce sulfuric acid
(H2SO4). Sulfuric acid has a pH of less than 1 and it is extremely toxic and kills organisms [8].
Hydrogen ions released from the acid replace alkaline elements on the cation exchange sites,
depleting the soil of nutrients [9, 10]. The free oxygen produced in this reaction oxidizes the
organic matter of the soil and causes a low level "combustion" (burning) of the organic matter.
This is a purely chemical reaction which depletes the organic matter [11]. In calcareous soils
(soil with excess calcium) the sulfuric acid reacts with calcium carbonate (CaCO3) to form
gypsum (CaSO4) [12], Gypsum is a salt and attracts water to itself and away from soil
organisms and plant roots [13]. In anaerobic conditions gypsum and water form hydrogen
sulfide (H2S), which is a toxic gas. So Gypsum is banned from landfills [14].