Liming to reclaim acid-sulfate soils
Acid-sulfate soils contain iron pyrite, (iron sulfide) which is
oxidised to sulfuric acid if the soils are exposed to air3
as per
the following reaction2
:
FeS2
+ 3.75 O2
+ 3.5 H2
O = Fe(OH)3
+ 2SO4
2- + H+
Drainage from acid sulfate soils can cause extremely low pH
in ponds outside the tolerable range of most species3
. Acid
sulfate soils within a pond or its watershed must therefore be
treated if the pond is to be used for production. However, large
amounts of lime are typically required and the technique may
not be economically feasible unless used in conjunction with
other methods2