A pot experiment with an acid sulfate soil from Kimhae was carried out to find out the cause of toxicity in rice plant. The effect of liming on changes in pH, Eh, Al, and $Fe^{2+}$ in soil and leachate was examined at two-week interval during the grow...
A pot experiment with an acid sulfate soil from Kimhae was carried out to find out the cause of toxicity in rice plant. The effect of liming on changes in pH, Eh, Al, and $Fe^{2+}$ in soil and leachate was examined at two-week interval during the growth of rice. Also, total $P_2O_5$, $SiO_2$, Fe and Al contents in plants at harvesting stage were determined. In the early stage, the rice plant in the check soil showed the same healthy growth as did in limed soil even at high Al in soil and leachate. Around panicle forming stage, reddish brown mottlings suddenly infested all over the plants when accompanied with strong reduction, and afterward growth was severely retarded, and finally caused the significant difference in yield. During the strong reduction, significant amount of sulfide was formed only in check soils, but no free $H_2S$ was detected. Appreciable Al was still present in soil and leachate, and $Fe^{2+}$ in check soil was lower than that in limed soil, but $Fe^{2+}$ in leachate was slightly higher. Limed soils were more reduced and produced more $Fe^{2+}$ due to increased microorganism activity in the neutral pH. In the leachate, the check showed slightly higher $Fe^{2+}$ concentration but considerably higher than limed one at later stage. Appreciable amount of Al was detected only in check soil and leachate from transplanting to panicle formation stage. Plant tissues at harvesting stage contained very low P regardless of liming. Uptake of Si was markedly increased by liming. Contents of Fe an Al was markedly higher in check than limed one, but difference in Fe content was more drastic possibly due to more Fe uptake in presence of markedly higher $Fe^{2+}$ in soil and leachate at later growing stage. In conclusion toxic symptom in this acid sulfate soil seems to be primarily due to Al when accompanied with low pH and strong reduction. But association with $Fe^{2+}$ toxicity is not completely excluded. In order to differentiate the effect of $Fe^{2+}$ from that of Al more detailed plant analysis at different stage is required.