Fate of Citric Acid Addition on Mineral Elements Availability in Calcareous Soils of Jordan Valley

Abstract

The variation in physical and chemical properties of calcareous soils in Jordan valley has been changed dramatically due to use large amount of fertilizers in regular manner. Addition of organic acid such as citric acid (CA), can greatly change the pH which can affects plant growth and production, the weakly ionized organic acid present in the calcareous soil mostly in the form of organic matter, can play major rule in soils to raise the availability of mineral nutrients that are essential for crops, by lowering soil density, reducing soil salinity and the effects of suspended particles in soil which may hinder plant growth. The reduction in the pH of the soil enhance the availability of nutrients such as Fe, Cu, Zn, ions, by converting the metallic insoluble state to ionic form, and thus nutrients are easily available for plants intake, the salinity of the soil did not change by increasing the citric acid concentration, while the pH of the soil decreases. Data are presented to show the effects of citric acid (CA) concentration, ionic concentration of iron, copper, Zinc and manganese and the decrease in soil PH and soil density.