Agricultural soil’s properties in A Luoi district, Thua Thien Hue province

Abstract

Soil properties are strongly controlled by soil-forming factors and are one of the essential factors influencing plant growth. This paper aimed to investigate soil properties as a basis for arranging crops and planning specialized agricultural production areas. Seventy-five soil samples were collected to analyze the chemical, physical and mineralogical properties. The results show that most samples are clay silt or silt, with a density above 2.7 g·cm^–3. The soil is acidic to slightly acidic, with a pH ranging from 4.25 to 5.66. The total organic carbon and total nitrogen are average to poor; the total phosphorus is average to moderate; the potassium content is poor to rich; the Al³⁺ and H⁺ ions are exceptionally high. The soil consists of primarily kaolinite, mica, and vermiculite. The standard deviation of the values ranges from ±0.01 to ±4.56 (a = 0.05). According to FAO, the soil characteristics in A Luoi district are moderate for crop growth; therefore, it is necessary to improve the soil quality.