Aluminum Soil Chemistry: Influence on Soil Health and Forest Ecosystem Productivity

Abstract

Soil aluminum phytotoxicity has been a major research area since the inception of modern soil science. Acid soils, which typically manifest plant aluminum toxicity, are frequently dedicated to food production, thus yield and quality reductions influence food security. This manuscript reviews our modern understanding of 1) soil aluminum hydrolysis and polymerization, 2) aluminum complexation with inorganic and organic anions, 3) aluminum interference with vital plant physiological processes, 4) aluminum and forest ecosystem productivity, and 5) demonstrates the software simulation of aluminum reactivity and its role in predicting soil behavior. The manuscript also provides a perspective for future soil-aluminum research critical to maintaining food security and food quality.