A farmer has been using excessive quantities of chemical fertilizer in fields for a number of years. The crop yield began to reduce in spite of using chemical fertilizers. Which of the following are correct options?
A. The soil has become more acidic
B. The soil has become more alkaline
C. The yield can be improved by adding slaked lime to the soil
D. The yield can be improved by adding some organic matter
E. The yield can be improved by adding common salt
A and C
The soil has become more acidic and the yield can be improved by adding slaked lime to the soil. Usually, lime is calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide, but the term is also used to describe a wide range of calcium-containing compounds. Agricultural lime is usually calcium carbonate or limestone. All of these soil conditioners neutralize acids and make the soil less acidic.