The Potential Role of Humic Substances in the Amelioration of Saline Soils and Its Affecting Factors

The application of organic amendments and humic acids (HA) often ameliorates saline soils, but the mechanisms responsible for their positive action have never been fully clarified. HA from four different origins (Elliott soil—EHA, peat—PHA, leonardite—LHA and compost—CHA) and polyacrylic acid (PAA) were characterized by acid–base titrations and 1H-NMR spectroscopy and tested in laboratory experiments by measuring changes in electric conductivity (EC) and pH following micro-additions of Na2CO3 or NaCl. The effective salinity amelioration potential (SAPeff) of HA, which expresses the amount of Na2CO3 neutralized per unit weight of HA at a given pH, was calculated. PAA had the highest capacity of mitigation, corresponding to 49.9 mg Na2CO3 g−1, followed by LHA, EHA and PHA, whose SAPeff values were similar and only slightly lower, and with CHA having the lowest value (25.1 mg Na2CO3 g−1 HA). All substances failed to display any effect at constant pH when NaCl was the only salt present. The dissociation of acid groups, when HA become exposed to a more alkaline pH, produces an excess of negative charges that attracts more cations within the diffuse double layer. Because of the slower diffusion of HA and their tendency to aggregate at high ionic strengths, this action reduces the osmolarity of the soil solution and therefore mitigates salinity stress.