LARGE-SCALE FARMING BENEFITS SOIL ACIDIFICATION ALLEVIATION THROUGH IMPROVED FIELD MANAGEMENT IN BANANA PLANTATIONS

● Large farms had the highest average yield and the least yield variation. ● Greater plant density and optimized nutrient input occurred on large farms. ● Substituting organic N for mineral fertilizers prevented soil acidification. ● Large-scale farming had lower soil acidification but higher risk of P losses. ● Large-scale farming benefits sustainable soil management and banana production. Large-scale farming by agricultural land transfers has been increasingly promoted in recent years, but the possible impacts on crop production, especially cash crops, and soil acidification remain unclear. This study obtained data for 110 banana plantations in Long'an County, China, and categorized them into small (< 0.67 ha), medium (0.67−6.7 ha), and large (> 6.7 ha) to determine banana cultivation, nutrient management, and soil acidification rates on farms of the three sizes. Banana yield per unit area significantly increased with increased farm size, and large farms had the highest average yield (48.9 t·ha −1) with the least variation. Despite a significant increase in organic fertilizer and base cation inputs, nitrogen (N) surplus did not differ significantly with increasing farm size. With large farms, actual soil acidification rate was significantly lower by 19.1 to 24.0 keq·ha −1·yr −1; however, potential soil acidification rate increased with increased overuse of phosphorus. Overall, larger banana plantations used fewer mineral N fertilizers reducing the rate of soil acidification and increasing the H + buffering provided by organic fertilizers. It is concluded that larger farms deliver the dual benefits of higher, less variable banana yield and mitigation of soil acidification by substituting organic N for mineral N fertilizers, supporting sustainable soil management and food production.