Leaching of soil calcium, magnesium, and potassium in irrigated orchard lysimeters
The effects of N fertilizer and grass cover vs. clean cultivation on Ca, Mg, and K leaching were measured and the changes in concentrations of these cations in soil and leaf and fruit tissue of McIntosh apple trees (Malus domestica Borkh were determined. Twelve lysimeters, each containing an Osoyoos sandy loam soil and a single McIntosh apple tree, have been monitored for Ca, Mg, and K concentration of soil, drainage water, and tree leaves and fruit from 1976 to 1980. Lysimeter treatments included factorial combinations of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) and clean cultivation and two N fertilization rates (162 (N1) and 324 kg N ha/sup -1/ year/sup -1/ (N2) as NH/sub 4/NO/sub 3/). Clean cultivation had the greatest effect on cation leaching with significantly higher Ca and Mg concentrations and higher Ca, Mg, and K losses frequently measured in drainage from these plots. By 1981, exchangeable Ca, Mg, and soil pH at the 0- to 0.10-m soil depth in the cultivated plots had declined by 4.3 mmol kg/sup -1/, 2.2 mmol kg/sup -1/, and 0.3 units, respectively, relative to the grass plots. Drainage from N2 relative to N1 lysimeters had a significantly higher Mg concentration for 4 years but significantly higher Ca and Mg loss rates in only 1 year because of lack of differences in drainage volumes between N2 and N1 plots. For all lysimeters Ca and Mg leached more rapidly than K. Annual losses over all treatments, 1976 through 1980, average 387 kg Ca ha/sup -1/, 118 kg Mg ha/sup -1/, and 44 kg K ha/sup -1/. Such leaching would eventually lead to enrichment of local soils with K relative to Mg and Ca. This is undesirable since McIntosh trees are susceptible to Mg deficiency and K:Ca antagonism. Therefore, periodic additions of Ca and Mg as through dolomitic liming should be considered for these orchards. Also, K fertilization accelerates existing trends to relative enrichment of these soils with K. 21 references, 5 tables.
- Research Organization:
- Agriculture Canada, Summerland, British Columbia
- OSTI ID:
- 6723519
- Journal Information:
- Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.; (United States), Vol. 47
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
CALCIUM
LEACHING
CULTIVATION TECHNIQUES
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
FRUIT TREES
MAGNESIUM
POTASSIUM
SOILS
ACIDIFICATION
AGRICULTURE
CATIONS
FERTILIZATION
LEAVES
PH VALUE
SOIL CHEMISTRY
ALKALI METALS
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
CHARGED PARTICLES
CHEMISTRY
DISSOLUTION
ELEMENTS
INDUSTRY
IONS
METALS
PLANTS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
TREES
553000* - Agriculture & Food Technology