Divisions S-4 - soil fertility and plant nutrition: residual value of lime and leaching of calcium in a kaolinitic ultisol in the high rainfall tropics

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1982 · Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1982.03615995004600060013x· OSTI ID:5305147

Friesen, D K; Juo, A S.R.; Miller, M H

A long-term experiment was conducted on a highly acidic (pH 4.6), coarse-textured Ultisol in the high rainfall region of southeastern Nigeria in order to evaluate the requirement for and residual value of lime (Ca(OH)/sub 2/) to a continuous crop rotation, and to determine the fate of applied Ca in the soil profile. The initial lime rates used were 0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 t of Ca(OH)/sub 2/ per hectare. Maize (Zea mays) was planted in the first season and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) in the second season under a no-tillage, stubble conservation system. Relatively low rates of lime are adequate to sustain yields in a continuous maize-cowpea rotation system. Liming at a rate of 0.5 t/ha maintained maize yield near maximum for 2 years after application. Sustained maize yields for 5 years or more were possible with a lime rate of 2 t/ha. Cowpeas performed well and showed strong tolerance to soil acidity when planted as a late second-season crop after maize without additional fertilizer application. The critical level of exchangeable Al ranged from 25 to 55% depending upon rate of chemical fertilizer as well as cowpea variety used. Leaching losses of Ca from the surface soil during the first 3 years were <0.5 t/ha of Ca(OH)/sub 2/-equivalents in the 0- to 2-t/ha treatments. Exchangeable-Al saturation in all subsoil layers of all treatments 3 years after liming exceeded 40% and soil pH (H/sub 2/O) was <4.3 indicating that lime was leached as neutral Ca salts and had little effect in ameliorating subsoil acidity. 17 references, 5 figures, 5 tables.

• Research Organization: International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria
• OSTI ID: 5305147
• Journal Information: Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.; (United States) Vol. 46; ISSN SSSJD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AFRICA
AGRICULTURE
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
ALUMINIUM
BIOLOGICAL AVAILABILITY
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CALCIUM
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM HYDROXIDES
CEREALS
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DISSOLUTION
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
ELEMENTS
FERTILIZERS
GRASS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXIDES
INDUSTRY
LEACHING
LIMING
MAIZE
METALS
NIGERIA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PH VALUE
PLANTS
PRODUCTIVITY
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOILS
TOLERANCE
TROPICAL REGIONS