Effect of soil acidity and lime placement on root growth and yield of winter wheat and alfalfa

Book · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1976

OSTI ID:6052665

Kauffman, M D

The application of lime to an acid Nekia soil significantly increased the yield of winter wheat and alfalfa in a field experiment. Crop yields maximized when lime was partially mixed into the surface four inches of the soil. Thorough mixing of the lime into the surface six inches of soil did not increase crop yields over partial mixing, and on plots with the lower rates of lime application the yields were reduced by the thorough mixing treatment. Deterioration of soil structure due to rototilling was also a factor. Yields of wheat decreased over a three-year period following application of one ton of lime per acre. This decrease was caused by a more thorough mixing of the lime during annual seedbed preparation on the partially mixed plots, by a decrease of Ca and increase of Al as the quantity of free lime in the soil decreased and by an infestation of the root fungus, Ophiobolus Graninus, with the adverse effect on the yield decreasing as the lime rates increased. The importance of the soil solution pH and Al and Ca concentrations is demonstrated by the R/sup 2/ values for the relation between the soil test pH and wheat yields, as the 1 N KCl pH values were highest the first two years, the water pH value was highest the third year. High acidity adversely affected the survival of the alfalfa seedlings and the rhizobia. Nitrogen concentration in the plants increased as the rate of lime applied increased. Wheat and alfalfa roots grown in unlimed soil exhibited Al toxicity symptoms. These roots were thicker than the healthy roots and there was very little lateral root development. The application of intermediate and high rates of lime to the acid Nekia soil eliminated the Al toxicity symptoms and promoted growth of fine fibrous roots. Wheat and alfalfa yields were closely correlated to the weight of the root samples. 64 references. (MDF)

• OSTI ID: 6052665
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACID RAIN
ACIDIFICATION
ALFALFA
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM OXIDES
CEREALS
CHALCOGENIDES
DATA
ELEMENTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
GRASS
GROWTH
INFORMATION
LEGUMINOSAE
LIMING
METALS
NUMERICAL DATA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PH VALUE
PLANT GROWTH
PLANTS
PRODUCTIVITY
RAIN
RESPONSE MODIFYING FACTORS
ROOTS
SOILS
TOXICITY
WHEAT