Liming influence on soil chemical properties, nutritional status and yield of alfalfa grown in acid soil

Abstract

SUMMARYAlfalfa is an important forage crop with high nutritive value, although highly susceptible to soil acidity. Liming is one of the most efficient and prevailing practices to correct soil acidity and improve alfalfa yield. The objective of this study was to evaluate response to liming of alfalfa grown in a greenhouse on a Typic Quartzipsamment soil. The treatments consisted of four lime rates (0, 3.8, 6.6 and 10.3 Mg ha -1 ) and two cuts. Alfalfa dry matter increased quadratically with increasing lime rates. In general, dry matter yield was maximized by a lime rate of 8.0 Mg ha -1 . Except for the control, the dry matter nutrient contents in the treatments were adequate. The positive linear correlation between root and nodule dry matter with lime rates indicated improvement of these plant traits with decreasing soil acidity. The soil acidity indices pH, base saturation, Ca 2+ concentration, Mg 2+ concentration, and H + Al were relevant factors in the assessment of alfalfa yield. The magnitude of influence of these soil acidity indices on yield as determined by the coefficient of determination (R 2 ) varied and decreased in the order: base saturation, H + Al, pH, Ca and Mg concentrations. Optimum values of selected soil chemical properties were defined for maximum shoot dry matter; these values can serve as a guideline for alfalfa liming to improve the yield of this forage on acid soils.

Application limestone forms and doses for alfalfa in no-tillage system

“…One of the benefits of liming is the elevation of Ca + Mg, with the higher the quantity of lime the greater the concentrations of these cations in the soil. These results are similar to those obtained by Moreira and Fageria (2010) and Prado and Barion (2009) who found increased concentration of calcium and magnesium in the soil with an increased lime dose. According to Moreira and Fageria (2010) this occurred because dolomitic lime is a source of calcium and magnesium.…”

Efficiency of Drainage Practices for Improving Water Quality in Lithuania

“…Improvements in the infiltration capacity of the trench fill improve the water and air regime, which in turn improves conditions for the development of microorganisms, which are directly involved in the mineralization of slurry organic matter. Lime application increases the number of ammonifying and nitrifying microorganisms, which increases the soil nutrient reserves and ensures good conditions for plant growth (Bambara and Ndakidemi, 2010;Moreira and Kumar Fageria, 2010;Jokubauskaite et al, 2015;Narendrula-Kotha and Nkongolo, 2017). In our research, the NO 3 -N concentrations in drainage water decreased by 52% with the application of lime compared to the control treatment.…”

Effect of date palm waste compost on forage alfalfa growth, yield, seed yield and minerals uptake

“…Alfalfa, Fabaceae family, is one of the most important forage crops worldwide due to its excellent forage quality, high forage yield in many various environments around the world, and high adaptability to diverse climatic conditions (Moreira and Fageria 2010), and has positive effects on soil fertility (Campiglia et al 1999;Huyghe 2003). In traditional farmers of southern Mediterranean areas, it is cultivated surrounding date palm trees.…”