Effect of lime on selected soil chemical properties, maize (Zea mays L.) yield and determination of rate and method of its application in Northwestern Ethiopia

Abstract

Soil acidity is the major soil chemical constraint that limits agricultural productivity in the highlands of Ethiopia receiving high rainfall. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different lime rates determined through different lime rate determination methods on selected soil chemical properties and yield of maize ( Zea mays L. ) on acidic Nitisols of Mecha district, Amhara Region, Ethiopia. The experiment had 10 treatments (0, 0.06, 0.12, 0.18, 1, 2, 3.5, 4, 7 and 14 tons ha −1 lime) that were calculated by three lime rate determination methods and applied through three lime application methods (spot, drill and broadcast). The experiment was arranged in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications. N at the rate of 180 kg ha −1 and P at the rate of138 P 2 O 5 kg ha −1 were applied to all plots. A full dose of P and lime as a treatment were applied at planting; whereas N was applied in split, 1/2 at planting and 1/2 at knee height stage. One composite soil sample before planting from experimental site and again one composite sample from each experimental unit were taken after harvest to analyze soil chemical parameters following appropriate laboratory procedure. Liming showed a positive significant difference on pH-H 2 O, pH-buffer, cation exchange capacity (CEC) and exchangeable bases but it had an inverse and significant effect on exchangeable acidity (EA). However, it didn't show any significant difference on soil C and N. Grain and above-ground biomass of maize yields had significant differences among treatments. The highest grain and biomass yields (7719 and 18180.6 kg ha −1 , respectively) were obtained from application of broad cast method while the lowest (6479 and 15004.6 kg ha −1 , respectively) were obtained from control treatment. Drill lime application method provided better efficiency with over 200% cost reduction advantage compared to the broadcast method to ameliorate the same level of acidity. Application of 3.5 tons ha −1 lime in the drilling method is recommendable to ameliorate soil acidity. However, from an economic point of view, application of 0.12 tons ha −1 lime applied in the micro-dosing method is more profitable due to low variable cost.

Small Doses of Lime with Common Fertilizer Practices Improve Soil Characteristics and Foster the Sustainability of Maize Production

“…In the present study, liming and fertilization almost doubled the available phosphorus at the 0-30 cm depth. This result is similar to the results reported by Alemu et al [29], for the same dose of lime. Total cation exchange capacity did not change with the addition of lime in the present study, which contradicts the results of previously reported studies [29,30].…”

“…This result is similar to the results reported by Alemu et al [29], for the same dose of lime. Total cation exchange capacity did not change with the addition of lime in the present study, which contradicts the results of previously reported studies [29,30]. The application of 1 t•ha −1 of lime decreased organic carbon content [29] from 2.19% to 1.89% (more than 15%) in Ethiopia.…”

“…Similarly to the present study, the application of 1 t•ha −1 of lime significantly increased pH in the Mecha district of Ethiopia [29]. The pH rose from 4.85 to 5.52, a difference of 0.67 of a pH unit.…”

“…Although lime has low solubility and mobility in soil, the results of the present study showed a rapid reaction to liming over a relatively short period as in Tiritan et al [32]. The application of 1 t•ha −1 of lime significantly increased base saturation in the study of Alemu et al [29] from 69.8% to 72.4%, and after the application of 3.5 t•ha −1 base saturation increased to 75.6%. The effect of lime on base saturation on pseudogley soils in the present study resulted in larger increases; 12.2% and 5.9% of absolute increase at the 0-30 and 30-60 cm depths.…”

Lime microdosing: A new liming strategy for increased productivity in acid soils

“…The occurrence of soil acidity is identified as one of the major issues limiting the yields of many crops worldwide (Abdalla et al., 2022; Adane, 2014; Agegnehu et al., 2021; Alemu et al., 2022; Farina et al., 2000). Soil acidity impacts several biochemical reactions that control the availability of many essential plant nutrients, but in some cases, it also causes toxicity of certain micronutrients in soils (Ahmed et al., 2022; Alemu et al., 2022; Mahmud & Chong, 2022). On a global scale, FAO (2022) reported that soil acidity affects nearly 4 billion hectares of land area, corresponding to almost 30% of the ice‐free agricultural land worldwide.…”