Interaction of liming and long-term fertilization increased crop yield and phosphorus use efficiency (PUE) through mediating exchangeable cations in acidic soil under wheat–maize cropping system

Abstract

Low phosphorus use efficiency (PUE) is one of the main problems of acidic soil that limit the crop growth. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the response of crop yield and PUE to the long-term application of fertilizers and quicklime (CaO) in the acidic soil under wheat–maize rotation system. Treatments included, CK (no fertilization), NP (inorganic nitrogen and P fertilization), NPK (inorganic N, P and potassium fertilization), NPKS (NPK + straw return), NPCa (NP + lime), NPKCa (NPK + lime) and NPKSCa (NPKS + lime). Results showed that, fertilizer without lime treatments, significantly (p ≤ 0.05) decreased soil pH and crop yield, compared to the fertilizer with lime treatments during the period of 2012–2018. Average among years, compared to the CK treatment, wheat grain yield increased by 138%, 213%, 198%, 547%, 688% and 626%, respectively and maize yield increased by 687%, 1887%, 1651%, 2605%, 5047% and 5077%, respectively, under the NP, NPK, NPKS, NPCa, NPKCa and NPKSCa treatments. Lime application significantly increased soil exchangeable base cations (Ca2+ and Mg2+) and decreased Al3+ cation. Compared to the NP treatment, phosphorus use efficiency (PUE) increased by 220%, 212%, 409%, 807% and 795%, respectively, under the NPK, NPKS, NPCa, NPKCa and NPKSCa treatments. Soil pH showed significant negative relationship with exchangeable Al3+ and soil total N. While, soil pH showed significant (p ≤ 0.05) positive relationship with exchangeable Ca2+, PUE and annual crop yield. PUE was highly negatively correlated with soil exchangeable Al3+. In addition, soil exchangeable Ca2+, pH, exchangeable Al3+ and available N were the most influencing factors of crop yield. Therefore, we concluded that lime application is an effective strategy to mitigate soil acidification and to increase PUE through increasing exchangeable base cations and reducing the acidic cations for high crop yield in acidic soil.

Integrated Nutrient Management Significantly Improves Pomelo (Citrus grandis) Root Growth and Nutrients Uptake under Acidic Soil of Southern China

“…The acidic soils are characterized by high soil acidity and low soil fertility [54], and soil acidification is one of the limiting factors that restrict plant growth and development in south China [55]. Therefore, we used the lime and mushroom residue to control the soil pH because it has been reported that liming with fertilization significantly improves the exchangeable Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ , while decreasing the exchangeable Al 3+ [56,57] and promoting the absorption of nutrient elements in the pomelo trees in the topsoil [58][59][60]. Our results agree with those of Hailing et al (2010), who affirmed liming with fertilization improves the root morphological traits [56,57,61].…”

“…Therefore, we used the lime and mushroom residue to control the soil pH because it has been reported that liming with fertilization significantly improves the exchangeable Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ , while decreasing the exchangeable Al 3+ [56,57] and promoting the absorption of nutrient elements in the pomelo trees in the topsoil [58][59][60]. Our results agree with those of Hailing et al (2010), who affirmed liming with fertilization improves the root morphological traits [56,57,61]. Besides, the mushroom residue also significantly improved the root architecture of the pomelo tree and this is consistent with previous findings [62,63].…”

Long-Term Fertilization and Lime-Induced Soil pH Changes Affect Nitrogen Use Efficiency and Grain Yields in Acidic Soil under Wheat-Maize Rotation

“…The soil at the experimental site is a Eutric Cambisol and red soil with high clay content (43.9%) [44]. The detailed climatic and soil properties information of this site were provided by [5,43].…”

“…Previous studies in this area mainly focused on the long-term fertilization effects on soil quality and crops productivity [38][39][40][41]. Most recently, however, few studies determined how long-term fertilization and L affected the links between soil exchangeable cations and K-uptake [42] and P-use efficiency [43] in this area. Therefore, further studies are needed to understand how soil properties, yield, and NUE respond to the co-application of L and N-based fertilizers under the wheat-maize rotation in South China.…”

Accumulation of pigments in wheat leaves under influence of macronutrients

“…3,4). The data obtained by us to some extent contrasts with the literary data on the positive effect of lime on wheat growth and development [19], since it increases the content of phosphorus available to plants [20]. However, data from other researchers show that under conditions of acidic soils, the application of high doses of lime can lead to fixation of phosphorus with calcium, which will reduce its bioavailability [21].…”