Management of Soil Acidity in No‐Till Production Systems through Surface Application of Lime

Abstract

Increasing acreage of no‐till (NT) cropping systems with surface applications of N fertilizer brings forth the important issue of management of acidic soils in these systems. Our objectives were to determine the vertical movement of surface‐applied lime, and to determine if frequency or type of lime applied affects the rate of movement; to evaluate the effect of surface application of lime on soil chemical properties; and to determine the correct application rate of lime for acidic NT soils. Three NT field sites were identified that had below‐optimal soil pH (<6.0) in the surface 15 cm. Various lime treatments were established in 2000 or 2002, consisting of differing rates [as kg effective calcium carbonate (ECC) ha−1] of either limestone (commercially available) or pelletized limestone, plus an unlimed control. In the spring of 2005, soil samples were taken to a depth of 30 cm; the surface 15 cm was separated into 2.5‐cm increments and the lower 15 cm was separated into 7.5‐cm increments. Evidence of lime movement was limited to 7.5 cm or less at all three NT sites, as indicated by significant increases in pH compared with the control. Type of liming material or frequency of limestone application seemed to have no effect on any variables measured. Significant yield increases were not observed for crops as a result of limestone applications. Limestone recommendations for NT production systems need to be based on correcting pH in the surface 7.5 cm for production systems receiving 800 to 1000 mm of annual precipitation.

Extraction methods and availability of micronutrients for wheat under a no-till system with a surface application of lime

“…Method-7: extraction by Mehlich-3 solution (10:1 extractant/soil ratio). Godsey et al, 2007;Caires et al, 2008). This may be due to a decrease its concentration due to a decrease on the bioavailable form in the soil solution due to a soil pH increase.…”

“…Changes in cationic micronutrients availability at the soil most superficial layers after liming affect the mineral nutrition of plants, mainly under NT systems Godsey et al, 2007;Caires et al, 2008). However, the cationic micronutrients concentrations extracted by the DTPA-TEA, Mehlich-1, Mehlich-3, and HCl solutions after the surface lime application under a NT system cannot represent the available amount to the crops.…”

“…However, surface liming can decrease the cationic micronutrients availability as a consequence of increasing soil pH at the most superficial layers of the soil Godsey et al, 2007).…”

Impact of a New Deep Vertical Lime Placement Practice on Corn and Soybean Production in Conservation Tillage Systems

“…Effects of subsoil acidity on agronomic production is of great concern in multiple regions around the world [1][2][3][4][5][6], with roughly 70% of the world's arable land having some level of soil acidity [7]. Acidic conditions in the subsoil horizons have been shown to affect nutrient availability and root growth of many agronomic crops [2,8,9].…”

“…Amendments of agriculture limestone have the ability to alleviate soil acidity [1][2][3][4][5][6]12,13]. Liming additions have been shown to increase grain yields of many crops through increased rooting systems, nutrient availability and uptake, drought resistance, and reduction of aluminum and manganese toxicities [1,4,5,14].…”