Retention and Leaching of Nutrients in a Limed Ultisol Under Cropping

Abstract

The response of maize (Zea mays L. Cv. TZB) to liming and the retention and leaching of Ca and other nutrient ions were studied in the greenhouse using an acid Ultisol from southern Nigeria. The soil was limed to various pH levels and maize was grown for 10 weeks. The largest growth response occurred when the soil pH was raised from 4.3 to 5.0 by liming (1.3 metric ton/ha). The highest yield was obtained when the soil pH was between 5.5 to 6.0.Substantial downward movement of Ca from the limed surface layer (0–15 cm) was noted, but these Ca ions were mostly adsorbed in the unlimed subsurface layer. The vertical distribution of exchangeable Ca in the limed soils followed a similar trend with pH, but was inversely related to exchangeable Al.Leaching losses of applied nutrient ions (Ca, Mg, K, NO3) during the 10‐week cropping period were relatively small. There was a significant increase in nitrate content in leachates when soil was limed above pH 7.0. Only 1% of the applied Ca was in the leachate while about 80% of the applied Ca was retained in exchangeable form when the soil was limed at a rate of 2 metric ton/ha.

Response of Andropogon gayanus to lime, P, and micronutrients in a highly weathered Amazon soil from Colombia /

“…These findings are in agreement with McLeod and Jackson (1967) who suggested that the concentration of A1 in the soil solution is not directly related to the amount of i cexchangeable A1 in the soil and neither is A1 in the soil solution and soil pH. Reeve and Sumner (1970b) Juo and Ballaux (1977) limed an Ultisol from Nigeria to pH 7.0 and were able to observe severe yield depression at 3 weeks but the condition tended to alleviate itself after 10 weeks. Pearson (1975) suggested that corn yields can be increased by liming when soil pH falls below 5.0 or the A1 saturation exceeds 15%.…”

“…), liming at high rates is likely to induce some micronutrient deficiencies, although at the present time it is rather general knowledge that little lime, if any, is needed in most tropical areas for acid-toler-Pennisetum typhoides ) but not tomato plants in an Entisol from Costa Rica when limed at 5 and 10 ton CaCOyha. Reduction in yield was not due to induced Fe deficiency nor were Zn and Cu concentrations in plants below critical levels.Similar results were obtained byJuo and Ballaux (1977) in an Ultisol from Nigeria.Heavy P applications over several years may also significantly reduce levels of available Zn, Cu, and Mn in the soil (Badanur and duced. Similar results in plants were reported by Wallace et al…”

Cation and Nitrate Leaching in an Oxisol of the Brazilian Amazon

“…al. 1982;Gillman et al 1989;Juo and Ballaux, 1977;Omoti et al 1983;Peason et al 1962;Pleysier and Juo, 1981). Leaching losses varied as a function of the amount of mobile, or leachable, anions present.…”