The Effects of Surface-Applied Calcium on Soil and Mature Spartan Apple Trees

Abstract

In 1975, hydrated lime and calcium sulfate were applied to a Rutland gravelly sandy loam under the canopy of mature apple trees (Malus domestica Borkh. ’Spartan’) on M16 at 3000, 6000, 3 × 2000 and at 3000, 6000, 3 × 4000 kg/ha, respectively, pH and exchangeable Ca, Mg and Mn were measured in the soil sampled in 1979 at 10-cm intervals to a 60-cm depth for each of the check, 6000 kg/ha Ca(OH)2 and 12 000 kg/ha gypsum treatments. The acidity of the surface soil was decreased significantly in the 6000 kg/ha Ca(OH)2 treatment. Negligible soil Ca accumulation occurred below the surface 10-cm depth for any treatment. Soil Mn was decreased from the surface to the 20-cm level in the Ca(OH)2 treatment while soil Mg was decreased from the surface to the 30-cm level in the gypsum treatment. Fruit Ca concentration at harvest, 1975–1979 was not increased by soil Ca treatments. Leaf Mg was often reduced by soil gpysum applications in excess of 3000 kg/ha. Leaf Mn reduction did not occur until the 4th and 5th yr of the experiment in the 6000 and the 3 × 2000 kg/ha Ca(OH)2 treatments.

Effect of gypsum on soil potassium and magnesium status and growth of alfalfa

“…The idea that gypsum would be able to substitute for lime has been proposed and discussed since the 1930's (4) and has been shown to be useful in reducing ths effects of the subsoil acidity syndrome (5,6) but there have also been reports of indifferent crop responses to gypsum (7,8), and of negative effects on magnesium (Mg) and potassium (K) availability in soil (9). Reduction in the availability of Mg and K down the soil profile was also observed with surface application of gypsum (10).…”

Effect of soil Ph and nitrogen source on the nutrient status in peach: II. Micronutrients

“…The antagonism between Ca and Al was apparently involved (2,15)., Since dolomitic lime was used in this experiment, the adverse effect of Mg on Mn uptake (5) was presumably responsible for reduced tissue Mn at high soil pH. Leaf Mn in apples was also reduced following lime application (14).…”