New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research abstracts

---

Temporal changes in some soil chemical properties at four depths following the surface application of lime

D. M. Wheeler

AgResearch
Ruakura Agricultural Research Centre
Private Bag 3123
Hamilton, New Zealand

Abstract  The effect of a surface application of lime (5000 kg/ha initially then 2500 kg/ha 1 year later) on soil properties in four soil layers was measured over 15 years on a yellow-grey earth (Duric Palic soil). The maximum increase in soil pH occurred about 2 years after lime was initially applied in the 0-50 mm soil layer, after 5 years at 50-100 mm, after about 12 years at 100-150 mm, and was still increasing at 150-200 mm. The average rate at which soil pH increased until a maximum difference occurred was 0.57, 0.15, 0.04, and 0.009 pH units/year in the 0-50, 50-100, 100-150, and 150-200 mm soil layer, respectively. The average rates of soil re-acidification (rate of decrease after reaching a maximum) were 0.075 and 0.02 pH units/year in the 0-50 and 50-100 mm layer, respectively. For exchangeable calcium (Ca), the average rate of decrease after reaching a maximum was 0.82 and 0.17 cmol(+) Ca/kg per year in the 0-50 and 50-100 mm soil layer, respectively. At this rate of decrease, lime should increase soil pH in the 0-50 mm layer until about 17 years after application. Lime significantly decreased exchangeable magnesium (Mg) for only 5 years, with the maximum decrease between 0 and 100 mm occurring about 3 years after lime was applied. Below 100 mm, exchangeable Mg was about 0.2 cmol(+)/kg lower in the lime treatment from 5 years after lime was applied. Lime decreased Olsen P at an average rate of 0.53 and 0.27 ug/ml per year in the 0-50 and 50-100 mm layer, respectively up to 6 years after lime was applied. This decrease was partly attributable to higher plant phosphorus (P) uptake in the lime treatment.

Keywords  aluminium; calcium; depth; lime; magnesium; movement; pH; phosphorus; re-acidification

New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 1997, Vol. 40: 309-316

0028-8233/97/4002-0309 $7.00/0 (c) The Royal Society of New Zealand 1997

PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (634K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)

---

This year's abstracts | Journal home page | All abstracts | Publishing home page