Short- and Long-Term Effects of Lime and Gypsum Applications on Acid Soils in a Water-Limited Environment: 2. Soil Chemical Properties
Soil acidity or aluminum (Al) toxicity is a major limitation to crop production. In this paper, we examine the effects of surface-applied lime and gypsum on soil profile chemical properties that affect Al toxicity in short-term (1 year), medium-term (2 years and 8 months) and long-term (10 years) ex...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2020-12-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/12/1987 |
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| author | Geoffrey C. Anderson Shahab Pathan James Easton David J. M. Hall Rajesh Sharma |
| author_facet | Geoffrey C. Anderson Shahab Pathan James Easton David J. M. Hall Rajesh Sharma |
| author_sort | Geoffrey C. Anderson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Soil acidity or aluminum (Al) toxicity is a major limitation to crop production. In this paper, we examine the effects of surface-applied lime and gypsum on soil profile chemical properties that affect Al toxicity in short-term (1 year), medium-term (2 years and 8 months) and long-term (10 years) experiments. Sulfate applied to the soil surface as gypsum was leached rapidly to a depth of 40 cm in the short-term despite relatively low amounts (279 mm) of rainfall. In the medium and long-term experiments, 28–54% of the sulfate applied as gypsum was retained in the 0–50 cm soil layer due to adsorption and precipitation reactions. The combined application of lime and gypsum increased soil calcium, to a depth of 30 cm in the short-term and to a depth of 50 cm in the medium and long-terms. Increases in soil sulfate and calcium were associated with greater electrical conductivity to a depth of 50 cm for all sampling times. Application of lime alone had no impact on soil Al, pH, and calcium in the soil layers below 10 cm in the short and medium terms. In the long-term, increasing the rate of lime application from 2 to 8 t L ha<sup>−1</sup> increased soil pH in the 10–20 cm soil layer while soil Al decreased to a depth of 30 cm. The combined use of lime and gypsum decreased soil Al in the 30–50 cm soil layer in the medium-term and the 20–30 cm soil layer in the long-term which was more than when only lime was applied. Hence, we recommend the use of lime plus gypsum for treating soils with subsoil Al toxicity. Additionally, soil Al measurements are a more sensitive measurement of the impact of surface application lime and lime plus gypsum than soil pH. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:58:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-213062d5e24548f3b40c01fb0a6b8888 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:58:49Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-213062d5e24548f3b40c01fb0a6b88882023-11-21T01:17:10ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952020-12-011012198710.3390/agronomy10121987Short- and Long-Term Effects of Lime and Gypsum Applications on Acid Soils in a Water-Limited Environment: 2. Soil Chemical PropertiesGeoffrey C. Anderson0Shahab Pathan1James Easton2David J. M. Hall3Rajesh Sharma4Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Northam 6401, AustraliaDepartment of Primary Industries and Regional Development, South Perth 6151, AustraliaCSBP Limited, Kwinana 6966, AustraliaDepartment of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Esperance 6450, AustraliaChemCentre, Resources and Chemistry Precinct Level 2, Bentley 6102, AustraliaSoil acidity or aluminum (Al) toxicity is a major limitation to crop production. In this paper, we examine the effects of surface-applied lime and gypsum on soil profile chemical properties that affect Al toxicity in short-term (1 year), medium-term (2 years and 8 months) and long-term (10 years) experiments. Sulfate applied to the soil surface as gypsum was leached rapidly to a depth of 40 cm in the short-term despite relatively low amounts (279 mm) of rainfall. In the medium and long-term experiments, 28–54% of the sulfate applied as gypsum was retained in the 0–50 cm soil layer due to adsorption and precipitation reactions. The combined application of lime and gypsum increased soil calcium, to a depth of 30 cm in the short-term and to a depth of 50 cm in the medium and long-terms. Increases in soil sulfate and calcium were associated with greater electrical conductivity to a depth of 50 cm for all sampling times. Application of lime alone had no impact on soil Al, pH, and calcium in the soil layers below 10 cm in the short and medium terms. In the long-term, increasing the rate of lime application from 2 to 8 t L ha<sup>−1</sup> increased soil pH in the 10–20 cm soil layer while soil Al decreased to a depth of 30 cm. The combined use of lime and gypsum decreased soil Al in the 30–50 cm soil layer in the medium-term and the 20–30 cm soil layer in the long-term which was more than when only lime was applied. Hence, we recommend the use of lime plus gypsum for treating soils with subsoil Al toxicity. Additionally, soil Al measurements are a more sensitive measurement of the impact of surface application lime and lime plus gypsum than soil pH.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/12/1987aluminum toxicitycalciumelectrical conductivitypHsoil aciditysulfate |
| spellingShingle | Geoffrey C. Anderson Shahab Pathan James Easton David J. M. Hall Rajesh Sharma Short- and Long-Term Effects of Lime and Gypsum Applications on Acid Soils in a Water-Limited Environment: 2. Soil Chemical Properties Agronomy aluminum toxicity calcium electrical conductivity pH soil acidity sulfate |
| title | Short- and Long-Term Effects of Lime and Gypsum Applications on Acid Soils in a Water-Limited Environment: 2. Soil Chemical Properties |
| title_full | Short- and Long-Term Effects of Lime and Gypsum Applications on Acid Soils in a Water-Limited Environment: 2. Soil Chemical Properties |
| title_fullStr | Short- and Long-Term Effects of Lime and Gypsum Applications on Acid Soils in a Water-Limited Environment: 2. Soil Chemical Properties |
| title_full_unstemmed | Short- and Long-Term Effects of Lime and Gypsum Applications on Acid Soils in a Water-Limited Environment: 2. Soil Chemical Properties |
| title_short | Short- and Long-Term Effects of Lime and Gypsum Applications on Acid Soils in a Water-Limited Environment: 2. Soil Chemical Properties |
| title_sort | short and long term effects of lime and gypsum applications on acid soils in a water limited environment 2 soil chemical properties |
| topic | aluminum toxicity calcium electrical conductivity pH soil acidity sulfate |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/12/1987 |
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