Short- and Long-Term Effects of Lime and Gypsum Applications on Acid Soils in a Water-Limited Environment: 1. Grain Yield Response and Nutrient Concentration
Surface (0–10 cm) and subsoil (soil layers below 10 cm) acidity and resulting aluminum (Al) toxicity reduce crop grain yields. In South Western Australia (SWA), these constraints affect 14.2 million hectares or 53% of the agricultural area. Both lime (L, CaCO<sub>3</sub>) and gypsum (G,...
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MDPI AG
2020-08-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/8/1213 |
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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 | Surface (0–10 cm) and subsoil (soil layers below 10 cm) acidity and resulting aluminum (Al) toxicity reduce crop grain yields. In South Western Australia (SWA), these constraints affect 14.2 million hectares or 53% of the agricultural area. Both lime (L, CaCO<sub>3</sub>) and gypsum (G, CaSO<sub>4</sub>) application can decrease the toxic effect of Al, leading to an increase in crop grain yields. Within the region, it is unclear if G alone or the combined use of L and G has a role in alleviating soil acidity in SWA, due to low sulfate S (SO<sub>4</sub>–S) sorption properties of the soil. We present results from three experiments located in the eastern wheatbelt of SWA, which examined the short-term (ST, 2 growing seasons), medium-term (MT, 3 growing seasons), and long-term (LT, 7 growing seasons over 10 years) effects of L and G on grain yield and plant nutrient concentrations. Despite the rapid leaching of SO<sub>4</sub>–S and no self-liming impact, it was profitable to apply G, due to the significant ST grain yield responses. The grain yield response to G developed even following relatively dry years, but declined over time due to SO<sub>4</sub>–S leaching. At the LT experimental site had received no previous L application, whereas, at the ST and MT sites, L had been applied by the grower over the previous 5–10 years. For the LT site, the most profitable treatment for wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) grain yield, was the combined application of 4 t L ha<sup>−1</sup> with 2 t G ha<sup>−1</sup>. At this site, the 0–10 cm soil pH<sub>CaCl2</sub> was 4.6, and Al<sub>CaCl2</sub> was greater than 2.5 mg kg<sup>−1</sup> in the 10–30 cm soil layer. In contrast, at the ST and MT sites, the pH<sub>CaCl2</sub> of 0–10 cm soil layer was ≥5.5; it was only profitable to apply G to the MT site where the soil compaction constraint had been removed by deep ripping. The use of L increases soil pH<sub>CaCl2</sub>, resulting in the improved availability of anions, phosphorus (P) in the LT and molybdenum (Mo) at all sampling times, but reduced availability of cations zinc (Zn) in the LT and manganese (Mn) at all sampling. The application of G reduced Mo concentrations, due to the high SO<sub>4</sub>–S content of the soil. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:16:28Z |
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| publishDate | 2020-08-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-9f7f29b78a9b45458b39124f16f0fb8d2023-11-20T10:29:39ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952020-08-01108121310.3390/agronomy10081213Short- and Long-Term Effects of Lime and Gypsum Applications on Acid Soils in a Water-Limited Environment: 1. Grain Yield Response and Nutrient ConcentrationGeoffrey C. Anderson0Shahab Pathan1James Easton2David J. M. Hall3Rajesh Sharma4Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, 75 York Road, Northam, WA 6401, AustraliaDepartment of Primary Industries and Regional Development, 3 Baron-Hay Court, South Perth, WA 6151, AustraliaCSBP, Lot 20 Kwinana Beach Road (P.O. Box 345), Kwinana, WA 6966, AustraliaDepartment of Primary Industries and Regional Development, PMB 50, Melijinup Rd, Esperance, WA 6450, AustraliaChemCentre, Resources and Chemistry Precinct, Building 500 Corner Manning Road and, Townsing Dr, Bentley, WA 6102, AustraliaSurface (0–10 cm) and subsoil (soil layers below 10 cm) acidity and resulting aluminum (Al) toxicity reduce crop grain yields. In South Western Australia (SWA), these constraints affect 14.2 million hectares or 53% of the agricultural area. Both lime (L, CaCO<sub>3</sub>) and gypsum (G, CaSO<sub>4</sub>) application can decrease the toxic effect of Al, leading to an increase in crop grain yields. Within the region, it is unclear if G alone or the combined use of L and G has a role in alleviating soil acidity in SWA, due to low sulfate S (SO<sub>4</sub>–S) sorption properties of the soil. We present results from three experiments located in the eastern wheatbelt of SWA, which examined the short-term (ST, 2 growing seasons), medium-term (MT, 3 growing seasons), and long-term (LT, 7 growing seasons over 10 years) effects of L and G on grain yield and plant nutrient concentrations. Despite the rapid leaching of SO<sub>4</sub>–S and no self-liming impact, it was profitable to apply G, due to the significant ST grain yield responses. The grain yield response to G developed even following relatively dry years, but declined over time due to SO<sub>4</sub>–S leaching. At the LT experimental site had received no previous L application, whereas, at the ST and MT sites, L had been applied by the grower over the previous 5–10 years. For the LT site, the most profitable treatment for wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) grain yield, was the combined application of 4 t L ha<sup>−1</sup> with 2 t G ha<sup>−1</sup>. At this site, the 0–10 cm soil pH<sub>CaCl2</sub> was 4.6, and Al<sub>CaCl2</sub> was greater than 2.5 mg kg<sup>−1</sup> in the 10–30 cm soil layer. In contrast, at the ST and MT sites, the pH<sub>CaCl2</sub> of 0–10 cm soil layer was ≥5.5; it was only profitable to apply G to the MT site where the soil compaction constraint had been removed by deep ripping. The use of L increases soil pH<sub>CaCl2</sub>, resulting in the improved availability of anions, phosphorus (P) in the LT and molybdenum (Mo) at all sampling times, but reduced availability of cations zinc (Zn) in the LT and manganese (Mn) at all sampling. The application of G reduced Mo concentrations, due to the high SO<sub>4</sub>–S content of the soil.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/8/1213aluminum toxicitywheatbarleycanolaphosphorusmolybdenum |
| 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: 1. Grain Yield Response and Nutrient Concentration Agronomy aluminum toxicity wheat barley canola phosphorus molybdenum |
| title | Short- and Long-Term Effects of Lime and Gypsum Applications on Acid Soils in a Water-Limited Environment: 1. Grain Yield Response and Nutrient Concentration |
| title_full | Short- and Long-Term Effects of Lime and Gypsum Applications on Acid Soils in a Water-Limited Environment: 1. Grain Yield Response and Nutrient Concentration |
| title_fullStr | Short- and Long-Term Effects of Lime and Gypsum Applications on Acid Soils in a Water-Limited Environment: 1. Grain Yield Response and Nutrient Concentration |
| title_full_unstemmed | Short- and Long-Term Effects of Lime and Gypsum Applications on Acid Soils in a Water-Limited Environment: 1. Grain Yield Response and Nutrient Concentration |
| title_short | Short- and Long-Term Effects of Lime and Gypsum Applications on Acid Soils in a Water-Limited Environment: 1. Grain Yield Response and Nutrient Concentration |
| title_sort | short and long term effects of lime and gypsum applications on acid soils in a water limited environment 1 grain yield response and nutrient concentration |
| topic | aluminum toxicity wheat barley canola phosphorus molybdenum |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/8/1213 |
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