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Short-Term Soil Chemical and Crop Yield Responses to Limestone Applications¹

Limestone applications ranging from 0 to 17.92 metric tons/ha were applied to three acid soils for the purpose of measuring soil chemical and crop yield responses to increased levels of soil pH during the initial growing season following limestone application. Corn (Zea mays L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) were planted in a Goldsboro sandy loam (Aquic Paleudult), Pacolet sandy clay loam (Typic Hapludult), and Frederick silt loam (Typic Paleudult), respectively. Sixteen weeks after treatment, soil pH and exchangeable Ca and Mg increased, while exchangeable Al decreased with increasing lime rate. Initial crop yields increased with lime applications on all soils. Exchangeable Al saturations of 18, 8, and 11% of the effective CEC decreased corn, barley, and alfalfa yields. Regression analysis indicated that reduction in exchangeable Al was responsible for increases in corn yields (R²=0.59) and that increases in exchangeable Ca along with decreases in exchangeable Al accounted for increased alfalfa yields (R²0.80).

Key Words: Calcium • Magnesium • Dolomitic lime • Corn (Zea mays L.) • Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) • Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)

² Assistant professor of agronomy.

Received for publication September 15, 1980.