Particle size determines the efficiency of calcitic limestone in amending acidic soil

1992 ◽  
Vol 43 (5) ◽  
pp. 1175 ◽  
Author(s):  
BJ Scott ◽  
MK Conyers ◽  
R Fisher ◽  
W Lill

There is a commonly held view that limestone particles <0.25 mm are fully effective in amending acidic soils. However, this is not consistent with some available data. We assessed the importance of particle size in a field experiment using six particle size segregations covering a range of mean diameters from 3 mm to 0.005 mm. These products were applied at rates of 2.5, 5 and 10 t ha-1. Lime was incorporated in April 1986 and soil samples were collected 6, 12, 24 and 36 months later. The experiment was cropped to wheat in 1986, 1987 and 1989. Effectiveness was evaluated as the capacity of the particle size segregation to increase soil pH, exchangeable calcium (Caex,) or grain yield of wheat. No minimum particle size for maximum effectiveness was identified. Throughout the range of particle sizes evaluated, progressively finer particles produced larger increases in pH and Caex. Wheat yield was related to soil pH. Changes in soil pH and Caex between 6 months and 3 years after lime application were small compared to the changes in the first 6 months. Fine lime products should be preferred in practice, subject to cost considerations and handling difficulties.

2002 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. 227-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joann K Whalen ◽  
Chi Chang ◽  
George W Clayton

Crop production on acid soils can be improved greatly by adjusting the pH to near neutrality. Although soil acidity is commonly corrected by liming, there is evidence that animal manure amendments can increase the pH of acid soils. Fresh cattle manure and agricultural lime were compared for their effects on soil acidity and the production of canola (Brassica napus L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in a greenhouse study. Canola and wheat yield, the nutrient content of grain and straw, and selected soil properties were determined on a Gray Luvisol (pH 4.8) from the Peace Region of Alberta. Soil pH increased with lime and manure applications, and canola and wheat yields were higher in limed and manure-amended soils than unfertilized, unlimed soils. Macronutrient uptake by canola and wheat was generally improved by liming and manure applications, and micronutrient uptake was related to the effects of lime and manure on soil pH. An economic analysis compared the costs of using cattle manure and lime to increase soil pH to 6.0. The costs of applying lime and fresh cattle manure to increase soil pH were compared, based on the fees for purchasing and applying lime or loading, hauling and applying manure. The nutrient value of manure was calculated based on the quantities of plant-available N, P and K in fresh manure. At distances less than 40 km, it is economical to substitute fresh cattle manure for agricultural lime to increase soil pH of acidic soils. However, good manure management practices should be followed to minimize the risk of nutrient transport and environmental pollution from agricultural land amended with cattle manure. Key words: Agricultural economics, canola production, cattle manure, lime, soil pH, wheat prodution


2014 ◽  
Vol 937 ◽  
pp. 491-494
Author(s):  
Zhi Wen Luo ◽  
Wen Yan Wu ◽  
Kun Le

Invertebrates are important components of stream ecosystems. A field experiment was conducted to study the effects of substrate particle size, shape and roughness on the composition and biodiversity of invertebrates. The results show that the particle sizes, porosity,and interstial dimensions of the substrate affect the invertebrate community,while the shape and surface roughness of the substrate do not strongly affect the benthos composition and density. The invertebrate composition in the gravel is stable. The density and species richness in the gravels, leaf humus and are much higher than those in the black silt and sands.


2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ján Horák

Abstract One-year field experiment with spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) was carried out to evaluate the effect of biochar amendment on the pH of Orthic Luvisol at the research site located in western Slovakia (lat. 48° 19′ 00″; lon. 18° 09′ 00″). Biochar with higher pH (8.8) was applied to slightly acidic soils with the initial pH at 5.6. The field experiment consisted of control, 10 and 20 t ha−1 (B0, B10, B20) of biochar application to soils combined with three levels of nitrogen fertilization (0, 40 and 80 kg N ha−1) (N0, N40, N80). The soil pH (KCl) at depth 0–10 cm was measured once a month (March – October, 2014). Application of both biochar rates (10 and 20 t ha−1) increased pH (in all months) with the magnitude of 0.13–1.09 units in all three fertilization levels (0, 40 and 80 kg N ha−1) compared to the control one. However, the significant increase (p <0.05) was found only in the treatment B10N0 (3 of 8 measurement events) and B20N0 (6 of 8 measurements) when no nitrogen was applied and in the treatment B20N80 (5 of 8 measurements) when 80 kg of nitrogen was applied. According to this, the biochar incorporation to soil can be suggested as a possible way to ameliorate soils and may be effective in increasing soil pH.


1994 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 367 ◽  
Author(s):  
TJV Hodge ◽  
DC Lewis

The effect of 2 rates (2, 4 t/ha) and 5 particle size grades of applied lime on vegetative and seed yields of subterranean clover on an acid siliceous sand in the South East of South Australia is reported. The movement of the lime down the soil profile was assessed through its effect on soil pH. Vegetative yield responses to lime were recorded in 4 of 5 harvests; there was a significant particle size x rate interaction at 2 harvests. When seed yield was significantly increased by lime application, the particle size treatments were not significantly different. Vegetative and seed yields were not increased by doubling the lime rate. Five years after mixing lime in the top 2.5 cm of soil, there was a significant particle size x rate x depth interaction for soil pH. Soil pH was significantly increased to a depth of 12.5 cm by the application of 4 t/ha of lime, with the finer lime particle sizes causing the greatest increase in soil pH at depth


2011 ◽  
Vol 467-469 ◽  
pp. 725-730 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hai Qing Yang ◽  
Bo Yan Kuang ◽  
Abdul M. Mouazen

. Instrumental measurement of soil properties are affected by several factors including soil texture. The classification of soil texture can help improve the accuracy of calibration models for soil measurement. In the study, the effect of soil particle size on the selection of preprocessing methods for principle component analysis (PCA) of soil classification was examined. Total 178 soil samples with five textures were collected from Silsoe Farm, Cranfield, England. After dried and ground, soil samples sieved by a 2mm sieve were named by Mixed Group. A Vis/NIR spectrophotometer (LabSpec2500, spectral range 350-2200nm, ASD) was used for spectral scanning of soil samples. After that, all samples were sieved by a 1mm sieve and divided into two groups: one with particle size less than 1mm named by Thin Group and another with particle size between 1mm and 2mm named by Thick Group. Preprocessing methods of moving average with segment size of 5(MA5), standard normal variation (SNV) and 1st Savitzky-Golay derivatives with smoothing points of 3(Der1(3)) were examined. PCA was applied to evaluate the discriminative capacity of MA5, MA5+SNV and MA5+Der1(3). The score plots of 1st~2nd and 2nd~3rd PCs show that MA5+Der1(3) is the best preprocessing method not only for Thick Group and Thin Group, but also for Mixed Group. MA5+SNV is suitable for Thick Group and Thin Group but does not perform well for Mixed Group. Only MA5 does not perform well in any of three groups. The study suggests that pre-processing with 1st derivative is an essential step for soil classification with various particle sizes using Vis/NIR spectroscopy.


Author(s):  
Amrit Tamang ◽  
Hriday Kamal Tarafder ◽  
Sagar Tamang ◽  
Ranjan Kumar Basak

Soil analysis is integral part of present agricultural farming, where soil samples are particularly determines with 2 mm sieved soil. It is highly related that finer particles pass through 80 mesh (0.2 mm) size had better interaction with concentrated chemical solution or extractant. Total 136 number of soil sample were collected from different agricultural land of Terai region of West Bengal to conducted the study on effect of soil particle sizes passes through 20 mesh (2 mm) and 80 mesh (0.2 mm) sieve on soil pH, oxidizable organic carbon and available phosphate. Thus, each sample was portioned into two particle size classes. Such as ‘80 mesh soil particles’ and ‘20 mesh soil particles’. The pH, oxidizable organic carbon (OCC) and available phosphate contents of two particle sizes of each soil sample were determined and compared. The maximum difference of 0.2 unit was recorded in case of pH analysis with both sieve sizes. The mean organic carbon content of soil particles that passed through 20 mesh 80 mesh sieve was 0.674 and 0.683 respectively, which further signifies organic carbon content value of 80 mesh soil particle size was slightly greater than that of 20 mesh soil particle size. The value of P content by different sieve size had maximum difference 0.2 kg P2O5 ha-1 and for some soils there was no difference. The difference mean of phosphate values of two particle sizes was 0.134 only. This difference is neglected for crop production. Thus, soil sieved through two sieve sizes 20 mesh 80 mesh sieve had no effect with soil pH, little influence on OCC and negligible effect on available phosphate content.


2001 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 523 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. J. Scott ◽  
J. A. Fisher ◽  
B. R. Cullis

Acidic soils constrain wheat yield in some parts of central and southern New South Wales. This paper describes research designed to evaluate the usefulness of aluminium (Al) tolerance, manganese (Mn) tolerance and the interaction of lime use and Al tolerance in improving wheat yields. Closely related pairs of wheat lines with tolerance and sensitivity of Al and Mn were bred. Carazinho (a Brazilian wheat cultivar) was used as a source of Al tolerance in a backcrossing, recurrent selection program to introduce tolerance into an Egret background (a locally adapted Australian cultivar). Aluminium tolerance was determined using the haematoxylin root tip test and Mn tolerance was determined using a subirrigated gravel bed system. Eight pairs divergent in tolerance of Al were evaluated for their yield on 3 acidic soil types in 5 field experiments. Grain yield increased in Egret-derived lines when Al tolerance from Carazinho was introduced. Yield from the Al-sensitive genotypes (averaged over the 8 pairs) compared with the Al-tolerant genotypes was 0.43 to 0.98 t/ha and 0.88 to 1.38 t/ha respectively on an acid earthy sand in central western New South Wales (Binnaway) in 2 seasons, and 1.08 to 1.96 t/ha and 1.29 to 1.88 t/ha on an acid podsolic soil in southern New South Wales (Borambola). On a moderately acidic red earth site (pH Ca 4.8) at Wagga Wagga, no such advantage accrued to the Al-tolerant group with the average yield for the sensitive and tolerant pairs being 5.00 and 4.78 t/ha, respectively. Manganese tolerance was assessed in only 1 of these experiments (Borambola) using 6 pairs of lines tolerant of Al but with contrasting Mn tolerance. No advantage of Mn tolerance was apparent at this site. At Binnaway the tolerant and sensitive lines responded to lime application with the tolerant lines yielding on average about 0.42 t/ha of grain more than the sensitive lines even when 5 t/ha of lime was applied. At Borambola the tolerant lines yielded 0.59 t/ha of grain more than the sensitive lines when no lime was applied. With lime application this difference in performance disappeared and Al-tolerant and sensitive lines yielded equally. At the Wagga Wagga site, the addition of lime did not affect the yield of the sensitive lines, while the tolerant lines showed a yield depression of 0.32 t/ha of grain with lime application. Three different relationships between lime application and Al tolerance were observed. While 2 relationships fit with our previous understanding, grain yield depression resulting from the combined use of Al tolerance and lime at our least acidic site remains poorly understood.


1997 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 571 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. R. Coventry ◽  
W. J. Slattery ◽  
V. F. Burnett ◽  
G. W. Ganning

Summary. A long-term experiment in north-eastern Victoria has been regularly monitored for wheat yield responses to a range of lime and fertiliser treatments, and the soil sampled for acidity attributes. Substantial grain yield increases have been consistently obtained over a period of 12 years with a single lime application. Lime applied at 2.5 t/ha in 1980 was still providing yield increases of 24% with an acid-tolerant wheat (Matong, 1992 season) and 79% with an acid-sensitive wheat (Oxley, 1993 season) relative to no lime treatment. The 2 wheat cultivars responded differently to phosphorus fertiliser, with the acid-sensitive wheat less responsive to phosphorus fertiliser in the absence of lime. The use of a regular lime application applied as a fertiliser (125 kg lime/ha) with the wheat seed gave only a small grain yield increase (8% Matong, 16% Oxley), despite 1 t/ha of lime applied over the 12-year period. Liming the soil at a rate of 2.5 t/ha (1980) initially raised the soil pH by about 1.0 unit and removed most soluble aluminium (0–10 cm). However, after 12 years of crop–pasture rotation after the initial 2.5 t lime/ha treatment the soil pH had declined by 0.7 of a pH unit and exchangeable aluminium was substantially increased, almost to levels prior to the initial application of lime. Given the continued yield responsiveness obtained following the initial application of lime, this practice, rather than regular applications of small amounts of lime, is recommended for wheat production on strongly acidic (pHw < 5.5) soils in south-eastern Australia.


Soil Research ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 145 ◽  
Author(s):  
CM Cardile ◽  
CW Childs ◽  
JS Whitton

The 57Fe Mossbauer spectra of a selection of smectitic clay fractions of CBD-treated soil samples were measured and computer-fitted with appropriate Fe3+ and Fe2 + resonances. The shape of the Fe3+ spectral envelopes suggested that all the clays were dominated by montmorillonite, contradicting the indications of the Greene-Kelly test. Experiments with untreated and CBD-treated nontronite and montmorillonite showed, however, that the apparent contradiction was probably the result of significant disruption of the smectites by the CBD treatment. The occurrence of this disruption also casts doubt on the validity of using the Greene-Kelly test on CBD-treated samples. The computer-fitted Mossbauer spectra of nontronite with different particle sizes (specifically aggregate size) demonstrated a relationship between particle size and the line-width of the Fe3+ tetrahedral site resonance. This relationship probably reflects an increasing degree of variability in the tetrahedral site with increasing particle size.


2014 ◽  
Vol 513-517 ◽  
pp. 3283-3286
Author(s):  
Zhi Wen Luo ◽  
Wen Yan Wu

Macroinvertebrates are important components of stream ecosystems. A field experiment was conducted to study the effects of substrate particle size, shape, and roughness on the composition and biodiversity of macroinvertebrates. The results show that the particle sizes, porosity, and interstial dimensions of the substrate affect the macroinvertebrate community, while the shape and surface roughness of the substrate do not strongly affect the macrobenthos composition and density. The macroinvertebrate composition in gravel is stable. The density and species richness in the gravels, leaf humus and are much higher than those in the black silt and sands.


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