Effect of soil acidity on barley production in the south-west of Western Australia. 2. Cereal genotypes and their response to lime

1991 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 811 ◽  
Author(s):  
PJ Dolling ◽  
WM Porter ◽  
AD Robson

The effect of aluminium (Al) toxicity of either surface or subsurface soil on the growth of barley, and the potential for variation in response to soil acidity among agronomically adapted Australian barley genotypes, were examined at 13 sites. The effect of Al toxicity was investigated by plant analysis, using 3-5 lime application rates and Al-tolerant species (wheat, triticale), as well as barley. All cereals were supplied with complete nutrients. To measure the potential for response variation, grain yields of 14 genotypes of barley, relative to cv. Stirling, were related to soil pH at 7 sites. Grain yield of barley was increased 9-30% at 6 sites, by lime application alleviating A1 toxicity. The yield of triticale and wheat cv. Aroona was not increased by lime application at any site. There was some indication that subsurface acidity may be reducing the grain yield of barley at sites with CaCl2-extractable Al concentrations of 23-4 mg/g in the A2 horizon. Some barley genotypes appeared to be more tolerant than Stirling to soil acidity. Aluminium toxicity appears to be reducing barley grain yields by more than 10% at surface soil pH <4.5 (0.01 mol CaCl2/L), or when CaCl2-extractable Al is >3-4 mg/g. CaCl2-extractable A1 in the surface soil was not a better indicator of Al toxicity than soil pH.

2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. 295 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoffrey Anderson ◽  
Richard Bell

Soil acidity, or more specifically aluminium (Al) toxicity, is a major soil limitation to growing wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in the south of Western Australia (SWA). Application of calcium carbonate (lime) is used to correct Al toxicity by increasing soil pH and decreasing soluble soil Al3+. Soil testing using a 0.01 m calcium chloride (CaCl2) solution can measure both soil pH (pHCaCl2) and soil Al (AlCaCl2) for recommending rates of lime application. This study aimed to determine which combination of soil pHCaCl2 or soil AlCaCl2 and sampling depth best explains the wheat grain-yield increase (response) when lime is applied. A database of 31 historical lime experiments was compiled with wheat as the indicator crop. Wheat response to lime application was presented as relative yield percentage (grain yield for the no-lime treatment divided by the highest grain yield achieved for lime treatments × 100). Soil sampling depths were 0–10, 10–20 and 20–30 cm and various combinations of these depths. For evidence that lime application had altered soil pHCaCl2, we selected the change in the lowest pHCaCl2 value of the three soil layers to a depth of 30 cm as a result of the highest lime application (ΔpHmin). When ΔpHmin &lt;0.3, the lack of grain-yield response to lime suggested that insufficient lime had leached into the 10–30 cm soil layer to remove the soil Al limitation for these observations. Also, under high fallow-season rainfall (228 and 320 mm) and low growing-season rainfall (GSR) (&lt;140 mm), relative yield was lower for the measured level of soil AlCaCl2 than in the other observations. Hence, after excluding observations with ΔpHmin &lt;0.3 or GSR &lt;140 mm (n = 19), soil AlCaCl2 provided a better definition of the relationship between soil test and wheat response (r2 range 0.48–0.74) than did soil pHCaCl2 (highest r2 0.38). The critical value (defined at relative yield = 90%) ranged from 2.5 mg Al kg–1 (for soil Al calculated according to root distribution by depth within the 0–30 cm layer) to 4.5 mg Al kg–1 (calculated from the highest AlCaCl2 value from the three soil layers to 30 cm depth). We conclude that 0.01 m CaCl2 extractable Al in the 0–30 cm layer will give the more accurate definition of the relationship between soil test and wheat response in SWA.


1978 ◽  
Vol 90 (2) ◽  
pp. 283-289
Author(s):  
B. F. Pain ◽  
S. J. Richardsonf ◽  
Rosemary J. Fulford

SummaryIn experiments over 3 years (1974–6) cow slurry in the range 0–112·5 t/ha and ammonium nitrate in the range 0–120 kg N/ha were applied to field plots factorially to test the effects on the yield and quality of spring barley grain.In 1974 slurry application markedly improved the grain yield (cv. Golden Promise) at each rate of inorganic N and increased grain size. Applying N fertilizer with more than 37·5 t slurry/ha reduced grain yield below the maximum. Grain with the highest crude protein content (15·1 %) was obtained from a combination of slurry and inorganic N. The residual effects of the slurry treatments gave satisfactory grain yields in 1975 without additional fertilizer.Grain yields (cvs Julia and Abacus) in other experiments carried out on a different soil type in 1975 and 1976 were approximately half those obtained in 1974, due in part to drought conditions. The pattern of the results was similar. Heaviest grain yields were harvested from plots receiving 70 t slurry/ha with no additional N.


1974 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 264-270
Author(s):  
Yrjö Pessi ◽  
Jorma Syvälahti ◽  
Esko Saari ◽  
Mikko Ylänen

This investigation examines the mineral content of cereal grain yields and the effect of NPK-fertilization on this content. The NPK-fertilization and the increased yield level thus obtained have not essentially affected the mineral contents of cereal grain. Among different kinds of cereals the mineral content of oats is in most cases the highest and that of rye and winter wheat the lowest. None of the different kinds of fertilizers gave clear differences in the mineral content of barley grain.


1969 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 224-231
Author(s):  
Raúl Pérez-Escolar ◽  
M. A. Lugo-López ◽  
T. W. Scott

The effects of lime applied at 20, 40, and 60 cm depths, and calcium nitrate applied in the top 20 cm, in terms of yield of two soybean crops, Jupiter variety, and on the factors of soil acidity in Humatas clay (a typical upland Ultisol of Puerto Rico) were determined. Highly significant and significant correlations between soybean yield and factors of soil acidity of the topmost 60 cm of the soil profile were measured in the first and second crops, respectively. A straight line equation best described the results. As long as 33 months following the lime application in treatments bearing lime in the top 20 cm layer, increases of soil pH and bases and subsequent decreases in the exchangeable aluminum content of the 20 to 40 cm layer beneath were evident and indicative of lime movement.


2020 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
pp. 368 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. K. Conyers ◽  
B. J. Scott ◽  
M. G. Whitten

Grain yield is frequently constrained by soil acidity in southern Australia yet limestone crushing plants are few and distant, making the use of limestone costly. The efficient technology of agricultural liming is therefore critical to the continuation of the practice following its adoption during the 1980s. We hypothesise that finer particles are the most effective materials for ameliorating soil acidity even over the longer term, when the residual value of coarser particles might be expected to be greater. Finer particle sizes of limestone, particularly &lt;0.075 mm, initially gave the largest increases in soil pH per tonne of limestone applied. Despite the rapid and large increase in soil pH with finer particles, there was no less residual value in surface soil pH after 7 years or in grain yield in the 7th and 8th growing seasons compared with coarser particles. Most particle size fractions of limestone converged to a similar soil pHca at 0–10 cm depth after about 6 years but the coarsest particle size fraction (2–5 mm) lagged the other five. Finer particles also resulted in better movement of alkali and Ca into the subsurface soil layers below the depth of incorporation (0–10 cm). The measurement of unreacted limestone in the soil showed that the dissolution of limestone took up to 3 years (1807 mm of rainfall) for the 2.5 t/ha rate and up to 6 years (3592 mm) for the 5 t/ha rate. The rapid increase in soil pH in Year 1, the slow ongoing reaction of limestone over 3–6 years as measured by unreacted limestone, the slow but measurable improvement in subsurface acidity, and the sustained residual value to grain yield over in excess of eight seasons, indicate that the use of finer liming materials should remain a viable practice for growers.


1966 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-68
Author(s):  
Herman A. Hamilton ◽  
M. Levesque ◽  
J. R. Lessard

A virgin Grey Wooded soil in which soil pH increased with depth of profile was ploughed to different depths on first breaking the land. It was observed that irrespective of depth of ploughing, calcitic limestone applied at 2 and 4 tons per acre respectively still exerted an effect on crop yields 7 years after application. The predominant effect of increases in soil pH and crop yields were attributable to lime, though with 6-in. ploughing nitrogen had a significant effect in increasing soil pH but no significant effect on crop yields. Phosphorus did not significantly affect soil pH with any of the ploughing treatments imposed, but had some effect on crop yields with 6-in. ploughing and 24-in. ploughing. In the absence of lime application, soil pH decreased substantially in the first year of cropping and then remained fairly constant. An application of 2 tons of lime per acre was just sufficient to maintain the natural pH of the different soil layers and yet caused substantial increases in crop yields. With 4 tons of lime per acre, the increase in soil pH was at a maximum in the first year after application, and with 6-in. ploughing was maintained at this level. However with 12-in. ploughing and 24-in. ploughing the maximum pH attained was not maintained.Lime applied to the surface soil affected soil pH in the subsurface soil.Irrespective of initial ploughing treatment on breaking the land, lime decreased organic matter and increased Bray 'acid-soluble' phosphorus in the surface soil. With 6-in. and 12-in. ploughing, lime increased Bray 'adsorbed' phosphorus, but caused a decrease with 24-in. ploughing. On the application of lime, increases in Bray 'acid-soluble' phosphorus were in general more pronounced than increases in Bray 'adsorbed' phosphorus.


2007 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 208 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. W. Dunn ◽  
H. G. Beecher

Irrigated agriculture has contributed to increasing topsoil acidity, which in turn can increase acidification of the subsoil. Lime is typically applied at a uniform rate to raise the pH of the soil, with no accounting for the variation in soil acidity that may exist within a field. Current commercial sampling protocols use surface soil composites taken across the whole field or in parts of fields where visual soil differences are apparent. Current liming recommendations may not account for in-field soil pH spatial variability, especially if the variability is not related to visual differences. Three studies were undertaken over 10 fields, to investigate the potential of using electro-magnetic induction instruments (Geonics EM38 and EM31) to target soil sampling in order to identify differences in soil acidity within flood-irrigated fields in southern New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Within individual fields, large differences in surface soil acidity were identified and a strong relationship (r2 = 0.49 to 0.91) between the soil’s apparent electrical conductivity and soil pH was found. It is proposed that fields from southern NSW that have grown rice, be divided into zones to soil sample for acidity assessment, based on EM instrument readings. Proposed ECa levels for the delineation of zones are <80, 80–140 and >140 mS/m for EM31v and <80, 80–110 and >110 mS/m for EM38v. Many rice growers in southern NSW currently have EM maps of their fields. Using these maps to target soil sampling for soil acidity would be a more cost-effective method of determining the spatial variability of soil acidity in a field than grid sampling. Knowledge of the variability of soil acidity within the field would potentially allow the application of appropriate lime rates, relative to soil pH and cation exchange capacity to all parts of the field. This knowledge could make the variable application of lime a cost effective approach, compared with whole field management approaches.


Author(s):  
Nonilona P. Daquiado

Aims: This study was conducted to formulate appropriate fertilization scheme for some rice varieties used at University Income Generating Project (UIGP) sites of Central Mindanao University (CMU), Philippines and to determine the effects of organic and inorganic fertilizers on some soil chemical properties. Study Design: Split-plot in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in three replications with 5 levels of inorganic and organic fertilizers as main plot factor and 3 rice varieties as sub-plot factor. Place and Duration of Study: UIGP area of CMU, Musuan, Bukidnon, the Philippines from November 2015 to May 2016. Methodology: Plots were laid out following Split-plot in RCBD in 3 replications. The 5 levels of Fertilizers were: no fertilizer (control), 90-60-60 kg NPK/ha, 2t vermicompost/ha, 45-30-30 kg NPK/ha + 2t vermicompost/ha and 90-60-60kg NPK/ha + 2t vermicompost/ha while the three rice varieties were: Matatag 11, NSIC Rc158 and NSIC Rc238. The initial characteristics of the soil served as the basis for the recommended rate of inorganic fertilizer application at 90-60-60 kg NPK/ha. Results: Analysis of variance showed that interaction between the levels of fertilizers and varieties were not significant for all agronomic and yield parameters except the number of days to 50% flowering implying that the varieties had a similar response to the levels of fertilizers. Results revealed that the levels of fertilizers significantly affected plant height at 30 (P = 0.011) and at 50 days after transplanting, DAT (P = 0.006), productive tiller count (P = 0.002), % filled grains (P = 0.026), and grain yield (P = 0.003) while the varieties significantly differed in plant height at 50 DAT (P = 0.006), number of days to 50% (P = 0.001) and 100% flowering (P = 0.001), % filled grains (P = 0.039), 1,000 grain weight (P = 0.009) and grain yield (P = 0.044). When averaged across varieties, grain yields were increased by fertilizer application with 90-60-60 + 2t vermicompost/ha giving significant increase of 2.14 t/ha (vs control) and 90-60-60 kg NPK/ha, 2t vermicompost/ha, and 45-30-30 + 2t vermicompost/ha giving not significant increases of 1.26, 0.36 and 1.05 t/ha, respectively. NSIC Rc238 had the highest grain yield that was significantly higher than that of NSIC Rc158 but not with that of Matatag 11. Moreover, soil pH, organic matter and extractable phosphorus (P) contents of the experimental plots after harvest were significantly influenced by vermicompost and inorganic fertilizer application (P = 0.01) with plots applied with vermicompost exhibiting significantly higher pH values and organic matter contents compared to those plots with no fertilizer and those applied with inorganic fertilizers alone. Conclusion: Findings of the study disclosed that vermicompost is an effective organic amendment to improve soil pH, soil organic matter content and rice productivity in Maapag soil and its application at 2t/ha in combination with 90-60-60 kg NPK/ha gave the highest grain yields of Matatag, NSIC Rc158 and NSIC Rc238 at 6.23, 6.10 and 6.75 t/ha, respectively that were higher than their average yields but lower than their maximum yields.


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.


2016 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 169-172
Author(s):  
A.E. Whitley ◽  
J.L. Moir ◽  
P.C. Almond ◽  
D.J. Moot

Soil acidity and associated aluminium (Al) toxicity severely limit the establishment and growth of legumes in New Zealand high country pastures. A survey of 13 soils differing in location, soil order, parent material and climate, showed soil pH to range from 4.9 to 6.4 and exchangeable Al (0.02M CaCl2) concentrations of


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