Variability in characteristics of some acidic pasture soils in South Australia and implications for lime application

Soil Research ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
RH Merry ◽  
KG Tiller ◽  
AF Richards

The variability of soil pH (0.01 M CaCI2), aluminium and manganese (extractable in 0.01 M CaCl2), total carbon and some soil morphological factors have been investigated in the surface and subsoil at seven pasture sites in the southern Mount Lofty Ranges and Kangaroo Island, South Australia. The coefficients of variation of the factors measured were found to be of a similar order, except for soil pH which, being a logarithmic transformation, is much lower. Relationships between pH and soil aluminium, manganese and carbon are used to predict the effects of further acidification, especially with respect to the development of increased extractable aluminium, and to assess the likelihood of problems in selecting appropriate rates of lime application.

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


2018 ◽  
Vol 229 ◽  
pp. 03001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aflizar ◽  
Aprisal ◽  
Cornelius Idowu Alarima ◽  
Tsugiyuki Masunaga

The purpose of this study was to characterize and present the distribution of heavy metals especially Cd on agricultural and non-agricultural lands and river sediments in relation to soil erosion and topography status in watersheds. The study was conducted for a detailed soil survey by collecting 146 soil sample based on land use, soil family and topography position and 23 river sediments sample. The Cd was extracted by 0.1 M HCl and determined by ICP. The result showed that the concentration of Cd in soil and river sediment were low in toxicity based on FAO recommendation (Cd 0.4 mg/kg) with only 4 out of 169 sampling sites contained Cd exceeding the toxicity level. Volcanic ash from Mount Talang Volcano is a natural source of Cd in Sumani watershed. Cd concentration was low in areas with high soil erosion, which indicate material translocation caused by high soil erosion that accumulates sediment in plains and rivers. Agricultural soil was found to be low in soil pH and clay accompanied by high R factor and upland topography hence the increase in Cd concentration of the soil. The study concluded that Cd abundance in soils may be influenced by soil pH, texture, total carbon, erosion factors, and topography.


1996 ◽  
Vol 47 (7) ◽  
pp. 1095 ◽  
Author(s):  
MJ Hill

Potential adaptation zones were modelled for major temperate pasture species using climate data and knowledge-based logical rules. A GIs database was constructed using a 0.025 degree digital elevation model and the Australian Climate Surfaces to create layers of monthly mean climate data for Australia. Soil pH maps for New South Wales, Victoria, and south-eastern South Australia were digitised and added to the database. Simple models using logical operators were constructed using estimates of temperature and aridity thresholds for the main temperate pasture species. The logical models were executed using primary and derived climate layers to create raster maps of potential adaptation zones for pasture species in eastern and south-western Australia. Areas of adaptation on freehold/leasehold land were expressed relative to a potential temperate pasture adaptation zone described by the lower (arid) limit of annual legume adaptation in temperate Australia and the northern limit of lucerne adaptation. Potential adaptation within this area ranged from 66% for lucerne down to <20% for perennial ryegrass in eastern Australia, and 93% for subterranean clover down to zero for perennial ryegrass in south-western Australia. Utility of the species adaptation zones could be enhanced using soil pH maps: a zone for serradella in NSW was refined by restricting adaptation to areas of climatic suitability with low soil pH. Maps for lucerne and Mount Barker subterranean clover showed good agreement with validation data for NSW. The zones may be readily adjusted by simple changes to parameter values in the algorithms. This knowledge-based approach has potential as an aid to targeting resources for plant improvement or to provide advice for more efficient utilisation of existing commercial pasture plants.


1985 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 149 ◽  
Author(s):  
LJ Horsnell

The response of improved pastures to the application of superphosphate is low on the acid sedimentary soils, of the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, which contain high levels of exchangeable aluminium. An investigation was made into the effect of surface-applied fertilizers on soil pH and on the establishment and growth of lucerne and phalaris on these soils. At 6 weeks after the application of gypsum, superphosphate, or superphosphate plus potassium sulfate, soil pH (H2O) had decreased markedly. This effect extended to a depth of 20 cm, but decreased with time. Initially, lime application increased the pH of the surface soil only. When superphosphate was applied with lime the pH of the soil under the lime layer decreased to the same level as that found in the soil treated with superphosphate alone. Lime, however, had penetrated into the subsoil 102 weeks after application and substantially more so after 13 years. Soil pH (0.01 M CaCl2) was not depressed by the application of fertilizers. Growth and persistence of both species in the first summer were poor, but growth responses to phosphorus, lime and nitrogen increased after the first year. Lucerne showed large growth responses to lime, greater than those found on plots receiving nitrogen fertilizer. Lime reduced aluminium levels both in lucerne plants and in soil. It is suggested that the slow penetration of lime into the soil, the relatively quick effect of superphosphate in increasing subsoil acidity, and high soil aluminium levels are together responsible for the poor persistence and slow growth of both lucerne and phalaris in the early stages. The subsequent large dry matter responses of lucerne to lime are possibly related to increased nitrogen fixation and a lowering of plant and soil aluminium levels. It is suggested that the lime responses of phalaris are also related to lower aluminium levels.


2018 ◽  
Vol 175 ◽  
pp. 217-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guilherme M. Sanches ◽  
Paulo S.G. Magalhães ◽  
Armando Z. Remacre ◽  
Henrique C.J. Franco

Soil Research ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 149 ◽  
Author(s):  
TJV Hodge ◽  
DC Lewis

Areas of low soil pH in the south-east of South Australia were delineated by using previously submitted soil samples and soil association maps. A survey was then undertaken in the major soil associations to determine the severity and characteristics of highly acid soils. The acid soil types identified were a siliceous sand over clay (Db/Dy) and a siliceous sand over organic matter/sesquioxide pan (Uc). The top 2.5 cm of both soil types was significantly less acid than the remaining portion of the A horizon, with pH decreasing rapidly with depth until the B horizon, where a substantial soil pH increase occurred. As soil pH (0.01 M CaCl2) decreased below 4.5, extractable soil aluminium (0.01 M CaCl2) increased rapidly, to a maximum extractable concentration of 17 �g g-l. These soil types were also found to be deficient in both phosphorus and potassium, with 65% of the sites having extractable phosphorus concentrations below the critical value of 20 �g g-1 and 35% below the critical value for extractable potassium of 80 �g g-l. For subterranean clover, significant positive correlations were observed between soil pH and plant calcium and sulfur, and between extractable soil aluminium and plant aluminium. Significant negative correlations were observed between soil pH and plant manganese and between extractable soil aluminium and plant calcium and magnesium. For ryegrass, significant positive correlations were observed between extractable soil aluminium and plant aluminium and manganese. Significant negative correlations were observed between soil pH and plant manganese and between extractable soil aluminium and plant calcium. No other significant correlations were obtained. The results are discussed in relation to further acidification and management of these acid siliceous sands.


2009 ◽  
Vol 75 (6) ◽  
pp. 1589-1596 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johannes Rousk ◽  
Philip C. Brookes ◽  
Erland Bååth

ABSTRACT The influence of pH on the relative importance of the two principal decomposer groups in soil, fungi and bacteria, was investigated along a continuous soil pH gradient at Hoosfield acid strip at Rothamsted Research in the United Kingdom. This experimental location provides a uniform pH gradient, ranging from pH 8.3 to 4.0, within 180 m in a silty loam soil on which barley has been continuously grown for more than 100 years. We estimated the importance of fungi and bacteria directly by measuring acetate incorporation into ergosterol to measure fungal growth and leucine and thymidine incorporation to measure bacterial growth. The growth-based measurements revealed a fivefold decrease in bacterial growth and a fivefold increase in fungal growth with lower pH. This resulted in an approximately 30-fold increase in fungal importance, as indicated by the fungal growth/bacterial growth ratio, from pH 8.3 to pH 4.5. In contrast, corresponding effects on biomass markers for fungi (ergosterol and phospholipid fatty acid [PLFA] 18:2ω6,9) and bacteria (bacterial PLFAs) showed only a two- to threefold difference in fungal importance in the same pH interval. The shift in fungal and bacterial importance along the pH gradient decreased the total carbon mineralization, measured as basal respiration, by only about one-third, possibly suggesting functional redundancy. Below pH 4.5 there was universal inhibition of all microbial variables, probably derived from increased inhibitory effects due to release of free aluminum or decreasing plant productivity. To investigate decomposer group importance, growth measurements provided significantly increased sensitivity compared with biomass-based measurements.


1992 ◽  
Vol 32 (7) ◽  
pp. 901 ◽  
Author(s):  
DR Coventry

The acidification of duplex soils used for crop-pasture rotations has been reported widely in Australia in the winter dominant rainfall regions. At some locations induced soil acidity limits crop and pasture yield. The rate of soil acidification is affected by soil properties, agricultural management and rainfall. Rates of acid addition of 0.6-6 kmol H+/ha.year have been measured from long term crop pasture rotation experiments; these rates are comparable with values reported from pastoral studies in higher rainfall areas. Components of both the carbon and nitrogen cycles contribute to this acid addition, with loss of nitrate nitrogen below the rooting depth of these predominantly annual plant systems likely to be the main cause of acidification. Lime application has been recommended as a means of correcting acidification and improving crop and pasture yield. There is little information on the longevity of any beneficial effects of lime, the movement of lime in the soil and re-acidification of the soil in crop-pasture systems. A long term experimental site with rotation, deep tillage and lime treatments has been soil sampled throughout a 9-year period for changes in soil pH and aluminium. Soil pH decreased with increasing time after lime application. At lower lime rates (0.5-1.0 t/ha) there was no difference in pH or exchangeable A1 after 9 years, compared with the unlimed soil. At the higher lime rates there was downward movement of the neutralising effect of lime with time, as well as acidification of the soil. However, the yield responses obtained with all of the lime rates were maintained 9 years after 1 application of lime, even though the soil was strongly acid according to the measures used. Strategies for countering soil acidificaton may require an initial application of lime if acidity factors are restricting yield. Management systems which increase the permeability of the B horizon of duplex soils and which promote plant growth and a deep root system are essential for countering acidity in a croppasture rotation.


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.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 101-106
Author(s):  
Nguyen Van Chuong

This research found the great hold of liming, soils and irrigation water on the arsenic (As) accumulation of rice, maize and mung bean in the nethouse research. Two greenhouse experiments had various plant types of rice, maize and mung bean with two soils inside and outside the dyke, two irrigated waters of 0.0 and 200 ?g As/L and three different lime ratios (0, 7.0 and 9.0 tons CaO/ha). The whole treatments were twenty one (12 treatments of experiment 1 and 9 of experiment 2) with 4 repetitions. The results of this study showed that the lime application raised both soil pH and crop yield. The arsenic (As) absorption of plant bodies in stems and seeds inside the dyke increased from 67.8 to 68.3% higher than those outside the dyke, respectively. The arsenic contents of stems and seeds with the treatments of 200 ?g As/L irrigation water were higher from 81.5 to 89.4% than that of non As irrigation water, respectively. The lime supplementation of 7.0 and 9.0 tons CaO per ha reduced the As accumulation of stems and seeds of rice, maize and mung bean was lower than the one without lime supplement from 38.6 (stems) and 54.5 (seeds). Mung bean absorbed the highest As, followed by rice and maize with the lowest As value. However, the lime supplementation of 9.0 tons CaO/ha had so high soil pH of soil that restricted the growth and yield of crops. More different lime concentrations need to search for more new details and new discovery of positive effects of this research.


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