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Effect of Dolomitic Limestone on Soils and Crops When Used as a Neutralizing Agent in Complete Fertilizers 1
Author(s) -
Collins E. R.,
Skinner J. J.
Publication year - 1942
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1942.00021962003400100004x
Subject(s) - agricultural experiment station , agriculture , citation , agricultural science , mathematics , agricultural economics , library science , political science , archaeology , geography , environmental science , economics , computer science
N EUTRALIZING the acidity of fertilizers caused by acid-forming nitrogen salts with dolomitic limestone has generally given increased yields of crops on many soil series in the South (~, 6, 8, ~o, ~, ~2).3 Dolomitic limestone in addition to neutralizing the acidforming tendencies of fertilizer supplies calcium and magnesium. The relative importance of these two functions of dolomitic limestone may vary with crop and soil. The decomposability of dolomitic limestone in the soil and the availability of its magnesium to crops when used to make non-acid-forming fertilizers have been shown to be of considerable importance in crop fertilization (4, 5). Greenhouse studies with cotton on the decomposition of limestone bf different degrees of fineness on different soil types have shown that calcined dolomitic limestone, 8o-mesh and finer, supplies a large part of the magnesium needs of plants; and that the pH and buffer capacity of the soil are the major soil factors involved in dolomitic limestone decomposition (4, 5). Results of field experiments with cotton, sweet potatoes, and Irish potatoes on Coastal Plain soils of North Carolina reported in this paper contribute additional soil and plant data on the subject.