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Essentiality of Molybdenum for Alfalfa on Highly Oxidized Piedmont Soils 1
Author(s) -
Giddens Joel,
Perkins H. F.
Publication year - 1972
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/agronj1972.00021962006400060035x
Subject(s) - lime , medicago sativa , agronomy , forage , soil water , chemistry , molybdenum , zoology , biology , inorganic chemistry , paleontology , ecology
Production of alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) has steadily declined on highly oxidized soils of the Southeast during the past decade. An investigation was conducted to determine if lack of Mo is responsible and if lime or N replaces the Mo requirement of alfalfa and if there are other alternatives such as use of CaSO 4 and Mo to replace lime, MgCO 3 substitution for CaCO 3 , and if high initial lime applications may replace lesser annual applications. Field investigations using two highly oxidized Udults revealed that neither N at 67 kg/ha, nor lime at initial rate of 11,200 kg/ha or annual applications of 2,240 kg/ha replaced the Mo requirement of alfalfa. Nitrogen increased crabgrass ( Digitaria sp.) competition, which resulted in less alfalfa forage. Calcium from CaSO 4 with or without Mo did not maintain alfalfa. MgCO 3 and CaCO 3 applied at equivalent rates were equally effective as liming materials. An initial lime treatment of 11,200 kg/ha produced yields equal to that obtained by annual application of the same total amount of lime over a 5‐year period.