Premium
Liming Rate and Method in Relation to Forage Establishment—Crop and Soil Chemical Responses 1
Author(s) -
Koch D. W.,
Estes G. O.
Publication year - 1986
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/agronj1986.00021962007800040002x
Subject(s) - lime , agronomy , dactylis glomerata , loam , lotus corniculatus , forage , tillage , seeding , seedbed , lolium perenne , perennial plant , seedling , medicago sativa , phleum , environmental science , chemistry , biology , soil water , poaceae , soil science , paleontology
Many fields, because of slope and rockiness, are not suited to conventional seeding. However, the no‐tillage methods of establishing perennial forages preclude the incorporation of lime. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the response of perennial forages seeded without tillage to surface‐applied lime. A long‐term study was conducted on a Penichuk fine sandy loam (loamy‐skeletal, mixed, mesic Dystric Eutrochrept) in which alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.)‐orchardgrass ( Dactylis glomerata L.) and birdsfoot trefoil ( Lotus corniculatus L.)–timothy ( Phleum pratense L.) mixtures were seeded conventionally and without tillage. Nine months prior to seeding, lime was broadcast at 0, 4.5, and 9.0 Mg ha −1 , incorporated for conventional seedings, and left on the surface for no‐till seedings. Soil pH prior to initiating the study was 5.6. In comparison with incorporated lime and conventional establishment, surface liming and establishment without tillage resulted in less vigorous forage seedlings and slower establishment. There was no difference in seedling density with liming or seeding method. Yields of legumes and total forage the seeding year were greater with incorporated than with unincorporated lime. In succeeding years, however, annual yields and 6‐yr total yields from 4.5 Mg ha −1 lime rates were not significantly different due to liming method. Over the long term, there was a yield advantage to incorporation of lime at the 9.0 Mg ha −1 rate. Rates of 9.0 compared with 4.5 Mg ha −1 of surface liming did not speed pH adjustment with depth, and after 6 yr pH had increased to a depth of only 10 cm. Birdsfoot trefoil–timothy was more productive than alfalfa‐orchardgrass without lime, but less responsive to lime. The highest rate (9.0 Mg ha −1 ) of incorporated lime increased alfalfa‐orchardgrass yields the year of establishment, but similar rates of surface‐applied lime did not produce a yield response until the fourth year.