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Response of Alfalfa Grown on Acid Soil to Different Chemical Amendments
Author(s) -
Rechcigl J. E.,
Edmisten K. L.,
Wolf D. D.,
Reneau R. B.
Publication year - 1988
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/agronj1988.00021962008000030024x
Subject(s) - lime , soil water , agronomy , medicago sativa , limiting , chemistry , soil ph , gypsum , zoology , horticulture , environmental science , biology , soil science , mechanical engineering , paleontology , engineering
Soil acidity is a major cause of reduced yields of alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) in the southeastern United States. The purpose of this study was to determine if alfalfa could be grown successfully on acid soils if sufficient Ca, N, Mo, and surface lime were provided. ‘Arc’ alfalfa was planted in March 1985 in a split‐plot design on an Aquic Fragiudult soil. Treatments included surface and incorporated dolomitic lime at either 6.5 or 13.0 Mg ha −1 , gypsum at 13.0 Mg ha −1 . In addition, each plot was split, with half of the plot receiving 224 kg N ha −1 and half receiving no N. Compared to the control, surface application of lime increased yields of alfalfa in both 1985 and 1986. Yields increased in response to addition of either N or Mo, indicating the importance of Mo in establishing the alfalfa nodule system for N assimilation. Soil pH averaged 4.8 and 6.7, and exchangeable AI averaged 2 and 21 mg kg −1 in the surface 5 cm of the limed and unlimed plots, respectively. The results of this study indicate that surface lime application is adequate for alfalfa establishment and production on acid soils, and that reduced N fixation appears to be a major limiting factor to growth of alfalfa on acid soils.