Laboratory and greenhouse evaluation of quicklime sources for suitability as agricultural liming materials

• Published in: Communications in soil science and plant analysis 2004-12, Vol.35 (7-8), p.1167-1183
• Main Authors: Mayfield, J.L, Ozanne, L, Mitchell, C.C, Simonne, E.H, Sibley, J.L
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: acid soils; Acidity; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Alkalinity; aluminum; application rate; bioassays; Biological and medical sciences; calcium; calcium carbonate; Calcium carbonate, limestone; calcium fertilizers; calcium hydroxide; Calcium oxide; dolomitic limestone; economic costs; extraction; forage; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; greenhouses; hybrids; limes; liming; liming materials; magnesium; magnesium oxide; neutralization; nutrients; pellets; plant growth; shoots; soil amendments; soil pH; soil solution; Sorghum bicolor subsp. drummondii; toxicity
• ISSN: 0010-3624; 1532-2416
• DOI: 10.1081/CSS-120030596

Quicklime or burnt lime (CaO), is a highly soluble liming material recognized as an acceptable means for neutralization of acid soils in the United States. Blending CaO and MgO with agricultural lime (CaCO3) may prove an alternative to ground agricultural limestone for raising soil pH and providing fertilizer Ca and Mg for crop growth. The objectives of this study were to determine the chemical properties of several CaO, MgO, and CaCO3 liming blends compared to carbonate limestones, and analyze their respective effects on soil solution chemistry and shoot yield of a sorghum-sudangrass hybrid grown under greenhouse conditions. Three formulations of oxide liming materials (CaO, CaO + CaCO3, and CaO + MgO + CaCO3) were evaluated in the laboratory to determine their respective effectiveness as soil amendments compared to two dolomitic limestones (ground and pelletized) and reagent-grade calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH)2]. A 150-day incubation study was conducted to determine the effects of liming materials on soil pH and extractable nutrients, and a greenhouse study was completed to observe the effects of liming materials and rates on the herbage yield of a sorghum-sudangrass hybrid. Oxide liming materials averaged higher calcium carbonate equivalence (CCE) than ground and pelletized dolomitic limestones. An incubation study found CaO, CaO + CaCO3, and CaO + MgO + CaCO3 resulted in rapid pH adjustments (from pH 4.1 and 4.4 to 6.0 +) at one day after test initiation for two soil types and gave higher mean pH values than carbonate limes when applied at equivalent rates based upon CCE. Oxide liming materials also resulted in higher concentrations of soil extractable calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg), and the use of all liming materials, regardless of chemical form, alleviated Al toxicity. In a nine week greenhouse bioassay, all oxide liming materials and reagent-grade Ca(OH)2 were applied at 1/2X, 1X, and 2X the recommended application rate of ground dolomitic limestone based on CCE, resulting in similar or higher shoot yields comparatively at conclusion of this study. Because oxide liming materials have higher CCE values and provide more water-soluble sources of fertilizer Ca and Mg compared to ground and pelletized limestone, producers have potential for obtaining a more complete neutralization of acid soil conditions and shoot yields similar to or higher than those obtained with dolomitic limestone, using less material in the process. This study did not determine if ch