HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) An erratum has been published Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Sumner, M. E. Articles by Hammel, J. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Sumner, M. E. Articles by Hammel, J. Agricola Articles by Sumner, M. E. Articles by Hammel, J.

Amelioration of an Acid Soil Profile through Deep Liming and Surface Application of Gypsum¹

ABSTRACT

Highly weathered soils in the southeastern USA often have very acid, hard, infertile subsoils not readily penetrated by crop roots. An experiment on a Typic Hapludult involving deep liming, subsoil disturbance and mixing, and surface application of gypsum was conducted to investigate the possibilities of ameliorating such subsoils. Results with alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) over 4 yr show that liming to 1 m can increase yields by 50% while merely mixing the subsoil without lime incorporation resulted in a substantial yield decline. Surface application of gypsum with sufficient time for it to penetrate the subsoil resulted in 25% yield increases. Deep liming resulted in the complete precipitation of soluble Al and increased the level of soluble Ca allowing roots to freely penetrate the subsoil. Gypsum resulted in a progressive reduction in soluble Al and an increase in soluble Ca creating a similar but lesser effect than liming. Water extraction patterns corroborated the fact that roots were penetrating chemically ameliorated subsoil. Saturation extract studies indicated that gypsum reduced the activity of Al³⁺ and increased that of Ca²⁺ substantially. These results suggest that by-product gypsum from phosphate acid manufacture would be a feasible amendment for acid subsoils.

¹ Contribution from the Dep. of Agronomy, Univ. of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602. Research supported by Florida Institute of Phosphate Research and Georgia Agricultural Experiment Stations.

² Professor, Graduate Research Assistant, Associate Professor and Assistant Professor, respectively. Fourth author currently Assistant Professor, Univ. of Idaho, Moscow, ID.

Received for publication January 27, 1986.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				F. Peregrina, I. Mariscal, R. Ordonez, P. Gonzalez, T. Terefe, and R. Espejo Agronomic Implications of Converter Basic Slag as a Magnesium Source on Acid Soils Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., January 25, 2008; 72(2): 402 - 411. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. D. Zheljazkov, T. Astatkie, C. D. Caldwell, J. MacLeod, and M. Grimmett Compost, Manure, and Gypsum Application to Timothy/Red Clover Forage J. Environ. Qual., October 27, 2006; 35(6): 2410 - 2418. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. D. Ritchey, D. P. Belesky, and J. J. Halvorson Soil Properties and Clover Establishment Six Years after Surface Application of Calcium-Rich By-Products Agron. J., November 1, 2004; 96(6): 1531 - 1539. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. J. von Willert and R. C. Stehouwer Compost and Calcium Surface Treatment Effects on Subsoil Chemistry in Acidic Minespoil Columns J. Environ. Qual., May 1, 2003; 32(3): 781 - 788. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. J. von Willert and R. C. Stehouwer Compost, Limestone, and Gypsum Effects on Calcium and Aluminum Transport in Acidic Minespoil Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., May 1, 2003; 67(3): 778 - 786. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. D. Ritchey and J. D. Snuffer Limestone, Gypsum, and Magnesium Oxide Influence Restoration of an Abandoned Appalachian Pasture Agron. J., July 1, 2002; 94(4): 830 - 839. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. K. Sledge, J. H. Bouton, M. Dall'Agnoll, W. A. Parrott, and G. Kochert Identification and Confirmation of Aluminum Tolerance QTL in Diploid Medicago sativa subsp. coerulea Crop Sci., July 1, 2002; 42(4): 1121 - 1128. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Toma, M.E. Sumner, G. Weeks, and M. Saigusa Long-term Effects of Gypsum on Crop Yield and Subsoil Chemical Properties Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., July 1, 1999; 63(4): 891 - 895. [Abstract] [Full Text]