Illinois Fertilizer
Conference Proceedings
January 28-30, 1991
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John E. Sawyer and Ted R. Peck1
With the current high producer interest in adopting no-till and because of a need to control soil erosion and meet current compliance for government programs, concern has been raised about limestone management in no-till systems. This study was initiated to compare crop response and soil profile pH and chemical characteristics of surface applied limestone and plow layer-distributed limestone in a no-till system. The effects of limestone material, application rate, surface application, and plow layer, corrected pH on crop grain yield, grain moisture, plant nutrient concentration, and soil profile chemical characterization will be investigated at the Brownstown Agronomy Research Center, on a Cisne silt loam soil (Fine, Montmorillonitic, mesic Mollic Albaqualf). As this project was initiated in the fall of 1990, no results are available as of the date of this report.
With current requirements to meet compliance for government programs and the need to control soil erosion, producer interest has focused on utilization of reduced till -especially no-till -- tillage systems. To maintain financial profitability, these tillage systems must maintain production levels near those of previously used systems and not increase, and hopefully decrease, other costs associated with crop production. Application of limestone has historically been important to correct low soil Ph and maintain crop production levels. however, with adoption of no-till, concern has been raised about placement of limestone and the resultant effects on soil profile Ph and availability of nutrients throughout the profile to plants.
Much research has shown increases in profile stratification of nutrients and soil Ph, as amount of tillage decreases or is eliminated, especially as the frequency of moldboard plowing decreases (Hoeft and Randall, 1985; Buchholz et al., 1986; Sawyer and Carter, 198-9). The increased stratification or reduced distribution has not always translated into reduced grain yield, but these types of studies were usually confounded, because the tillage comparisons were made when the tillage system itself had caused the stratification. If production levels vary with different tillage systems, it is very difficult to determine variations due to tillage and those caused by depth stratification of nutrients or soil pH.
Work has been conducted to determine the effect of surface limestone application on crop production and soil pH distribution in continuous no-till corn (Zea a s L.) (Triplett et al., 1972; Moschler et al., 1973;; Blevins et al., 1978; Sutton and Trierweiler, 1990). But, these studies did not compare no-till systems where the limestone was distributed through the, plow layer versus applied on the soil surface. Also, these studies were conducted using only surface application of N. Reed and Eckert (1989) found zones of low pH at the point of repeated injection of anhydrous ammonia in a no-till continuous corn system (pH below 5.0 after eight years and injection was at the same point each year). Corn yield was not affected but elevated concentrations of Mn were found in ear leaves at silking. This research points out the possible deleterious effect of low pH below the soil surface if only surface applications of limestone are made in a no-till system.
Information is needed to determine that if a no-till system is adopted, whether surface application of limestone to correct low soil pH would result in the same level of production as if the limestone was incorporated throughout the plow layer. In other words, would plant roots adequately explore and obtain nutrients from soil throughout the profile. if only the surface few-inches were maintained at the proper soil pH level rather than the traditional "plow layer"?
In the review of limestone use and soil pH, McLean and Brown (1984) and Barber (1984) do not thoroughly address this. Most comments stated that either limestone should be added to the plow layer before initiation of the reduced tillage or surface applications of lime should be made to correct acidity from surface applications of N fertilizers. Blevins et al. (1978) stated that if the soil pH is at a critical low level, then it may be advisable to incorporate limestone before initiation of a no-till system. However, they did not study that situation in their research. As producers decide to utilize no-till in their production programs, the question of limestone distribution must be addressed to ensure that high levels of production can be maintained.
The general goal of this project was to determine the effects of soil profile pH stratification on crop production and soil chemical characteristics within a no-till system. Specific objectives were to (1) compare profile soil pH and other soil chemical characteristics between surface limestone application and plow layer distributed limestone (past limestone application) in a no-till corn/soybean (Glvcine max (L.) Merr.) rotation , (2) determine plant nutrient concentration and yield with surface-applied limestone and plow layer-distributed limestone in a no-till system.
This study will utilize an existing liming materials experiment at the Brownstown Agronomy Research Center, located in south central Illinois. Soil type is a Cisne silt loam (Fine, Montmorillonitic, mesic Mollic Albaqualf). Past treatments included a control or no lime application, pelletized lime application at 500 and 1000 lb CCE/acre, powdered lime at 3.25 and 4.75 ton CCE/acre, and ag-ground limestone at 6.5 and 9.5 ton CCE/acre. These treatments were replicated three times in a randomized complete block design and were applied on Aug. 20, 1985. Past tillage has been minimum till and chisel plow. Current soil pH levels (0 - 6 inch depth) are 4.4 to 4.5 for the control and 500 to 1,000 lb rates of application, and 6.1 to 7.1 for the high rates of powdered and ag-ground limestone (Table 1). The low rates of limestone have had no real effect on soil pH, and on crop yield (data not shown).
In the fall of 1989, the plot area was fertilized with 62 lb P205/acre and 120 lb I.0/acre and then chisel plowed. In the spring of 1990, 72 1b P2O5/acre and 230 lb K2O/acre were applied and then the entire area was moldboard plowed (depth of 6 in.). Soybeans were grown in 1990. Corn will be no-till planted in the spring of 1991.
Soil samples, 0-6 inch composite and by 2-inch increments to a depth of 12 inch, were collected Oct. 31, 1990 from all plots before limestone application. Limestone treatments were applied Nov. 1, 1990 to the soil surface of the three original low limestone rate treatments.
Newly applied limestone treatments were 3.25 ton CCE/acre rate of powdered lime (99,4 percent through a 60 mesh sieve), 6.5 ton CCE/acre rate of ag-ground limestone (93.4 percent through 8 mesh, 50.0 percent through 30 mesh, and 33.3 percent through a 60 mesh sieve), and an annual application of 1.1 ton CCE/acre powdered lime (99.4 percent through a 60 mesh sieve) applied for three years. All treatments will remain in the same location each year. Plot size is 15 by 60 ft. The experimental design is a randomized complete block with three replications.
The intent is to measure grain yield, grain moisture content at harvest, and nutrient concentration of leaf, whole plant, and grain samples. Soil profile chemical characterization over time will be measured for pH, Ca, Mg, and micronutrients. The current proposed duration of this project is for three years. Continuation of the project beyond that time may be necessary to measure longterm effects of limestone application.
As this project was initiated in the fall of 1990, no research results are available at the date of this report.
No summary is available at this time.
Table 1. Effect of lime source and rate on soil pH, Brownstown Agronomy Research Center.
Barber, S.A. 1984. Liming materials and practices. p. 171-209. In F. Adams (ed.) Soil Acidity and Liming. 2nd ed. Agronomy Monogr. 12. ASA and SSSA, Madison, WI.
Blevins, R.L., L.W. Murdock, and G.W. Thomas. 1978. Effect of lime application on notillage and conventionally tilled corn. Agron. J. 70:322-326.
Buchholz, D.D., N.C. Wollenhaupt, and R.L. Smoot. 1986. Influence of tillage systems on corn yields and soil test values. p. 35-40. ]Ln Proc. of the Sixteenth North Central Extension-Industry Soil Fertility Workshop, Bridgeton, M0. 29-30 Oct., 1986.
Hoeft, R.G., and G.W. Randall. 1985. Tillage affects fertility, how to alter one when you change the other. Crops Soils 37(4):12-15.
McLean, E.O., and J.R. Brown. 1984. Crop Response to Lime in the Midwestern United States. p. 267.%303. In F. Adams (ed.) Soil Acidity and Liming. 2nd ed. Agronomy Monogr. 12. ASA'and SSSA, Madison, WI.
Moschler, W.W., D.C. Martens, C.I. Rich; and G.M. Shear. 1973.o Comparative lime effects on continuous no-tillage and conventionally tilled corn. Agron. J. 65:781-783.
Reed K.A., and D.J. Eckert. 1989. Nitrogen source affects manganese nutrition of notill corn. p. 12-15. In Proc. of the Nineteenth North Central Extension-Industry Soil Fertility Workshop, Bridgeton, MO. 8-9 Nov., 1989. Potash and Phosphate Institute, Manhattan, KS
Sawyer, J.E., and J.L. Carter. 1989. Tillage systems for a corn-soybean rotation. Brownstown Agronomy Research Center 1989 Report of Research Results. Univ. of Illinois, Dept. of Agronomy, 1102 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana, IL 61801.
Sutton, P., and J.F. Trierweiler. 1990. Limestone rates and split applications for notillage corn. p. 48. ZU Agron. Abstr. ASA, Madison, WI.
Triplett, G.B., C.A. Osmond, and P. Sutton. 1972. Fertilizer application methods for no-till corn. Ohio Report. 57:39-41.
