Improved SMP buffer method for determining lime requirements of acid soils

Abstract

Single buffer‐two pH and two‐buffer adaptations were compared as double buffer features of the SMP method using a group of 54 soils of wide range in lime requirement (LR). Data from both methods were highly correlated both with each other and with Ca(OH)₂‐titrated acidity.

Formulas for LR based on the schematics of similar triangles relating differences in measured pH vs corresponding acidities for the double buffer system were developed. A regression equation relating buffer‐indicated LR and Ca(OH)₂ titrated acidity was used to adjust the quick‐test double buffer‐indicated values to levels nearer the actual ones. A recommended SMP double buffer procedure, and a formula for computing LR from soil‐buffer pH's measured by the double buffer, quick‐test method are presented.     

中国东南部红壤施用石灰和石膏后底土酸性的减缓

Application of lime or gypsum is a common agricultural practice to ameliorate soils with low pH which prohibits crop production. Its integrated effect on soil properties in a red soil derived from Quaternary red clay in Southeast China is discussed in this paper. Application of gypsum in the topsoil without leaching raised soil pH and promoted the production of soil NH₄, but lime addition had a contrary effect. Generally, application of lime and/or gypsum has little effect on soil electrical properties. Gypsum had a little effect on soil exchange complex and its effect went down to 30 cm in depth. The effect of lime reached only to 5 cm below its application layer. With leaching, Ca transferred from top soil to subsoil and decreased exchangeable Al in subsoil. Gypsum application led to a sharp decrease in soil exchangeable Mg but had no effect on K.     

A comparison of lime requirements by five methods on grassland mineral soils in Ireland

Liming is necessary for good nutrient availability and crop growth. Lime use in Ireland is now the lowest in half a century. A recent study shows that grassland mineral soils in Ireland has a mean pH of 5.4 and mean lime requirement (LR) of 9.3 t/ha ground limestone. There have been a number of studies in the USA to re-evaluate LR, but little activity in the European Union (EU) in recent years. The primary aim of our research was to compare five methods for estimating LR, which included the Shoemaker–McLean–Pratt (SMP) buffer method currently used in Ireland (IRL), the Sikora buffer method used at the University of Kentucky (UKY), Ca(OH)₂ titration used at University of Georgia (UGA), the modified Mehlich buffer method used at Penn State University (PSU) and the UK RothLime model, using 57 representative grassland mineral soils from Ireland with a pH range from 4.8 to 6.6. The secondary aim was to explore an alternative to the SMP buffer that does not involve the use of toxic chemicals. The results show good agreement between the pH measured by the Irish and three US laboratories and reasonably good agreement in LR estimated by five methods. The main conclusions are: (1) a significant proportion of grassland on mineral soils in Ireland would benefit from liming to increase soil pH, (2) on average, LRs as recommended in Ireland are higher than those advised elsewhere , ( 3) the target pH in Ireland is high compared with that in other countries and should be reduced from pH 6.5 to 6.2, (4) the SMP buffer method should be replaced by a suitable alternative and, in principle, any of the four methods studied would be suitable, (5) to find the most suitable alternative for accurate LR advice it would be necessary to compare the different methods to the actual LR from incubation of representative soils with calcium hydroxide.     

Lime requirement for agricultural soils: A review of the current and potential methods for routine use

Liming is one of the key agronomic practices to improve crop yields in acid soils because, among other things, it reduces aluminum toxicity and creates favorable conditions for crop growth. For an effective liming program, the methods to determine lime requirement should be as precise as possible. This paper reviews the existing lime requirement methods and discusses the potential of a new one suitable for routine use in the laboratory to test most agricultural soils. The most widely used lime requirement methods can be categorized into four groups: titration, incubation, buffer, and field methods. Other methods such as spectroscopy method or the use of empirical equations have also been adopted. Although some methods are highly reliable, they are not optimal for routine use because they are inconvenient during the laboratory procedures or cannot be validated for all conditions. Based on the linearity between soil pH and the added base in the pH range from 4.5–6.5 in most agricultural soils, a titration-based method on 1:1 soil:0.01 M CaCl₂ slurry of a single sample appears to be a promising candidate for routine use. In further studies, this generally applicable method should be evaluated to provide a better comparison to established methods for lime requirement determination.     

A Modification to the Adams‐Evans Soil Buffer Determination Solution

Abstract

Many soil analysis labs routinely determine lime requirement of acidic soils using different buffer solutions for optimum plant growth. The Adams‐Evans lime determination solution was introduced more than 40 years ago and has been used by many soil analysis labs. Even though many buffer solutions have been developed since then, very little attention has been paid to address the toxic nature of chemicals involved in buffer solutions. The most commonly used buffer solutions, such as the Adams-Evans, Shoemaker‐McLean‐Pratt (SMP), Woodruff, and others, contain p‐nitrophenol, which is toxic to humans and the environment. Use of p‐nitrophenol requires prescribed containment and disposal procedures, that creates extra burden on soil analysis labs that provide their invaluable service at low cost. Replacing p‐nitrophenol with monobasic potassium phosphate (KH₂PO₄), which has similar buffering capacity but with no known toxicity, is beneficial to soil testing labs and the environment. The original Adams‐Evans buffer solution was compared with the modified Adams‐Evans buffer solution with soils of different pH, cation exchange capacity and lime requirement. The linear regression between the buffer pH values and lime recommendations made by Adams‐Evans and the modified Adams‐Evans solutions were highly significant. Thus, the modified Adams‐Evans buffer solution can be used without loss of established recommendation criteria as the original buffer solution.     

Principles underlying the practice of determining lime requirements of acid soils by use of buffer methods

Abstract

A buffer is generally a mixture of a weak acid and a salt of the same weak acid. Hence it can neutralize both acids and bases, and thus resists marked changes in pH of a system. Yet systematic change in pH of a buffer caused by addition of an acidic substance can be used to indicate the total acidity represented by the change in buffer pH. Since acid soil is itself a buffer, when it is added to a buffer mixture for the purpose of measuring its acidity or lime requirement (LR), the resulting double‐buffer suspension (soil‐buffer) is a relatively complex system. Much of the complication in interpreting the changes in buffer pH brought about by mixing soil and buffer stems from the facts: i) that much of the acidity is pH‐dependent, and ii) that quick‐test methodology involves reaction of only a fraction of the total soil acidity with the buffer. Marked change in relative amounts of H ions dissociating from the soil‐SMP‐buffer system at soil‐buffer pH 6.9 and above accounts for relatively wide variations between buffer‐indicated and CaCO₃ incubation‐measured LR of low LR soils. Similarly, decreased reactivity of H⁺ in high organic matter soils and increased reactivity of H in acid‐leached soils cause errors in buffer‐indicated LR. Awareness of these principles helps avoid pitfalls of existing buffer methods, and has led to incorporation of the double‐buffer feature for improving the SMP method.     

Effect of a four-decade long application of fertilizers,farmyard manure and lime,on forms of soil acidity and their relationship with yield of wheat and maize in an acid Alfisol

The present investigation was undertaken in the on-going long-term fertilizer experiment initiated during 1972 at experimental farm of Department of Soil Science, Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur, India. Continuous application of fertilizers either alone or in combination with farmyard manure (FYM)/lime affected different forms of soil acidity (total acidity, total potential acidity, pH dependent acidity, extractable acidity, exchangeable acidity, and non-exchangeable acidity) significantly, in surface and sub-surface layers. Continuous cropping with the application of lime and optimal doses of fertilizers decreased different forms of soil acidity at all the depths, significantly. Highest productivity of wheat and maize was recorded in 100% (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) NPK + FYM, which was at par with 100% NPK + lime. Different forms of soil acidity were found to be negatively correlated with wheat and maize yield. Grain and straw/stover yield of wheat and maize showed the highest negative correlation values with non-exchangeable acidity.     

石灰用量对污染红壤和黄泥土中有效态铜锌含量的影响

采用外源加入重金属铜锌硝酸盐的方法,制成铜、锌单一及复合污染的三级污染红壤和黄泥土（Cu 200mg/kg、Zn 400 mg/kg）,稳定一个月,施入低（0.50 g/kg）、中（1.50 g/kg）和高（2.50 g/kg）3种不同用量的石灰,稳定两个月后测定土壤有效态铜、锌含量和pH值,以阐明石灰用量对不同污染土壤中重金属有效态含量的影响。结果表明,随石灰用量的增加,复合污染红壤中有效态铜含量较对照依次降低31%、76%和87%;而石灰用量对黄泥土中有效态铜影响的差异不显著;两种土壤中有效态锌含量均随石灰用量的增加而显著减少;复合污染较单一污染相比,有效态铜及有效态锌的含量差异不显著。在复合污染下,低、中量石灰使黄泥土中有效态铜含量较红壤减少89%和63%,有效态锌减少27%和65%。但加入高量石灰,两种土壤差异不显著。石灰能够降低单一与复合污染铜、锌有效态的含量,但其效果因土壤类型而异,在红壤上选择施用高量石灰而在黄泥土上则适宜施用低中量石灰,以取得最佳的修复效果和效益。     

石灰和聚丙烯酰胺处理的酸性土壤对烤烟生长及生理特性的影响

以K326烤烟品种为材料,在土培条件下研究了石灰和聚丙烯酰胺（PAM）处理的酸性土壤对烤烟生长及生理特性的影响。结果表明:石灰和PAM处理的酸性土壤,在PAM含量低时（0.1%）,烤烟生物量显著提高,光合速率（Pn）、蒸腾速率（Tr）、气孔导度（Gs）增高,根系活力增大,相对电导率和丙二醛（MDA）含量下降,但随PAM用量的增大,烤烟生长减缓。在酸性土壤中,烤烟叶片和根系的超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、过氧化物（POD）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）活性最低;在加入石灰的土壤中,烤烟叶片和根系的三种酶活性升高,同时加入石灰和PAM的土壤,在PAM含量低时,三种酶活性下降,但随着PAM含量增高（0.2%）,酶活性又开始上升。石灰和PAM处理的酸性土壤,土壤交换性H、交换性Al含量的改变是由石灰引起的,PAM的影响不显著;相反,石灰对土壤含水量、水势、比重、孔隙度的影响不显著,而PAM影响显著,低PAM含量时（0.1%）,土壤含水量增加,但随PAM用量加大,土壤比重、孔隙度进一步增大,土壤含水量则逐渐降低,土壤水势显著下降。因此推测,石灰显著降低了酸性土壤交换性H、交换性Al含量,适量PAM提高了土壤孔隙度,增加土壤含水量,从而促进烤烟生长;但是当PAM过量,会导致土壤水势下降,烤烟吸水困难,其生长减缓。     

Addition of lignin to lime materials for expedited pH increase and improved vertical mobility of lime in no‐till soils

Soil acidification caused by long‐term nitrogen (N) fertilizer applications has been a growing concern for dryland crop production in both tilled and no‐till soils in the Pacific Northwest (PNW). Many no‐till soils have stratified soil pH in the 5–10 cm depth due to repeated N fertilizer applications at this depth. In the PNW, the practice of liming to correct low soil pH is complicated due to lack of affordable lime sources and because the inherent difficulty in ameliorating stratified soil acidity in no‐till systems. An intact soil‐column incubation study was conducted to investigate whether mixing lime materials with lignin‐containing black liquor—a by‐product from the pulp industry—could elevate soil pH change in both conventional and no‐till systems and expedite vertical downward movement of lime in no‐till system. Results indicate that mixing lime with black liquor has the potential to not only elevate the increase in soil pH in both conventional till and no‐till systems, but also accelerate downward movement of lime to correct soil pH below the soil surface. Mixing agricultural lime or super fine micro lime with black liquor increased soil pH to a depth of 25–30 cm within 147 days after surface application to a no‐till soil.     

Differential response of soybean genotypes to two lime rates

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merril] is the leading food crop worldwide, and selection of soybean genotypes for different levels of soil acidity may raise crop yield without the need to increase in planted area. An experiment in greenhouse conditions was conducted to determine the effects of two lime rates on soil chemical properties, grain yield (GY), yield components, nutritional status and physiological components of 15 soybean genotypes adapted to tropical and subtropical conditions. Genotypes BMX Apolo RR, BMX Potência RR, BRS 295RR, BRS 359RR, FPS Solar IPRO and TMG 716 IRR were the least responsive to soil acidity reduction, and BMX Turbo RR and BRS 360RR were the most responsive. Number of pods per pot, shoot dry weight yield, GY, photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, transpiration and chlorophyll increased significantly with increase in lime rate. Cultivar FPS Solar IPRO showed the highest foliar P, K, Ca and Mg concentrations in soybean, which was not observed in the grain, indicating the presence of genetic factors and the dilution effect on nutrient uptake.     

施用石灰氮对烟株根际土壤微生物区系的影响

为研究施用石灰氮对烟株根际土壤微生物区系变化及其对烟草青枯病发病率的影响,分别在烟株不同生长期采集根部土壤进行16S/18S rDNA基因测序,以分析烟株生长过程中微生物数量、多样性以及群落结构的变化.结果表明,施用石灰氮后,在烟株生长的团棵期硝化螺旋菌门(Nitrospirae)、担子菌门(Basidiomycota...     

Liming Influences Forms of Acidity in Soils Belonging to Different Orders under Subtropical India

A pot experiment was conducted to study the influence of liming on changes in different forms of acidity in relation to soil properties. Thirty-six surface (0–15 cm deep) soil samples were collected from different soil orders, namely Entisols, Inceptisols, Alfisols, and Entisols of coastal saline zone of West Bengal, India, and incubated for 21 days with three doses of lime [i.e., no lime (L₀), half lime (L_1/2), and full lime (L₁)]. Results of analysis of soil showed that there were significant increases in pH in water (pH_w) and pH in 0.02 M calcium chloride (CaCl₂) (pH_Ca) (1.3 and 1.5 units) and decrease in total acidity, hydrolytic acidity, exchange acidity, electrostatically bound aluminium (EBAl³⁺), and electrostatically bound hydrogen (EBH⁺) upon liming being from 1.53 to 0.57, 1.40 to 0.54, 0.13 to 0.03, 0.08 to 0.01, and 0.06 to 0.02 cmol (p⁺) kg^?1, respectively. The decrease in values of all the forms of acidity was greater in L₁ than in L_1/2 treatment under Entisols of the terai zone, followed by Entisols of coastal saline zone, Inceptisols, and Alfisols. The forms of acidity showed significant positive correlation with each other but negative correlation with pH_w and pH_Ca, except for EBH⁺.     

Food Production on Acid Soils in the Developing World: Problems and Solutions

The current state of food production on acid soils in developing regions is presented. Africa lags far behind ASEAN and Latin American nations in almost all the parameters considered. Agronomic research shows that the resources and potential productivity are the same in all these regions. The reasons for the poor performance of Africa are to be found in government corruption, civil strife, poor infrastructure, lack of inputs and markets and the unavailability of production loans. The Millennium Project established by the United Nations is presented as the framework for a possible solution to these problems.     

Food Production on Acid Soils in the Developing World: Problems and Solutions

The current state of food production on acid soils in developing regions is presented. Africa lags far behind ASEAN and Latin American nations in almost all the parameters considered. Agronomic research shows that the resources and potential productivity are the same in all these regions. The reasons for the poor performance of Africa are to be found in government corruption, civil strife, poor infrastructure, lack of inputs and markets and the unavailability of production loans. The Millennium Project established by the United Nations is presented as the framework for a possible solution to these problems.     

Nature of Soil Acidity in Relation to Properties and Lime Requirement of Some Inceptisols

Some Inceptisols representing the Singla catchment area in Karimgaunge district of Assam, India, were studied for lime requirement as influenced by the nature of soil acidity. The electrostatically bonded (EB)-H+ and EB-Al3+ acidities constituted 33 and 67 percent of exchangeable acidity while EB-H+, EB-Al3+,exchangeable and pH-dependent acidities comprised 6, 14, 20 and 80 percent of total potential acidity. The pH-dependent acidity made a major contribution towards the total potential acidity (67%～84%). Grand mean of lime requirement determined by the laboratory incubation method and estimated by the methods of New Woodruff, Woodruff and Peech as expressed in MgCaCO3 ha-1 was in the order: Woodruff (15.6) ＞ New Woodruff (14.9) ＞ Peech (5.1) ＞ incubation (5.0). Correlations analysis among different forms of acidity and lime requirement methods with selected soil properties showed that pH in three media, namely water, 1 mol L-1 KCl and 0.01 mol L-1 CaCl2, had a significant negative correlation with different forms of acidity and lime requirement methods. Exchangeable Fe and Al showed significant positive correlations with EB-Al3+ acidity, exchangeable acidity, pH-dependent acidity and total potential acidity, and also lime requirement methods. Extractable Al showed positive correlations with different forms of acidity except EB-H+ and EB-Al3+ acidities. The lime requirement by different methods depended upon the extractable aluminium.Significant positive correlations existed between lime requirements and different forms of acidity of the soils except EB-H+ acidity and incubation method. The nature of soil acidity was mostly pH-dependent. Statistically, the Woodruff method did slightly better than the New Woodruff, incubation and Peech methods at estimating lime requirement and hence the Woodruff procedure may be recommended for routine soil testing because of its speed and simplicity.     

砂姜黑土强筋小麦施肥技术研究

通过田间试验研究了施用不同肥料和不同施肥方法等对强筋小麦养分吸收和产量品质的影响。结果表明:在氮肥用量相同时,氮肥后移小麦产量和品质均好于全部基施(习惯施肥)处理;高氮和硫酸铵处理能提高强筋小麦的品质。磷酸二铵提高小麦产量效果好于过磷酸钙,而对子粒品质影响则过磷酸钙好于磷酸二铵;高量磷肥虽然不能进一步提高小麦产量,但能改善小麦的品质。增施有机肥和钾肥可促进小麦对N、P、K养分的吸收,显著提高小麦产量和品质,是砂姜黑土区优质高产强筋小麦重要施肥技术。锌肥能提高小麦产量和品质,含硫肥料有改善小麦品质的作用。试验表明,在砂姜黑土上,施用有机肥,稳定磷肥用量,加大氮、钾肥用量,配施锌肥和硫肥,分期施用氮肥(追肥量占总氮量比例在40%以上)有利于强筋小麦的优质高产。     

Effects of HC1 acid and lime amendments on soil ph and extractable Ca and Mg in a sandy soil

Abstract

High vater table sandy soils present special problems when establishing soil pH variables under field conditions. In order to examine the response of a coarse‐textured soil to lime and HC1 acid treatments, data are reported for soil pH and extractable Ca and Mg for a field experiment where Mn treatments on soybeans was the primary objective. Three treatments included HC1 acid, control, and lime. Acid (742 liters/ha 3N HC1) was added only at the beginning of the experiment but dolomitic lime treatments were added each year (2240, 2740, and 2900 kg/ha). The lime and acid were applied to the soil surface and incorporated to a depth of 10 to 13 cm. Soil samples were taken every 2 to 3 months at 3 depths (0 to 15, 15 to 30, and 30 to 45 cm) and analyzed for pH and extractable Ca and Mg. Acid treatment decreased the pH by 0.2 units below the untreated soil at the 0 to 30 cm depth and the effect lasted the entire 3 years of the study. Calcium values were lowered only slightly by the acid treatment. Lime additions caused steady increases in soil Ca. Magnesium values increased several months after each of the first and second lime applications. Lime raised the subsoil (30 to 45 cm) pH after 4 to 6 months. Seasonal variations in pH were very wide with the untreated soil pH varying from 6.1 to 6.8. The high pH level of 7.0 was not maintained for an entire season until the third year of the experiment. Soil pH as well as extractable Ca and Mg showed fluctuations that were the result of seasonal variations and soil moisture content at the time of sampling. Soil pH variables on a sandy soil should be established at least a year in advance of starting an experiment and must be closely monitored in order to maintain the desired pH levels.     

砂姜黑土薄荷施肥技术研究

研究了砂姜黑土薄荷施肥技术，结果表明，在薄荷分枝期追施N138kg／hm^2时，基肥施N易使薄荷前期旺长，过早封行，通风透气差，会造成收获期薄荷大量落叶，进而影响薄荷油产量。K肥能显著提高薄荷产量，在低K用量时，氯化钾和硫酸钾增产效果相近，但在高钾用量时，则硫酸钾增产效果明显好于氯化钾，表明高用量的氯对薄荷油有不利的影响，从降低成本和提高产量两方面考虑，硫酸钾和氯化钾配合施用可获得较理想的效果。施用P肥对薄荷生长和产量提高效果不大，且P肥过高会影响薄荷的生长。     

石灰用量对酸性土壤pH值及有效养分含量的影响

采用室内培养法,设置不施生石灰和生石灰用量0.3、0.9、1.8、2.4、4.8 g/kg,共6个用量梯度,研究不同生石灰用量对酸性土壤pH值动态变化、有效养分含量的影响及土壤pH值与有效养分含量之间的相关性。结果表明,生石灰的施入,可以显著提高土壤pH值,改善土壤酸度。培养到第90 d,生石灰用量4.8、2.4、1.8g/kg处理较对照分别提高了2.88、1.16和0.74个pH单位。施用生石灰对土壤全氮含量影响不大,但对土壤无机氮影响显著。生石灰用量在0~2.4 g/kg范围内,土壤硝态氮含量随生石灰用量的增加而显著增加,增幅为12.4%~146.8%,当生石灰用量2.4 g/kg时,土壤硝态氮含量显著降低。土壤铵态氮的变化趋势则刚好相反,随着生石灰用量的增加而减少;土壤有效磷含量随着生石灰用量的增加先升高后降低;对于土壤速效钾来说,当生石灰用量0.9 g/kg,其含量随着石灰用量的增加而显著降低,降幅为2.9%~21.7%。施用生石灰可以显著提高土壤有效Ca含量,且随生石灰用量的增加而显著增加,增幅为32.3%~543.0%。生石灰的施用显著降低了土壤有效Fe、Mn、Cu、Zn的含量,且当生石灰用量≥2.4 g/kg时,土壤有效Mn、Zn含量均已处于极其缺乏的状况。土壤pH值与土壤全氮、铵态氮、速效钾、有效Fe、Mn、Cu、Zn呈显著线性负相关,与有效Ca呈极显著线性正相关,与土壤硝态氮、有效磷和有效Mg则符合二次函数,各相关系数均达到极显著水平。土壤养分与土壤酸度有着较好的相关性,在施用石灰改良酸性土壤时,要特别注意其施用量及土壤有效Mn、Zn等微量元素的及时补充。