Soil solution and extractable calcium in gypsumamended coastal plain soils used for peanut culture

Abstract

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) fruits absorb Ca directly from the soil solution; therefore, the concentration of soil solution Ca in the fruiting zone (0–8 cm) is important in determining the availability of adequate Ca during fruit development. Since the critical period for Ca requirement for peanut fruit may extend from 25–65 d after flowering, a measure of extractable Ca (Quantity factor) is also important in determining the replenishment of soil solution Ca over the fruiting period. A laboratory study was conducted to evaluate the effects of varying soil moisture regimes on soil solution and extractable Ca in gypsumamended Bonifay sand (loamy, siliceous, thermic, grossarenic, Plinthic Paleudult) and Greenville sandy loam (clayey, kaolinitic, thermic, Rhodic Kandiudult) soils over a 70‐d period. Soil solution Ca increased in both soils with increasing soil moisture, 14 d after incubation of gypsum‐amended soils. Subsequently, the soil solution Ca decreased for all moisture regimes in the Bonifay soil, but only in the driest regime in the Greenville soil. Soil solution Ca concentrations were 1.0 and 3.2 cmolc/L in the Bonifay soil and 2.7 and 1.6 cmolc/L in the Greenville soil for the wettest and driest regimes, respectively, 70 d after incubation. Gypsum amendment also increased the concentrations of K and Mg in soil solution in both soils; therefore, leaching of excess K and Mg below the fruiting zone may be facilitated in field situations.