Comparative effects of cal-lime flo and Ndola lime on soil acidity, phosphorus availability and maize (zea mays) yield
Date
2016
Authors
Chansa, Chrispin
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The University of Zambia
Abstract
Soil acidity is a major problem in tropical areas of sub Sahara Africa. This is more prominent in areas characterized by high rainfall, though it may be prevalent in other areas due to land management practices. Soil acidity leads to nutrient imbalance, affecting crop productivity which ultimately lowers income among smallholder farmers in Zambia. To address acidity, lime is applied, however in recent time they are new liming products on the market whose effectiveness is not well known. One such lime material is Cal-lime-flo which is liquid product whose effects on soil acidity, phosphorus availability and maize yield was to be compared to Ndola lime in a greenhouse experiment. A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to compare the effectiveness of Cai-lime flo known to have quicker reaction and Ndola lime, which are known to have high neutralizing value (NV=111). Cal-lime flo and Ndola lime neutralising values were determined and applied at 100% and 50% of lime requirement of acid soils from Misamfu Research Station in Kasama. The 100% and 50% of lime requirement of Cal-lime flo was equivalent to 5.468g/pot and 2.734g/pot respectively. For Ndola lime it was 3.243g/pot and 1.622g/pot. In addition there was a control in which no lime was added. This formed two sets of 5 treatments replicated three times arranged in a completely randomized design (CRD) in the greenhouse. One set was for the incubation experiment for soil sampling to determine lime effects on soil acidity and exchangeable acidity. At week 8, soils were also sampled and analysed for available phosphorus and analysed in one way analysis of variance. To determine liming type effects on maize biomass, the other set of treatments was routinely managed upto 8 week when the above ground biomass was harvested and dried and one way analysis of variance conducted. To separate the means, the Duncan's multiple range tests were conducted. The IOO%cal-lime tlo (100% CAL) had the greatest effect on soil acidity and exchangeable acidity though it was not significantly different from the 100% Ndola lime (100% NDL). The 50% cal-lime flo effects on soil acidity and exchangeable acidity was higher the the 50% ndola lime though not significantly different. In general all the lime treatments effects were higher and significant than the control unless after week 5 when all the lime applied were consumed by acidity. Incubation time had a significant effect on pH and exchangeable acidity. There was a significant effect of liming materials and levels on available phosphorus at week 8. There was no significant effect on various liming materials and levels on maize biomass at 5% level of significance.
Description
Keywords
Soil composition , Liming of soils , Soil acidity