THE LIMING OF DIKELAND SOILS

Abstract

In a greenhouse study dolomitic and calcitic limestone were applied at rates of 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 tons per acre to three samples of dikeland soil representative of surface soil, sub-soil and a mixture of the two. The two kinds of limestone were equally effective in increasing crop yields and there were no significant yield differences with different soils, when limed at the appropriate rate. Increases in yield due to liming were highly significant, but significance of the yield increases for successive increases in rate of liming varied with different crops. The increases in grain and clover yields above the 6-ton rate were, on the average, small and not significant.Where dolomitic limestone was applied the Ca:Mg ratio remained approximately 1: 1 in all soils. The application of calcitic limestone resulted in a Ca:Mg ratio ranging from 2: 1 for the 2-ton rate to 5: 1 for the 8-ton rate, but this wide range did not have any apparent effect on crop yield in this experiment.