Alkalinity movement down acid soil columns was faster when lime and plant residues were combined than when either was applied separately

Abstract

Subsurface soil acidity is a serious constraint to crop production and is inherently difficult to correct through conventional application of lime. Thus, new approaches to ameliorate subsurface soil acidity are needed. A column leaching experiment was established to determine whether the plant residues, when combined with lime, could facilitate lime dissolution and alkalinity movement down soil columns (10 cm in diameter × 45 cm long) to ameliorate acid subsurface soil layers. Five plant residues from canola (Brassica nappus L.), field pea (Pisum sativum L.), lucerne (Medicago sativa L.), oats (Avena sativa L.) and vetch (Vicia villosa L.) (C/N ratios of 52, 13, 16, 53 and 12, respectively) ..