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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Auburn, Alabama » Soil Dynamics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #387181
Research Project: Enhancing Production and Ecosystem Services of Horticultural and Agricultural Systems in the Southeastern United States

Location: Soil Dynamics Research

Title: Soybean and corn yield as affected by crop rotation and surface liming under a no-tillage system

Author
item FONTOURA, SANDRA - Agrária Foundation For Agricultural Research
item MELINSKI, ALBERT - Federal University Of Parana Polytechnic Center
item MOTTA, ANTONIO - Federal University Of Parana Polytechnic Center
item GOTZ, LENIR - Federal University Of Parana Polytechnic Center
item ARAUJO, ELOA - Federal University Of Parana Polytechnic Center
item Prior, Stephen - Steve
item PAULETTI, VOLNEI - Federal University Of Parana Polytechnic Center

Submitted to: Soil Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/21/2023
Publication Date: 1/19/2024
Citation: Fontoura, S.M., Melinski, A.M., Motta, A.C., Gotz, L.F., Araujo, E.M., Prior, S.A., Pauletti, V. 2024. Soybean and corn yield as affected by crop rotation and surface liming under a no-tillage system. Soil Research. 62:SR22246. https://doi.org/10.1071/SR22246.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/SR22246

Interpretive Summary: In an area under no-tillage management, cultivation of different winter plants (for grain or residue production) did not interfere with corn and soybean productivity, lime effects in deeper soil layers, or liming need. Lime applied to the soil surface controlled acidity in upper and deeper soil layers of a very clayey soil with high organic matter. Applying lime at 350 kg/ha/year allows for maintenance of crop productivity and stable soil acidity levels. Periodic evaluations of soil pH and base saturation every four or five years are recommended to determine potential future needs.

Technical Abstract: In no-tillage systems, surficial lime application may induce an alkalinization front that can correct soil acidity with depth and impact crop yields. Our objective was to determine maintenance liming rates that provide the highest productivity of soybean and corn in different crop rotations and to assess the speed and persistence of surficial lime application with soil depth in a no-tillage system. The experiment was conducted in southern Brazil on a clayey Oxisol under no-tillage with four lime treatments (0, 3.5, 5.7, and 11.1 Mg ha-1 of dolomitic lime) and three crop rotations. Soil chemical variables were annually determined on samples collected from four soil depths over ten years. Soybean and corn surpassed state production levels, and grain production in winter did not compromise summer grain productivity. In ten years, the alkalinization front reached the 40-60 cm soil layer. A single 10 year application (equivalent to 0.35 Mg ha-1 year-1) of lime allowed for maintaining crop productivity and soil acidity at stable levels. Due to this slow movement, soil samples should be collected every four to five years to monitor soil acidity for potential liming needs.