Liming in the transition to no-till under a wheat–soybean rotation

Liming in the transition to no-till under a wheat–soybean rotation

Antonio Costa a, Ciro A. Rosolem b,*a Agronomic Institute of Parana, Rod. Celso G. Cid, C.P. 481, 86047-902 Londrina, PR, Brazil

b Sao Paulo State University, Department of Crop Science, C.P.237, 18603-970 Botucatu, SP, Brazil

Received 20 March 2007; received in revised form 11 September 2007; accepted 25 September 2007

Abstract

Soil and subsoil aluminium toxicity has been one of the main limiting factors for soybean and wheat yields in tropical soils.

Usually liming is the most effective way to deal with soil acidity and Al toxicity, but in no-till systems the soil is not disturbed

making it impossible to incorporate lime in the arable layer, and lime has been usually applied on the soil surface. In this paper

soybean and wheat responses to lime applied on the soil surface and/or incorporated in the soil arable layer were evaluated during

the transition from conventional tillage to a no-till system. The experiment was conducted for 3 years in Parana, Brazil, using a

wheat–soybean rotation. Lime rates ranging from 0.0 to 9.0 t ha�1 were incorporated down to 20 cm and 4.5 t ha�1 were spread or

not on the soil surface. Soil samples were taken down to 60 cm, 39 months after the first lime application. Soil chemical

characteristics were affected by lime application down to 60 cm deep in the profile. Soybean responded to lime irrespective of

application method, but the highest accumulated yield was obtained when lime was incorporated into the arable layer. For wheat, the

more sensitive the cultivar, the greater was the response to lime. During the introduction of a no-till system, lime must be

incorporated into the arable layer when the wheat cultivar is Al-sensitive.

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Soil & Tillage Research 97 (2007) 207–217

Keywords: Aluminium; Base leaching; Calcium; Magnesium; Organic acids

1. Introduction

Soil acidity is responsible for crop yield limitations

in 1.2 � 109 ha in South America and 3.8 � 109 ha in

the world (Eswaran et al., 1997). In Brazil most of the

agricultural soils show low pH, high Al and Mn contents

and low base saturation (Olmos and Camargo, 1976).

Aluminium toxicity is the main limiting factor. Liming

was shown to be an effective way to deal with soil

acidity and Al toxicity (Rosolem et al., 2004), but

soybean response to lime has been inconsistent, ranging

from 35 to 75% (Siqueira, 1989; Quaggio et al., 1998;

Caires et al., 2005), while wheat response depends on

* Corresponding author.

E-mail address: [email protected] (C.A. Rosolem).

0167-1987/$ – see front matter # 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

doi:10.1016/j.still.2007.09.014

cultivar sensitivity to low pH (Bataglia et al., 1985;

Okuyama and Costa, 1990).

In no-till systems the soil is not disturbed and lime

cannot be mixed into the arable layer of the soil.

Responses to surface liming have been observed and

some hypotheses have been raised to explain such

effect: Fine lime particles may be transported off the

surface with rain water; organic matter mineralization

releases nitrate and sulphate that may be paired with Ca,

Mg and K ions and leached through the soil profile

(McMahon and Thomas, 1976; Blevins et al., 1978;

Oliveira and Pavan, 1996); Nitrification of nitrogen

fertilizers generates nitrate that can pair with base ions

and be leached together. Lime applied on soil surface

raises the soil solution pH above 6.0 (Salet, 1994), and

when soil solution pH is above 5.5 the species HCO3� is

stable (Bohn et al., 1979). In such conditions HCO3�

can be leached along with Ca2+ and Mg2+, alleviating

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A. Costa, C.A. Rosolem / Soil & Tillage Research 97 (2007) 207–217208

soil acidity below the soil layer in which lime has been

applied (Oliveira and Pavan, 1996; Caires et al., 2005).

Downward movement of bases in soils under no-till

may also be affected by plant residues that are left on

soil surface. Rain water running through the residues

can wash organic ligants (L) off this straw that can

combine with the cations in soil and be leached together

through the profile (Rosolem et al., 2004; Ziglio et al.,

1999).

Surface-applied lime reaction time in no-till systems

is affected by lime rate, soil chemical and physical

characteristics, fertilizer management, crop rotation and

lime reactivity. A decrease in exchangeable Al content

and an increase in soil pH, Ca and Mg contents down to

40 cm in the soil profile was observed by Oliveira and

Pavan (1996) 32 months after lime was spread on soil

surface. Caires et al. (1999) observed similar effects 18

months after lime application. However, there are

reports that the effects were confined to the first 5 cm of

the soil 34 months after lime application on the surface

(Pottker and Ben, 1998).

Generally there is no difference in crop response

when lime is ploughed down or applied on soil surface

in long-established no-till systems (Macedo et al., 1979;

Pottker and Ben, 1998; Weirich Neto et al., 2000). Sa

(1999), comparing cultivars differing in their tolerance

to soil acidity reported that tolerant and sensitive

cultivars responded positively to lime applied either

incorporated or applied on the soil surface and no

significant differences were observed between methods

of lime application. However, there is no reliable

information on crop response to methods of lime

application during the transition from conventional to

no-till systems as well as on the need or convenience to

use tolerant cultivars during this period. When

establishing a no-till system on pastureland, cumulative

grain yield was higher with liming than in the control

treatment (no lime), regardless of the application

method. Surface application of lime, at either full or

split rates, was the best alternative to neutralize soil

acidity (Caires et al., 2006a).

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects

of lime rates incorporated down to 20 cm and/or spread

on soil surface, during the implementation of a no-till

system, on soil acidity alleviation and on the response of

a soybean–wheat rotation using wheat cultivars differ-

ing in their tolerance to soil acidity.

2. Materials and methods

The experiment was conducted at the Agronomic

Institute of Parana, Ponta Grossa Regional Research

Center, located at 258 120 S and 508 090 W. The soil was

a clayey, kaolinitic, thermic Rhodic Hapludox. The site

had been in fallow for 5 years and weeds were mowed in

April of the first year of the experiment. In June the area

was split in blocks and soil samples were taken at depths

of 0–20, 20–40 and 40–60 cm. Each composite sample

comprised 10 sub-samples. Selected soil chemical

characteristics and particle size distribution were

determined (Table 1).

Rates of lime (199 g kg�1 of Ca, 138 g kg�1 of Mg,

ECCE = 91%) corresponding to 0.00, 2.25, 4.50, 6.75

and 9.00 t ha�1 were applied to 6.0 � 10.2 m plots and

disked down in the soil arable layer late in July of the

first year. In the second and third years of the

experiment the plots were split in subplots that received

or not an additional rate of 2.25 t ha�1 of the same lime

each year, just before soybean planting. This rate was

calculated to raise soil base saturation to 70%,

considering the results obtained from soil samples

taken from the 0–20 cm layer when the experiment was

started (Caires et al., 2005).

Soybean cultivar Embrapa 58 was planted in the first

and second years and Embrapa 133 in the third. Wheat

cultivars Iapar 29, Iapar 53 and Br 35 were planted to

sub-subplots (3.0 m � 3.2 m) in the winter using a plot

drill. Iapar 29 is Al-sensitive, recommended for soils

with less than 5% of Al saturation; Iapar 53 is

moderately tolerant to Al, recommended for soils with

Al saturation below 35%; and Br 35 is Al-tolerant

(IAPAR, 2000). The presence of plant residues in the

soil surface is paramount for the success of no-till in

Brazil. In this experiment black oat (Avena strigosa)

was planted early in August in order to make the

transition to no-till. At heading, 100 days after plant

emergence, a rolling knife was passed over the black

oats. Glyphosate was applied at 0.75 kg ha�1 a.i. every

year before soybean was planted. Soybean was planted

on 27 November, 20 November and 7 December, using

300 kg ha�1 of a 0–25–15 N, P2O5, K2O fertilizer every

year. The experiment was harvested on 23 April, 4 April

and 5 May on the first, second and third years,

respectively.

Before wheat was planted every year, the weeds were

killed with glyphosate (0.96 kg ha�1a.i.) plus 2.4 D

amine (0.8 kg ha�1 a.i.). Wheat was planted on 3, 10

and 2 July, each year, using 12 kg ha�1 of N, 40 kg ha�1

of P and 25 kg ha�1 of K. At tillering 40 kg ha�1 of N,

as ammonium sulphate, was topdressed. Harvests were

on 06, 11 and 09 November, on the first, second and

third year, respectively. Soybean and wheat were

harvested using a plot Harvester and grain yields were

calculated considering 13% of grain humidity.

A. Costa, C.A. Rosolem / Soil & Tillage Research 97 (2007) 207–217 209T

able

1

Sel

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Dep

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V (%)

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Soil samples were taken 39 months after the

first lime application, 0–5, 5–10, 10–20, 20–40 and

40–60 cm down in the soil profile. Six sub samples were

taken from each subplot, which were combined into

one sample that was analyzed for pH (CaCl2),

exchangeable Al, Ca and Mg as in Embrapa (1997a).

The experimental design was a complete randomized

blocks with subplots, with four replicates, for soybean.

For wheat the blocks contained subplots and sub-

subplots where wheat was planted. Plots were consisted

of lime rates incorporated down to 20 cm and surface-

applied lime were the sub-plots. Data means were

compared using t test (L.S.D., P < 0.05). Where

appropriate, regressions were fitted to data.

3. Results and discussion

In conventional cropping systems there have been

dramatic responses of soybean to lime incorporated into

the soil arable layer (Siqueira, 1989; Quaggio et al.,

1998). Thus, in conventional systems, lime is recom-

mended to raise soil base saturation to 70% (Raij et al.,

1997) or to raise soil pH to 6.0, in Southern Brazil

(Embrapa, 1997b). In the present experiment, con-

sidering year-to-year results (Table 2), in the third year

yields observed with 4.5 t ha�1 of lime were very

similar irrespective of the way of application. In the first

soybean crop yields were lower, even in plots where

there was plenty of lime probably because the period

from March to May was dryer than normal during this

particular crop (Fig. 1, 2nd year). However, application

of 4.5 t ha�1 of lime ploughed down into the arable

layer increased soybean accumulated yields to

9942 kg ha�1 in 3 years (Fig. 2). However when this

same lime rate was just spread on soil surface,

maximum accumulated soybean yield was only

8999 kg ha�1, but in this case it is important to take

in account that the lime reaction time was shorter

compared with incorporated lime. When lime was

incorporated and also spread on soil surface, the

response to incorporated lime was decreased from 38 to

13% over the plots without lime spread on soil surface,

as expected. These results support previous findings

showing that lime is effective in alleviating soil acidity

even when it is not ploughed down (Pottker and Ben,

1998; Sa, 1999; Caires et al., 2005). Actually, soybean

has not been very responsive to lime in no-till systems

(Caires et al., 1999, 2005), and in the few cases where a

response to surface-applied lime is observed, it is small,

leading to the inference that the lime rate to be applied

in well established no-till systems would be lower than

in conventional systems (Pottker and Ben, 1998; Sa,


Table 2

Soybean grain yields (kg ha�1) in the first, second and third year of the experiment as affected by lime rates and method of application

Lime incorporateda (t ha�1) Experiment year

First Second Third

0.0b 2.25b 0.0b 4.5b

0.00 1942 3037 3713 2415 3252

2.25 2327 3700 3815 3159 3260

4.50 2535 4223 4064 3208 3316

6.75 2647 4110 4010 3413 3371

9.00 2635 4020 3900 3376 3613

CV (%) 12.3 6.0 8.4

L.S.D.c 318 468 536

a Lime plowed down 20 cm in the soil at the beginning of the experiment.b 0.0, 2.25, 4.5 denote the lime on soil surface: lime applied on the soil surface, 2.5 t ha�1 before the second soybean crop and 2.5 t ha�1 before the

third soybean crop.c Least significant difference (P < 0.05).

1999). Therefore, during the transition from conven-

tional tillage to no-till, in spite of the effect of surface-

applied lime on soil acidity alleviation, for best results it

would be interesting to use lime mixed into the soil

arable layer (Fig. 2).

Wheat yields in the first year were affected by

cultivar and by the cultivar � lime rates interaction

(Table 3). Iapar 29 (Al-sensitive) responded up to

4.5 t ha�1 of lime, while there was no response of Iapar

53 (moderately Al-tolerant) and a negative response

was observed for BR 35 (Al-tolerant). In the second

year Iapar 29 yielded less than Iapar 53 and BR 35, and

yields were higher when Lime was spread on soil

Fig. 1. Thornthwaite & Mather climatic water b

surface. In general wheat yields were lower in this year,

as a result of less rain (Fig. 1, 2nd year). In the third year

there was no interaction and no response to lime applied

on the soil surface. In this year BR 35 was more

productive than the other cultivars (Table 3) and lime

response was significant up to 2.25 t ha�1 (average of

three cultivars).

Considering the accumulated grain productions

maximum yield of wheat Iapar 29 was 7542 kg ha�1

with the application of 5.93 t ha�1 of lime incorporated.

Split application of 4.5 t ha�1 of lime on soil surface

decreased the response to incorporated lime, when

the maximum wheat yield was 7610 kg ha�1 (Fig. 3),

alance before and during the experiment.

A. Costa, C.A. Rosolem / Soil & Tillage Research 97 (2007) 207–217 211

Fig. 2. Soybean accumulated yields (3 years) during the transition

from conventional cropping to no-till, as affected by lime incorporated

into the soil arable layer and/or applied on soil surface.

while the sole application of 4.5 t ha�1 of lime

ploughed down to 20 cm increased wheat yield to

7451 kg ha�1. However, when there was no lime

incorporated, Iapar 29 yield was 6440 kg ha�1 with

Table 3

Wheat yields (kg ha�1) in each year of the experiment as affected by lime

Lime incorporated (t ha�1) First year Seco

Iapar 29 Iapar 53 BR 35 Iapa

0.00 2421 2426 2462 163

2.25 2586 2491 2533 190

4.50 2751 2527 2401 199

6.75 2684 2466 2313 212

9.00 2620 2440 2281 191

Average 2613 2470 2398 191

Lime on soil surface

Second year

With

Without

Third year

With

Without

ANOVA summary

CV (%) L.S.D.

Lime ratesa 5.4 n.s.

Method of applicationb – –

Cultivarc 6.2 68.4

Rates � culitvarsd 12.4 174.8

** Significant (P < 0.01).a Averaged over two methods of lime application.b With or without lime on soil surface.c Compares average yields of the three cultivars.d Compares the interaction lime rates � cultivars (columns under each cu

4.5 t ha�1 of lime on soil surface. Iapar 53, a

moderately Al-tolerant cultivar, responded up to

4.3 t ha�1 of lime mixed into the soil and a further

application of 4.5 t ha�1 on soil surface increased just a

little the maximum yield (Fig. 3). For Br 35, an Al-

tolerant cultivar, there was no response to lime. It can be

observed that lime application on the soil surface

increased lime efficiency by reducing the need of lime

ploughed down into the soil arable layer.

In general, a positive response of wheat to lime under

no-till in Brazil would be expected, mainly in dry years

(Sa, 1999; Pottker and Ben, 1998; Caires et al., 1999,

2005). Caires et al. (2006b), using a wheat cultivar

moderately susceptible to Al in a long-term no-till

system, observed that soil acidity limited wheat root

growth and yield severely, probably as a result of

extended water deficits during the vegetative stage.

Surface liming caused increases up to 66% in root

growth (0–60 cm) and up to 140% in grain yield. Root

length density and grain yield were correlated positively

with soil pH and exchangeable Ca2+, and negatively

with exchangeable Al3+ and Al3+ saturation, in the

surface and subsurface layers.

rates, method of application and cultivar

nd year Third year

r 29 Iapar 53 BR 35 Iapar 29 Iapar 53 BR 35

9 2050 2249 2202 2829 3545

8 2235 2116 2473 3113 3627

3 2325 2246 2711 3270 3775

4 2386 2384 2884 3337 3876

9 2308 2287 2598 3151 3672

7 2261 2256 2574 3148 3699

2329

2192

3199

3081

CV (%) L.S.D. CV (%) L.S.D.

25.1 n.s. 15.0 269.0

7.2 106.0 10.6 n.s.

11.4 71.9** 8.5 148.3

15.2 n.s. 16.1 n.s.

ltivar).


Fig. 3. Accumulated wheat yields (3 years), during the transition from

conventional cropping to no-till as affected by lime incorporated

into the soil arable layer and/or applied on soil surface. (A) Iapar

29 (Al-sensitive); (B) Iapar 53 (moderately tolerant to Al); (C) Br 35

(Al-tolerant).

The results observed in the present experiment

strongly suggest that the lack of response of wheat to

lime in Brazil may be due to the use of Al-tolerant

cultivars in most of the research done so far. Thus, the

use of Al-tolerant cultivars in acid soils management is

paramount to increase and stabilize wheat yields in

different years.

Lime application on the surface increased soil pH

down to 40–60 cm (Fig. 3). However, the angular

coefficient of the equations fit to data were similar

between lime incorporated down to 20 cm or spread on

soil surface (Table 4), showing that liming efficiency

was not affected by lime application method. Alumi-

nium contents increased with soil depth (Fig. 4). The

lowest lime rate, when mixed into the soil arable layer

was sufficient to decrease Al contents to non-toxic

levels down to 10 cm. However the effect of liming on

Al availability was observed down to the 40–60 cm

layer, irrespective of the application method (Fig. 4).

Calcium contents were increased with lime in soil

depths down to 40–60 cm, irrespectively of the method

of application (Fig. 5) and magnesium contents were

also increased with lime rates, irrespectively of lime

application method. Usually Mg leaching was more

intense than Ca leaching as shown by the higher angular

coefficients of the equations fit to Mg results (Fig. 5).

It is interesting to notice that the effect of liming on

Al, Ca and Mg soil contents was not proportional to the

changes observed in soil pH (Figs. 4 and 5).

Cations require soluble anions as Cl�, NO3�, NO2

�,

SO4�, OAc�, OFor�, and HCO3

� to be leached through

soil profile. The retention of M+ (any metal) in the

superficial layers of the soil would be possible only if

negative charges of clay and humic acids were free,

which seldom occurs. To minimize this kind of loss, soil

chemistry must be modified favouring a higher mobility

of M2+ by maintaining plant residues on soil surface

(Oliveira and Pavan, 1996). For perennials, where the

soil was not disturbed, an increase in pH, Ca and Mg

levels and a decrease in toxic Al were observed beyond

the region of the soil where lime was applied (Oliveira

and Pavan, 1996; Caires et al., 1999). Ziglio et al. (1999)

added crop residues mixed with CaCO3 to the soil

surface and found that, in treatments with residues of

black oats and black mucuna, maximum leaching of Ca

and Mg were observed before the maximum K leaching.

Franchini et al. (1999) also observed that Ca and Al

were the main cations mobilized after application of

plant extracts to the soil.

The high stability of the organic complexes

responsible for Al toxicity decrease is determined by

chemical bonds with rings with 5 or 6 C atoms. Some

examples of organic acids presenting these character-

istics are citric, oxalic, tartaric salicylic and gentisic.

Organic acids with three carboxylic groups, as citrate,

show the highest affinity with polyvalent cations.

The lack of proportionality between changes in pH

and Al complexation, and Ca and Mg leaching could be

a consequence of the no-till system, where the soil


Table 4

Equations fit to pH and soil Al, Ca and Mg as affected by lime rates and method of application, down to 60 cm in the profile, 39 months after the first

lime application

Depth (cm) Without lime on soil surface With lime on soil surface

Equations R2 Equations R2

pH

0–5 pH = 4.27 + 0.13x 0.936** pH = 4.63 + 0.11x 0.795*

5–10 pH = 4.13 + 0.09x 0.887* pH = 4.40 + 0.06x 0.926**

10–20 pH = 3.97 + 0.06x 0.977** pH = 4.11 + 0.05x 0.893*

20–40 pH = 4.01 + 0.04x 0.992** pH = 4.12 + 0.23x1/2 � 0.02x 0.994**

40–60 pH = 3.97 + 0.28x1/2 � 0.05x 0.985* pH = 4.11 + 0.16x1/2 0.845*

0–20 pH = 4.24 + 0.09x 0.992** pH = 4.42 + 0.10x 0.984**

Al3+ (mmolc dm�3)

0–5 Al = 12.81 � 8.05x1/2 + 1.27x 0.994** Al = 4.91 � 3.16x1/2 + 0.49x 0.990**

5–10 Al = 10.52 � 1.13x 0.985** Al = 7.45 � 3.66x1/2 + 0.54x 0.987**

10–20 Al = 15.08 � 6.39x1/2 + 0.89x 0.999** Al = 11.02 � 5.11x1/2 + 0.70x 0.999**

20–40 Al = 15.26 � 0.85x 0.982** Al = 11.38 � 5.30x1/2 + 0.90x 0.999**

40–60 Al = 15.82 � 3.54x1/2 0.941** Al = 12.75 � 3.23x1/2 0.920**

0–20 Al = 11.80 � 3.77x1/2 0.978** Al = 5.82 � 1.93x1/2 0.980**

Ca2+ (mmolc dm�3)

0–5 Ca = 24.54 + 3.75x 0.969** Ca = 31.72 + 3.12x 0.990**

5–10 Ca = 21.26 + 2.69x 0.918* Ca = 27.93 + 1.86x 0.931**

10–20 Ca = 15.85 + 1.54x 0.929** Ca = 20.24 + 1.73x 0.947**

20–40 Ca = 11.99 + 0.60x 0.781* Ca = 15.89 + 7.37x1/2 � 1.38x 0.967*

40–60 Ca = 9.83 + 0.69x 0.917** Ca = 13.53 + 0.60x 0.993**

0–20 Ca = 21.75 + 2.15x 0.910* Ca = 27.42 + 2.16x 0.922**

Mg2+ (mmolc dm�3)

0–5 Mg = 13.27 + 3.27x 0.952** Mg = 21.91 + 2.79x 0.987**

5–10 Mg = 11.14 + 2.78x 0.958** Mg = 16.54 + 2.28x 0.953**

10–20 Mg = 8.80 + 1.98x 0.972** Mg = 13.79 + 1.58x 0.822*

20–40 Mg = 7.37 + 0.73x 0.907* Mg = 11.43 + 5.83x1/2 � 0.82x 0.987*

40–60 Mg = 6.99 + 0.49x 0.923** Mg = 10.98 + 0.68x 0.919**

0–20 Mg = 10.87 + 2.25x 0.975* Mg = 18.32 + 1.96x 0.984**

a(*) and (**) show significant (t-test) results at P < 0.10, P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively.

surface has some kind of trash blanket throughout the

year. Toxic Al in the soil can be complexed by low

molecular weigh organic acids coming from decaying

straw. The more effective are citric, oxalic and tartaric

acids. Malic, malonic and salicylic acids have a

moderate action and succinic, lactic, formic, phtalic

and acetic acids have little effect on Al (Hue, 1991).

Species usually grown as cover crops or green manures

have these organic acids. Franchini et al. (2003) found

citric, malic, acconitic and fumaric, among the aliphatic

acids, and cafeic, p-coumaric and ferulic among the

phenolic acids in tissues of black oats and oil seed

radish. The contents of these organic acids decreased in

the tissues as the plants matured, from 60 to 120 days

after plant emergence. In the present experiment we had

black oat grown only in the first year, and it was

desiccated around 100 days after emergence. So,

organic acids contents in black oat were not expected

to be high. Soybean has some oxalic, citric, succinic and

fumaric acids, but the contents are low (Pavinato et al.,

2005) what, along with the short life of the acids in the

soil (2–3 h, according to Guppy et al., 2005), would not

explain Ca and Mg leaching in such intensity as

observed in this experiment.

Conversely, soybean was shown to be able to take up

K deep (60–90 cm) in the soil profile, from both

exchangeable and non-exchangeable pools (Rosolem

and Nakagawa, 1985). It can be estimated that from 344

to 446 kg ha�1 of K returned to the soil as it was washed

from soybean (Tanaka et al., 1993) and wheat (Fageria

et al., 1990) straw and fertilizers each year. Moreover,

Rosolem et al. (2006) observed that most of the K

washed from the trash over the soil surface is not

leached beyond 8 cm in the soil profile. Therefore, in

the soil upper layer, lime spread on soil surface would

raise pH significantly (Foloni and Rosolem, 2006),

favouring organic matter mineralization and releasing

NO3� and SO4

2�. In this case we would have enough K


Fig. 4. Soil pH and exchangeable Al down to 60 cm, 39 months after the first lime application: (A) 0–5 cm; (B) 5–10 cm; (C) 10–20 cm; (D) 20–

40 cm; (E) 40–60 cm.


Fig. 5. Soil exchangeable Ca and Mg down to 60 cm, 39 months after the first lime application: (A) 0–5 cm; (B) 5–10 cm; (C) 10–20 cm; (D) 20–

40 cm; (E) 40–60 cm.


to displace Ca and Mg from soil colloids and a

companion anion to carry Ca and Mg down the soil

profile, as it was observed in the present experiment.

Caires et al. (2006a) have also observed organic matter

mineralization in the upper soil layers when they

applied lime on pastureland, however, there was little

Ca, Mg or K leaching. In their experiment there was no

association between methods of lime application, i.e.,

they applied lime incorporated or on soil surface.

Considering the 3 years of the experiment, soybean

yields were positively correlated (P < 0.05) with soil Ca

(0.62), Mg (0.52) and base saturation (0.66), negatively

correlated with Al saturation (�0.42). The relationship

between soil fertility characteristics and wheat yields was

variable according to the cultivar Al tolerance level. The

yields of Iapar 29, Al sensitive and recommended to be

planted in soil with Al saturation under 5% (IAPAR,

2000) was positively correlated with the exchangeable

Mg (r = 0.40), but was negatively correlated with Al

contents (r = �0.42) and Al saturation (r = �0.44) of the

soil. Iapar 53, with a moderate tolerance to toxic Al,

recommended to be planted in soils with up to 35% of Al

saturation, had its yields decreased with increasing soil

Al contents (r = �0.37) and saturation (r = �0.37).

Yields of cultivar BR 35, Al-tolerant and recommended

to be cropped to soils with over 35% of Al saturation were

not correlated with exchangeable Ca, Mg or Al saturation

of the soil. Particularly for this cultivar the prevailing soil

fertility level, including Al contents and saturation, along

with the climate conditions during the 3 years of the

experiment were appropriate for high yields and no

response to liming.

Even in cases when significant correlations were

observed between soil characteristics and wheat yields,

the actual values of the correlation coefficients were

below those obtained for soybeans. This may be a

consequence of factors not controlled as diseases and/or

plant lodging interfering on wheat grain production and

somewhat masking the response to lime.

Lime recommendations for wheat are based on index

values lower than those used in lime recommendations

for soybeans. For wheat, lime must be applied when soil

base saturation is below 50% and the need for lime must

be checked every 3 years (IAPAR, 2000). Considering

the soil analysis made at the beginning of the experiment

(Table 1), the amount of lime to be applied would be

3.17 t ha�1, what, according to the estimate by the

equation fit for 3 years average, would be enough only to

maintain soil base saturation around 39%. Therefore, the

results obtained for wheat also pointed out that the

indexes used for lime recommendation in Brazil may not

be appropriate for no-till systems, because the desired

levels of soil base saturation have not been reached. This

has also been observed in other studies with other crops in

Brazil (Caires and Rosolem, 1993).

4. Conclusions

Soil chemical characteristics were changed by lime

down to 60 cm deep, irrespective of the application

method.

Soybean responded to lime irrespectively of the

application way, but the highest accumulated yield was

observed when lime was ploughed down in the soil

arable layer. Wheat response depended on cultivar

sensitivity to soil toxic Al.

During the transition from conventional systems to

no-till, in spite of the effect of surface-applied lime on

the soil profile, acidity alleviation and crop yields, it is

interesting, for best results, to use wheat cultivars

tolerant to Al toxicity or to incorporate lime into the soil

arable layer.

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Liming in the transition to no-till under a wheat–soybean rotation

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