Illinois
Fertilizer Conference Proceedings
January 27-29, 1992
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Kenlyn N. Clark, Ted R. Peck, and John E. Sawyer1
With the current high producer interest in adopting no-till and because of
a need to control soil erosion and meet current compliance for government programs,
concern has been raised about limestone management in no-till systems. This
study was initiated to compare crop response and soil profile pH and chemical
characteristics of surface applied limestone and plow layerdistributed limestone
in a no-till system. The effects of limestone material, application rate, and
incorporation of limestone on soil pH, grain yield, grain moisture, plant nutrient
concentration, and soil profile chemical characterization will be investigated
at the Brownstown Agronomy Research Center, on a Cisne silt loam soil (Fine,
Montmorillonitic, mesic Mollic Albaqualf). This project was initiated in the
fall of 1990 and information about the recent treatment of the study area, current
treatments and corn yield in 1991 are presented.
This study utilized a pre-existing liming materials field study (table 1) at the Brownstown Agronomy Research Center, located in south central Illinois. Soil type is a Cisne silt loam (Fine, Montmorillonitic, mesic Mollic Albaqualf). Past treatments included a control or no lime application, quarry-run limestone at 6.5 and 9.5 ton (calcium carbonate equivalent) CCE/acre, powdered lime at 3.25 and 4.75 ton CCE/acre, and pelletized lime at 500 and 10001b CCE/A. These treatments were replicated three times in a randomized complete block design and were applied August 20, 1985. Past tillage had been minimum till and chisel plow. Soil pH levels (0 - 6 inch depth) observed during that study were 4.4 to 4.5 for the control and 500 to 1,000 lb rates of application, and 6.1 to 7.1 for the high rates of powdered and ag-ground limestone (Table 2). The low rates of limestone had no effect on soil pH, and on crop yield (data not shown).
In the fall of 1989, the plot area was fertilized with 62 lb P2O5/acre and 120 lb K2O/acre and then chisel plowed. In the spring of 1990, 72 lb P2O5 and 230 lb K2O/acre were applied and the entire area was moldboard plowed (depth of 6 in.). Soybeans were grown in 1990. Corn was grown with no tillage in the spring of 1991. Planting date was May 2 with supplemental sprinkler irrigations made on June 5, June 12, June 13, June 28 July 22 and August 2. Black layer maturity of the corn was reached in late August and harvest weight collected on August 28.
Soil samples, 0-6 inch composite and in 2-inch increments to a depth of 12 in. were collected Oct. 31 1990 from all plots before limestone application (Table 3). Limestone treatments were applied November 1, 1990 to the soil surface of the original limestone rate treatments.
Newly applied limestone treatments were an annual application of 1.1 ton CCE/acre powdered lime (99.4 percent through a 60 mesh sieve) applied to plots that had previously received 1000 lb/acre powdered lime for three years, 3.25 ton CCE/acre rate of powdered lime (99.4 percent through a 60 mesh sieve) applied to plots that had previously received 5001b/acre of pelletized lime, and 6.5 ton CCE/acre rate of ag-ground limestone (93.4 percent through 8 mesh, 50.0 percent through 30 mesh, and 33.3 through a 60 mesh sieve)applied to plots that had previously received 10001b/acre of pelletized lime. All treatments will remain in the same location each year. Plot size is 15 by 60 feet. The experimental design is a randomized complete block with three replications.
Grain yield has been measured to examine the relationship with soil pH and lime placement. Soil profile chemical characterization over time will be measured for pH, Ca, Mg, and micronutrients. The current proposed duration of the project is for three years (through the 1993 cropping season). Continuation of the project beyond that time may be necessary to measure long term effects of limestone application.
In 1991, soil samples were collected April 24 and October 15 to a 6 inch depth
and in 2-inch increments to a depth of 12 in. The second annual 1.1 ton CCE/acre
powdered lime was spread after soil sampling on October 15.
Corn yields for the 1991 crop year are reported in table
4. They range from a high of 187.9 bu/a to a low of 87.1 bu/a. Generally
good crop yields were obtained but treatment replication was poor, probably
contributing to non-significance of any treatment. The poorest plot yields occurred
in the southeast corner of the field study area where plot 308 is located and
along the east edge (plots 208 and 108). The cause of this problem is currently
unknown but uneven sprinkler water application is suspected (care will be used
to handle this in upcoming years) or a soil condition such as high sodium (which
will be checked). Some individual plot yields, e.g., plots 103 and 303 are inexplicably
high for the acid soil conditions reflected in tables 3
and 2. Due to the wide replicate variation, no conclusions
can be offered this year.
Table 2: Effect of lime sources and rate on soil pH in the pre-existing liming materials field study
Table 4: 1991 corn yield for each plot, treatment average and analysis of variance
1K.N. Clark, T.R. Peck, and J.E. Sawyer are Research Associate and Professor, Department of Agronomy, University of Illinois and Manager-Agronomy Services, GROWMARK, Bloomington, IL., respectively.
Sawyer, J. E., and T. R. Peck. 1991 Comparison of Plow Layer-Distributed and Surface Applied Limestone for No-Till Crop Production, Page 95-100. In 1991 Illinois Fertilizer Conference Proceedings, Edited by R. G. Hoeft, Springfield, IL., Jan 28-30, 1991.
