Abstract
The review summarizes the literature and the current knowledge on the effect of lime on soil chemical properties and crop productivity. Most of investigators confirmed that lime application could improve the chemical and biological properties of the soils. The long-term lime application trials result in increased soil chemical properties. In addition, due to its multiple positive effects on the chemical and biological soil properties, lime contributes to increase crop productivity and crop quality. Predominantly because of the slow work of lime to make the nutrients available for crops lime-combined fertilization schemes often show good results. Thus, for sustainable agricultural systems within small-scale farming in developing countries like Ethiopia, recommended liming with minimum chemical fertilization can be a good option for developing effective plant-nutrient management strategies in acid soil area. Keywords: Liming, soil acidity, crop productivity, soil chemical property, soil biological property DOI : 10.7176/JEES/9-2-03
Highlights
Soil acidity is a complex of numerous factors involving nutrient deficiencies and toxicities, low activities of beneficial micro organisms, and reduced plant root growth, which limits absorption of nutrients and water (Fageria and Baligar, 2008)
Soil acidity is a severe problem in high rainfall areas of Ethiopia, and can lead to decline or complete failure of crop production (Abdenna et al, 2007)
When lime is applied to the soil, Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions displace H+, Fe2+, Al3+, Mn4+ and Cu2+ ions from soil adsorption sites resulting in increase in the soil pH, and other than increasing soil pH, lime supplies significant amounts of Ca and Mg, depending on the type of liming materials
Summary
Soil acidity is a complex of numerous factors involving nutrient deficiencies and toxicities, low activities of beneficial micro organisms, and reduced plant root growth, which limits absorption of nutrients and water (Fageria and Baligar, 2008). The summation of different anthropogenic and natural processes including leaching of exchangeable bases, basic cation uptake by plants, decomposition of organic materials, application of commercial fertilizers and other farming practices produce acidic soils (Brady and Weil, 2002). The most efficient crop production on acid soils is the application of both lime and fertilizer, phosphorus. Indirect effects of lime include increased availability of P, Mo and B, and more favorable conditions for microbially mediated reactions, such as nitrogen fixation and nitrification, and in some cases improved soil structure (Nekesa et al, 2005). The objective of this paper is to review the effect of lime on chemical properties of soil and crop productivity improvement
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