The effect of lime levels on the growth of beans and maize and nodulation of beans in three tropical acid soils

Abstract

Abstract A study to investigate the effect of lime on dry matter yield of maize (Zea mays) and beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) and nodulation of beans grown in three tropical acid soils (two humic Nitosols and one humic Andosol) was carried out in a greenhouse. The soils ranged from 4.2 to 5.0 in pH; 1.74 to 4.56 in %C; 21.0 to 32.0 meq/100g in CEC; 5.10 to 8.10 meq/100g in exchange acidity; 0.60 to 3.20 meq/100g in exchangeable (exch.) Al and 0.13 to 0.67 meq/ 100g in exch. Mn. Exchange acidity and exch. Al decreased with increasing levels of lime in the three soils. Exchangeable Al was reduced to virtually zero at pH 5.5 even in the soils which had appreciable initial amounts. Exchangeable Mn also decreased with increasing levels of lime in the two Nitolsos. Exceptional results, however, were obtained with the Andosol where exch. Mn increased ten‐fold with the first level of lime and then decreased with subsequent levels. In all the soils, mean dry matter yield of beans and maize, and mean nodule dry weight ...