Yield of sugar beet, soybean, corn, field bean, and wheat as affected by lime application on alkaline soils

Abstract

Environmental regulations and limited storage space compel processors to remove spent limestone and not stockpile it on site. This material is often used as a liming material to control pH on acid soils, but in some cases may have to be applied to alkaline soils. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of applying sugar beet processing lime on soils with an alkaline solum. Studies were conducted at seven sites representing four soil series. Lime was applied at rates of 0,1.4, 2.8, and 5.6 magnesium (Mg) ha‐1. Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.), soybean (Glycine max L.), cora (Zea mays L.), field bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were used as test crops. Yield of sucrose and roots of sugar beet as well as yield of soybean, corn, field bean, and wheat were not affected by lime application. Manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) concentration in leaves of sugar beet and soybean, and whole field bean plants decreased with increasing lime rates. These results show this lime may be applied at rates up to 5 Mg ha‐1 once every three years on these alkaline soils without negatively affecting the yield of sugar beet, soybean, corn, field bean, and wheat. Nutritional status of these crops should be carefully monitored after lime application.