Influence of liming on yield and chemical composition of alfalfa on an acid soil

Abstract

An on-farm field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of lime application on chemical composition, leaf stem ratio, stem height and herbage yield in dryland alfalfa during a three-year period. The soil of the experiment site was silty-loam, pseudogley (Stagnosols). The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three rates of ground limestone (0, 3 and 6 t ha(-1)). Lime application has a significant beneficial impact on herbage yield, crude protein content, stein height and leaf to stein ratio of alfalfa. Increasing amounts of lime had a significant effect on the concentration of nutrient elements in dried herbage of alfalfa. Lime applications significantly increased soil pH and improved the bioavailability of P, K Ca and Mg in the treated soil. Liming significantly reduced the Fe, Al, Mn, Zn and Cu contents in the soil.