Surface Application of Hydrated Lime in Different Crop Systems

Abstract

To address the problems of acidity in the surface and subsurface layers and improve soil chemical fertility, three methodology of surface application of hydrated lime (HL) (4Ca(OH)2Mg(OH)2) (ensure that calcium (Ca)+2 occupied 70%, 60%, and 50% of cation exchange capacity (CEC) in the 0.0–0.2 m layer) were evaluated in a Typic Hapludalf in conventional pasture system (CPS), no-till system (NTS), and agropastoral system (APS) in Brazil. The results support the following conclusions: (a) the application of HL corrects surface and subsurface acidity and improve the soil chemical fertility: increasing pH and magnesium (Mg)2+ content in the CPS, NTS, and APS in the 0.0–0.2 m and 0.2–0.4 m layers; increasing base saturation (BS) and Mg+2/CEC in the CPS, NTS, and APS in the 0.0–0.2 m layer; increasing Ca+2 content, CEC, and Ca+2/CEC in the NTS and APS in the 0.0–0.2 m layer; reducing total acidity in the CPS, NTS, and APS in the 0.0–0.2 m layer and in the NTS and APS in the 0.2–0.4 m layer; reducing total acidity and increasing Mg+2/CEC in the NTS and APS in the 0.2–0.4 m layer.