Free Standard AU & NZ Shipping For All Book Orders Over $80!
Register      Login
Soil Research Soil Research Society
Soil, land care and environmental research
Shopping Cart: ( empty )
You are here: Home > Journals > SR > SR06169
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 45(3)

Persistent improvements in the structure and hydraulic conductivity of a Ferrosol due to liming

J. M. Kirkham A B , B. A. Rowe A and R. B. Doyle A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A School of Agricultural Science & Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 98, Hobart, Tas. 7005, Australia.

B Corresponding author. Email: james.kirkham@utas.edu.au

Australian Journal of Soil Research 45(3) 218-223 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR06169
Submitted: 30 November 2006  Accepted: 23 March 2007   Published: 18 May 2007

Abstract

Changes in the soil structure and hydraulic conductivity of an Acidic Red Ferrosol were measured in a long-term (1968–2003) fertiliser experiment on pasture in north-western Tasmania, Australia. Studies were initiated following observations of both softer soil surface and cracking on plots that had received 15 t/ha of ground agricultural limestone. Liming decreased penetration resistance and increased hydraulic conductivity. These structural improvements were associated with increased mean dry aggregate size, a small increase in wet aggregate stability, higher exchangeable calcium levels, and increased plant growth, but a 9% decrease in total soil organic carbon in the surface 50 mm. This decrease in organic carbon was not associated with deterioration in soil structure, as may have been anticipated. This was probably because total organic C was still 82 g/kg on unlimed plots. Decreases in soil penetration resistance due to liming increased the likelihood of pugging from livestock but may improve ease of tillage.

This research demonstrates that liming can improve the structure of a well-aggregated Ferrosol as well as its previously reported effects of increasing soil pH and yields of pasture and barley despite decreasing organic C.

Additional keywords: lime, calcium, soil structure, aggregation, porosity, organic C.


Acknowledgments

This long-term experiment was made possible by the ongoing interest and cooperation of the managers and staff of the Elliott Research and Demonstration Station and the professional and technical commitment of Mr D. E. Johnson and Mr D. Butler of the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industry and Water during the last 30 years. The Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research funded summer studentships for Mr R. Baker, Dr R. Rawnsley, and Mr M. Robinson who measured hydraulic conductivity in 1995, penetration resistance in 1999, and wet aggregate stability in 2002, respectively. Dr G. Jock Churchman from the University of Adelaide provided advice on clay mineralogy. Exchangeable calcium in 1984 was determined by the Chemistry Branch, Biological and Chemical Research Institute, Rydalmere, New South Wales. Total C and total N in were determined in 2003 by the Queensland Department of Primary Industry. The soil and clay mineralogy were conducted in 2006 by Mr R. Botrill, Mineral Resources, Tasmania.


References


Barnhisel RI (1977) Chlorites and hydroxy interlayered vermiculite and smectite. In ‘Minerals in soil environments’. (Eds JB Dixon, SB Weed, JA Kittrick, MH Milford, JL White) (Soil Science Society of America: Madison, WI)

Barrow NJ (1965) Further investigation of the use of lime on established pastures. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry 5, 442–449.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Baver LD , Gardner WH , Gardner WR (1972) ‘Soil physics.’ (John Wiley and Sons: Canada)

Bradley J , Vimpany IA , Milham PJ , Abbott TS (1983) ‘Soil Testing Service—methods and interpretation.’ (Department of Agriculture: Sydney)

Chan KY, Heenan DP (1998) Effect of lime (CaCO3) application on soil structural stability of a red earth. Australian Journal of Soil Research 36, 73–86.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Conyers MK, Scott BJ, Fisher R, Lill W (1996) Predicting the field performance of twelve commercial liming materials from southern Australia. Fertilizer Research 44, 151–161.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Cotching WE, Hawkins K, Sparrow LA, McCorkell BE, Rowley W (2002) Crop yields and soil properties on eroded slopes of red ferrosols in north-west Tasmania. Australian Journal of Soil Research 40, 625–642.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Dixon JB, Jackson ML (1962) Properties of intergradient chlorite-expansible layer silicates of soils. Soil Science Society of America Proceedings 26, 358–362. open url image1

Emerson WW (1959) The structure of soil crumbs. Journal of Soil Science 10, 235–244.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Gardner HW , Garner HV (1953) ‘The use of lime.’ (Farmer and Stock-Breeder Publications Ltd: London)

Gradwell MW , Birrell KS (1979) Water stability of soil aggregates. N.Z. Soil Bureau, Scientific Report 10C.

Hallaire V (1985) Evolution of crack networks during shrinkage of a clay soil under grass and winter wheat crops. In ‘International Symposium on Water Movement in Heavy Clay Soils’. Wageningen, The Netherlands. pp. 49–54.

Haynes RJ (1984) Effect of lime, silicate, and phosphate applications – on the concentrations of extractable aluminum and phosphate in a spodosol. Soil Science 138, 8–14.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Haynes RJ, Naidu R (1998) Influence of lime, fertilizer and manure applications on soil organic matter content and soil physical conditions: A review. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 51, 123–137.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Isbell RF (1996) ‘The Australian Soil Classification.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Collingwood, Vic.)

Kohnke H (1968) ‘Soil physics.’ (McGraw-Hill Inc.: New York)

Lado M, Paz A, Ben-Hur M (2004) Organic matter and aggregate size interactions in infiltration, seal formation, and soil loss. Soil Science Society of America Journal 68, 935–942. open url image1

McKenzie NJ , Cresswell HP (2002) Selecting a method for hydraulic conductivity. In ‘Soil physical measurement and interpretation for land evaluation: a laboratory handbook’. (Eds N McKenzie, K Coughlan, H Cresswell) pp. 90–107. (CSIRO Publishing: Collingwood, Vic.)

Muneer M, Oades JM (1989) The role of Ca–organic interactions in soil aggregate stability. III. Mechanisms and models. Australian Journal of Soil Research 27, 389–399.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Oliver C (1992) The relationship between soil organic matter and aggregate stability of intensively cropped soils of northern Tasmania. BAgSc(Hons) thesis, University of Tasmania, Australia.

Rayment GE , Higginson FR (1992) ‘Australian laboratory handbook of soil and water chemical methods.’ (Inkata Press Pty Ltd: Melbourne, Vic.)

Rengasamy P, Olsson KA (1991) Sodicity and soil structure. Australian Journal of Soil Research 29, 935–952.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Rowe BA (1982) Effects of limestone on pasture yields and the pH of two krasnozems in north-western Tasmania. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry 22, 100–105. open url image1

Rowe BA, Johnson DE (1988) Residual effects of limestone on pasture yields, soil pH and soil aluminium in a krasnozem in north-western Tasmania. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 28, 571–576.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Rowe BA , Johnson DE (1989) Liming reduces the soil strength of a krasnozem. In ‘Proceedings of the 5th Australian Agronomy Conference’. Perth, West Aust. p.574. (Australian Society of Agronomy: Parkville, Vic.)

Rowe BA, Johnson DE (1995) Residual benefits of limestone and superphosphate on barley yields and soil-water deficits on a krasnozem in north-western Tasmania. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 35, 611–617.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Sparrow LA, Cotching WE, Cooper J, Rowley W (1999) Attributes of Tasmanian ferrosols under different agricultural management. Australian Journal of Soil Research 37, 603–622.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Wang XJ, Smethurst PJ, Herbert AM (1996) Relationships between three measures of organic matter or carbon in soils of eucalypt plantations in Tasmania. Australian Journal of Soil Research 34, 545–553.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

White I, Perroux KM (1989) Estimation of unsaturated hydraulic conductivity from field sorptivity measurements. Soil Science Society of America Journal 53, 324–329. open url image1