Effect of lime application to strongly acidic soils on the growth of macadamia seedlings

Abstract

Glasshouse experiments were undertaken to evaluate the effects of soil pH on macadamia (Macadamia integrifolia Maiden and Betche) seedlings and to examine seedling growth in relation to soil chemical properties in acidic soils. In one experiment, in which 13 rates of CaCO3 (0 to the equivalent of 12 000 kg/ha) were applied to a strongly acidic (pH 3.9, 1:5 in water) sandy loam, optimum seedling growth was obtained in the pH range 4.0-5.9. A second experiment, in which seedlings were grown in each of 3 strongly acidic soils amended with various rates of CaCO3, also showed that macadamia seedlings could grow satisfactorily at pH values of 4.0 (2 soils) and 4.5 (1 soil). Increased seedling growth on 2 soils (silty clay loam, experiment 1; sandy loam, experiment 2) treated with lime was due to amelioration of aluminium and/or manganese toxicity and not to the alleviation of calcium deficiency. The results indicate that soil pH measurement alone would not be a good indicator of seedling growth. In some soils, seedling growth was optimum at pH 3.9, whereas at pH 4.0 in another soil, growth was well below the maximum which was attained at pH 4.5. The significant (P<0.05) growth reductions that occurred on all soils limed to pH values >6.0 were attributed to induced micronutrient deficiencies.