Soil aluminum saturation threshold for subtropical crops in no-tillage system
Danilo dos Santos Rheinheimer
A * , Alexandre Troian B , Marília Camotti Bastos C , Gustavo Pesini D and Tales Tiecher D
A
B
C
D
Abstract
Neutralising native soil Al3+ is crucial in subtropical agriculture before implementing no-tillage (NT).
The aim of this study was to monitor variations in soil Al saturation and crop yields over 34 years in a field trial under NT, to define the best rate and frequency of lime reapplication for maximum productivity of grain and forage crops.
We measured the soil Al3+ saturation in 11 soil sampling seasons in three soil layers (0–5, 5–10, and 10–15 cm). From these 11 soil samplings, the Al saturation was extrapolated for the harvesting day of each crop by fitting a sigmoid model with five parameters. Then, Al saturation values of each year were plotted against the relative crop yields. From that, the critical Al saturation at which crop yield declined by more than 5% was estimated by a linear plateau model.
We observed that the yields of six of the 10 soybean crops, and all corn, millet, and black oat crops were not decreased even though the soil had been cultivated for 34 years without reapplying lime. The critical Al saturation values in the 10–15 cm soil layers for soybean, wheat, and cover crops were 44, 24 and 20%, respectively.
The soybean, corn, and wheat varieties available for Brazil’s subtropical region are tolerant to high Al3+ saturation, but responsive to liming. It is possible to maintain high crop yields in the long term by reapplying limestone on the soil surface.
It is imperative to establish an agronomic soil profile without Al3+ when adopting NT for a diverse crop rotation system. The combination of NT, Al-tolerant varieties, and reapplication of surface limestone is a suitable strategy to optimise both grain and forage yields.
Keywords: Al toxicity, cover crops, critical Al saturation, no-tillage system, root development, soil profile, soybean yield, subtropical region.
References
Albuquerque JA, Reinert DJ, Fiorin JE (1996) Variabilidade de solo e planta em Podzólico Vermelho-Amarelo. Revista Brasileira de Ciência do Solo 20, 1 51-157.
| Google Scholar |
Alvares CA, Stape JL, Sentelhas PC, de Moraes Gonçalves JL, Sparovek G (2013) Köppen’s climate classification map for Brazil. Meteorologische Zeitschrift 22, 711-728.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Athmann M, Kautz T, Banfield C, Bauke S, Hoang DTT, Lüsebrink M, Pausch J, Amelung W, Kuzyakov Y, Köpke U (2017) Six months of L. terrestris L. activity in root-formed biopores increases nutrient availability, microbial biomass and enzyme activity. Applied Soil Ecology 120, 135-142.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Atkinson JA, Hawkesford MJ, Whalley WR, Zhou H, Mooney SJ (2020) Soil strength influences wheat root interactions with soil macropores. Plant, Cell & Environment 43, 235-245.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |
Beckman I (1954) Sobre o cultivo e melhoramento do trigo (Triticum vulgare Vill.) no sul do Brasil. Agronomia Sulriograndense 1, 64-72.
| Google Scholar |
Bellinaso RJS, Tiecher T, Vargas JPRd, Rheinheimer DS (2021) Crop yields in no-tillage are severely limited by low availability of P and high acidity of the soil in depth. Soil Research 60, 33-49.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Blarney FPC, Nishizawa NK, Yoshimura E (2004) Timing, magnitude, and location of initial soluble aluminum injuries to Mungbean roots. Soil Science and Plant Nutrition 50, 67-76.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Bortoluzzi EC, Parize GL, Korchagin J, Silva VRd, Rheinheimer DdS, Kaminski J (2014) Soybean root growth and crop yield in reponse to liming at the beginning of a no-tillage system. Revista Brasileira de Ciência do Solo 38, 262-271.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Bossolani JW, Crusciol CAC, Portugal JR, Moretti LG, Garcia A, Rodrigues VA, da Fonseca MdC, Bernart L, Vilela RG, Mendonça LP, dos Reis AR (2021) Long-term liming improves soil fertility and soybean root growth, reflecting improvements in leaf gas exchange and grain yield. European Journal of Agronomy 128, 126308.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Briat J-F, Gojon A, Plassard C, Rouached H, Lemaire G (2020) Reappraisal of the central role of soil nutrient availability in nutrient management in light of recent advances in plant nutrition at crop and molecular levels. European Journal of Agronomy 116, 126069.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Caires EF, Garbuio FJ, Churka S, Barth G, Corrêa JCL (2008) Effects of soil acidity amelioration by surface liming on no-till corn, soybean, and wheat root growth and yield. European Journal of Agronomy 28, 57-64.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Carr SJ, Ritchie GSP, Porter WM (1991) A soil test for aluminium toxicity in acidic subsoils of yellow earths in Western Australia. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 42(5), 875-892.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Churka Blum S, Caires EF, Alleoni LRF (2013) Lime and phosphogypsum application and sulfate retention in subtropical soils under no-till system. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition 13(2), 279-300.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
CONAB (2023) Acompanhamento de safra brasileiro – grãos. Companhia Nacional De Abastecimento. Available at https://www.conab.gov.br/info-agro/safras/graos/boletim-da-safra-de-graos
Conyers MK, Scott BJ (1989) The influence of surface incorporated lime on subsurface soil acidity. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 29(2), 201.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Conyers MK, Heenan DP, McGhie WJ, Poile GP (2003) Amelioration of acidity with time by limestone under contrasting tillage. Soil and Tillage Research 72, 85-94.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Custos J-M, Moyne C, Sterckeman T (2020) How root nutrient uptake affects rhizosphere pH: a modelling study. Geoderma 369, 114314.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
de Moraes FA, Moreira SG, Peixoto DS, Resende Silva JC, Macedo JR, Silva MM, Silva BM, Sanchez PA, Nunes MR (2023) Lime incorporation up to 40 cm deep increases root growth and crop yield in highly weathered tropical soils. European Journal of Agronomy 144, 126763.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
de Vargas JPR, dos Santos DR, Bastos MC, Schaefer G, Parisi PB (2019) Application forms and types of soil acidity corrective: changes in depth chemical attributes in long term period experiment. Soil and Tillage Research 185, 47-60.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Duressa D, Soliman KM, Chen D (2010) Mechanisms of magnesium amelioration of aluminum toxicity in soybean at the gene expression level. Genome 53, 787-797.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Dávila GAJ, Tornquist CG, Hermann J-M, Overbeck GE, Inda AV (2019) Refining regional soil C stocks estimates in temperate highlands of Southern Brazil. Geoderma Regional 17, e00224.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Foy CD (1988) Plant adaptation to acid, aluminum-toxic soils. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 19, 959-987.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Gatiboni LC, Saggin A, Brunetto G, Horn D, Flores JPC, Rheinheimer DdS, Kaminski J (2003) Alterações nos atributos químicos de solo arenoso pela calagem superficial no sistema plantio direto consolidado. Ciência Rural 33, 283-290.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Huang N, Athmann M, Han E (2020) Biopore-induced deep root traits of two winter crops. Agriculture 10, 634.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
IAPAR (2014) Cultivar de ferijão IPR Tuiuiu. 2p. Available at https://www.idrparana.pr.gov.br/system/files/publico/negocios/folders/feijao/IPR-Tuiuiu.pdf
Kim Y-S, Park W, Nian H, Sasaki T, Ezaki B, Jang Y-S, Chung G-C, Bae H-J, Ahn S-J (2010) Aluminum tolerance associated with enhancement of plasma membrane H+-ATPase in the root apex of soybean. Soil Science and Plant Nutrition 56, 140-149.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Kinraide TB, Parker DR (1990) Apparent phytotoxicity of mononuclear hydroxy-aluminum to four dicotyledonous species. Physiologia Plantarum 79, 283-288.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Kochian LV (1995) Cellular mechanisms of aluminum toxicity and resistance in plants. Annual Review of Plant Physiology and Plant Molecular Biology 46, 237-260.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Kochian LV, Hoekenga OA, Piñeros MA (2004) How do crop plants tolerate acid soils? mechanisms of aluminum tolerance and phosphorous efficiency. Annual Review of Plant Biology 55, 459-493.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |
Kochian LV, Piñeros MA, Liu J, Magalhaes JV (2015) Plant adaptation to acid soils: the molecular basis for crop aluminum resistance. Annual Review of Plant Biology 66, 571-598.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |
Koebernick N, Daly KR, Keyes SD, George TS, Brown LK, Raffan A, Cooper LJ, Naveed M, Bengough AG, Sinclair I, Hallett PD, Roose T (2017) High-resolution synchrotron imaging shows that root hairs influence rhizosphere soil structure formation. New Phytologist 216, 124-135.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |
Kopittke PM, Moore KL, Lombi E, Gianoncelli A, Ferguson BJ, Blamey FPC, Menzies NW, Nicholson TM, McKenna BA, Wang P, Gresshoff PM, Kourousias G, Webb RI, Green K, Tollenaere A (2015) Identification of the primary lesion of toxic aluminum in plant roots. Plant Physiology 167, 1402-1411.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |
Li H, Mollier A, Ziadi N, Shi Y, Parent L-É, Morel C (2017) Soybean root traits after 24 years of different soil tillage and mineral phosphorus fertilization management. Soil and Tillage Research 165, 258-267.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Li GD, Conyers MK, Helyar KR, Lisle CJ, Poile GJ, Cullis BR (2019) Long-term surface application of lime ameliorates subsurface soil acidity in the mixed farming zone of south-eastern Australia. Geoderma 338, 236-246.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Liao H, Wan H, Shaff J, Wang X, Yan X, Kochian LV (2006) Phosphorus and aluminum interactions in soybean in relation to aluminum tolerance. Exudation of specific organic acids from different regions of the intact root system. Plant Physiology 141, 674-684.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |
Lynch JP (2011) Root phenes for enhanced soil exploration and phosphorus acquisition: tools for future crops. Plant Physiology 156, 1041-1049.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |
Martini JA, Kochhann RA, Gomes EP, Langer F (1977) Response of wheat cultivars to liming in some high Al Oxisols of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Agronomy Journal 69, 612-616.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Miotto A, Tiecher T, Kaminski J, Brunetto G, De Conti L, Tiecher TL, Martins AP, Rheinheimer dos Santos D (2020) Soil acidity and aluminum speciation affected by liming in the conversion of a natural pasture from the Brazilian Campos Biome into no-tillage system for grain production. Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science 66, 138-151.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Morse JW, Arvidson RS (2002) The dissolution kinetics of major sedimentary carbonate minerals. Earth-Science Reviews 58, 51-84.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Müller M, Schneider JR, Klein VA, da Silva E, da Silva Júnior JP, Souza AM, Chavarria G (2021) Soybean root growth in response to chemical, physical, and biological soil variations. Frontiers in Plant Science 12, 602569.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |
Nunes-Nesi A, Brito DS, Inostroza-Blancheteau C, Fernie AR, Araújo WL (2014) The complex role of mitochondrial metabolism in plant aluminum resistance. Trends in Plant Science 19, 399-407.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |
Pinkerton A, Simpson JR (1986) Responses of some crop plants to correction of subsoil acidity. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 26(1), 107-113.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Rheinheimer DS, Petry C, Kaminski J, Bartz H (1994) Influência do estresse de alumínio em plantas de fumo: I. Efeitos no sistema radicular, na absorção de fósforo e cálcio e no acúmulo de massa seca. Revista Brasileira de Ciência do Solo 18, 63-68.
| Google Scholar |
Rheinheimer DdS, Santos JCP, Fernandes VBB, Mafra AL, Almeida JA (2003) Modificações nos atributos químicos de solo sob campo nativo submetido à queima (Changes of chemical attributes of a soil after burning its native permanent pasture). Ciência Rural 33(1), 49-55.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Rheinheimer DS, Tiecher T, Gonzatto R, Zafar M, Brunetto G (2018a) Residual effect of surface-applied lime on soil acidity properties in a long-term experiment under no-till in a Southern Brazilian sandy Ultisol. Geoderma 313, 7-16.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Rheinheimer DS, Tiecher T, Gonzatto R, Santanna MA, Brunetto G, da Silva LS (2018b) Long-term effect of surface and incorporated liming in the conversion of natural grassland to no-till system for grain production in a highly acidic sandy-loam Ultisol from South Brazilian Campos. Soil and Tillage Research 180, 222-231.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Scott BJ, Conyers MK, Poile GJ, Cullis BR (1999) Reacidification and reliming effects on soil properties and wheat yield. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 39, 849-856.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Scott BJ, Fisher JA, Cullis BR (2001) Aluminium tolerance and lime increase wheat yield on the acidic soils of central and southern New South Wales. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 41, 523-532.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Silva LMd, Lemos LB, Crusciol CAC, Feltran JC (2004) Sistema radicular de cultivares de feijão em resposta à calagem. Pesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira 39, 701-707.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Singh S, Tripathi DK, Singh S, Sharma S, Dubey NK, Chauhan DK, Vaculík M (2017) Toxicity of aluminium on various levels of plant cells and organism: a review. Environmental and Experimental Botany 137, 177-193.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Sun L, Tian J, Zhang H, Liao H (2016) Phytohormone regulation of root growth triggered by P deficiency or Al toxicity. Journal of Experimental Botany 67, 3655-3664.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |
Vardar F, Ünal M (2007) Aluminum toxicity and resistance in higher plants. Advances in Molecular Biology 1, 1-12.
| Google Scholar |
Varghese EM, Kour B, Ramya S, Kumar NS, Jisha MS, Ramakrishnan B (2022) Rhizosphere microbe-mediated alleviation of aluminum and iron toxicity in acidic soils. In ‘Rhizosphere engineering’. (Eds RC Dubey, P Kumar) pp. 499–526. (Elsevier) doi:10.1016/B978-0-323-89973-4.00003-X
Vieira Fontoura SM, de Castro Pias OH, Tiecher T, Cherubin MR, de Moraes RP, Bayer C (2019) Effect of gypsum rates and lime with different reactivity on soil acidity and crop grain yields in a subtropical Oxisol under no-tillage. Soil and Tillage Research 193, 27-41.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Wagai R, Kajiura M, Asano M (2020) Iron and aluminum association with microbially processed organic matter via meso-density aggregate formation across soils: organo-metallic glue hypothesis. Soil 6, 597-627.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Yang Z-B, Rao IM, Horst WJ (2013) Interaction of aluminium and drought stress on root growth and crop yield on acid soils. Plant and Soil 372, 3-25.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Zeffa DM, Sandoli RF, Moda-Cirino V, Pavan MA (2011) Variabilidade genética para tolerância à toxidez de alumínio em cultivares e linhagens promissoras de feijão. Cient Exatas Tecnologicas 10, 21-28.
| Google Scholar |
Zelinová V, Halušková Ľ, Huttová J, Illéš P, Mistrík I, Valentovičová K, Tamás L (2011) Short-term aluminium-induced changes in barley root tips. Protoplasma 248, 523-530.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |
Zhang S, Jiang Q, Liu X, Liu L, Ding W (2020) Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria alleviate aluminum toxicity and ginger bacterial wilt in acidic continuous cropping soil. Frontiers in Microbiology 11, 569512.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |
