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Chemical Control of Soil Environment by Lime and Nutrients to Improve the Productivity of Acidic Alluvial Soils Under Rice-wheat Cropping System in Bangladesh

Dr. Md. Ataur Rahman
Principal Scientific Officer
Regional Wheat Research Centre, Bangladesh Agricultural Research CentreGazipur 1701

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The productivity of rice-wheat cropping has declined in acidic alluvial soils widespread in Bangladesh. Field experiments were conducted for three years at two locations to investigate the effects of 3 levels of lime (0, 1.2 and 2.4 t ha^-1) and six combinations of fertilizer treatments on soil pH, nutrient availability, and yields of rice and wheat. Soil pH, available P, exchangeable Ca, and hot-water-extractable B were increased by liming. The levels of Fe and Al content in soil were significantly decreased with lime levels whereas the level of Zn was not affected by lime levels. Boron availability enhanced by liming could have significant effect in preventing spike-sterility and thereby increased the yield of wheat. The yield response of crops reveled that combination of full dose of liming (2.4 t ha^-1) with N, P, K and S applications of at the rates of 100, 40, 40 and 20 kg ha-1 in both the crops and 5 kg ha^-1 of Zn only in rice are preferable to obtained higher yield in acidic alluvial soil. Mg and B were not required to apply as fertilizer at least for 3 years in such a soil treated with full dose of lime.

Keywords: Liming, Nutrient, rice, wheat, Soil, pH

Location: Dinajpur and Rangpur

Start Date: 00-00-1999

End Date: 00-00-2002

Program Area: Farming System

Commodity: Rice, Wheat

Objectives:

Investigate the effect of liming on soil chemical environment including nutrient availability and to suggest the suitable combination of lime and nutrients to improve the productivity in rice-wheat cropping system in acidic alluvial soil.

Methodology:

Field experiments were carried out at two locations of Dinajpur (25°51?N, 88°40?E) and Rangpur (25°67?N, 89°34?E) for three years, starting with transplanted Aman rice in 1999-2000 and ending with wheat harvest in 2001-02. The liming material used in the experiment was dolomite, burned and finely ground with effective calcium oxide equivalent of 48%. The experiment comprised eighteen combinations of three lime and six nutrient levels in split-plot design. Lime treatments of control (L0: no lime), 1.2 (L1: half of lime requirement), and 2.4 t ha-1 (L2: full dose of lime requirement) were arranged in main plots. Fertilizer treatments of control (N0: no fertilization), application of nitrogen, potassium and sulfur at the rate of 100, 40 and 20 kg ha^-1 (N1), N1 plus phosphorus application @ 40 kg ha^-1 (N2), N2 plus magnesium application @ 20 kg ha-1 (N3), N3 plus zinc application @ 5 kg ha-1 (N4), and N4 plus boron application @ 1.5 kg ha^-1 (N5) were distributed in the sub-plots. The sizes of each main-plot and sub-plot were 19m×5m and 5m×2m, respectively. The samples of matured crops were harvested from the central areas (4m×1m) of each sub-plot for yield determination. Soil samples from individual plot were collected regularly after harvesting each crop. Available plant nutrient contents were measured in the native soils and the soil samples after one year of liming. Zinc, manganese, iron and aluminum were extracted and analyzed through standard methods. Also exchangeable Ca, Mg, and K and available P content in soil were analyzed. All the data were statistically analyzed and the mean value was tested by the least significant difference (LSD) at 5% level of significance.

Source of Information: Environ. Control Biol. 43(4): 259-266

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1. Government	Budget:
2. United States Agency for International Development	Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The liming treatments resulted in significant increase in exchangeable Ca and Mg, available P and B contents in soils at both experimental sites. The liming material contains sufficient Ca and Mg that could contribute to the increasing trend in available Ca and Mg content in soil. However, since the liming material was free from P, the higher available P in soil under liming might be attributed to increased solubility of native and applied P due to increase in soil pH. Lime application significantly decreased the levels of exchangeable Fe and Al content, and maintained a balance of available plant nutrients in soil. Thus the lime-induced changes in soil environment, especially increase in soil pH, higher availability of Ca, Mg, P and B, coupled with decrease in Fe and Al content in soil could contribute to the increase in grain yields of rice and wheat. The higher availability of plant nutrients including B, contribute to higher number of fertile spike m-2 under liming, and thereby reduce the spike sterility of wheat. The work effectively demonstrated the liming effect in improving crop productivity in acidic soil thus the technology is widely adapted at farm level for the amendment of acidic soil.

Knowledge Management: Journal