engleski

Impacts of liming with dolomite on maize, wheat and barley yields

Soil acidity is in many cases limiting factor of arable crops yield worldwide. Generally, liming of these soils is a usual recommendation for their improvement. The effect of liming on the maize, winter wheat and winter barley grain yields were studied in field trials during 2003 to 2007 in the part of east Croatia (45°30' N, 17°11' E). The experiment with increased rates of dolomite meal containing 56% CaO and 40% MgO was conducted in the spring of 2003 on the acid soil with pH(KCl) 4.30 and low phosphorus and potassium availability. Dolomite was applied on standard NPK fertilization (160:150:100 kg ha- 1) what resulted in the following treatments: A = control (no liming) ; B = 5 t ha-1, C = 10 t ha-1 and D = 15 t ha-1. Crop rotation was as follows: maize (2003, 2004) - wheat (2005) - maize (2006) - winter barley (2007). In general, liming moderately affected maize grain yields in 2003 and 2006 as significant increased for 22% and 9% was recorded, respectively. The liming effect on maize grain yield failed in 2004, which was very favourable for maize growing concerning weather conditions. Winter wheat response to liming was less expressed than those of barley. In the fourth year after liming the highest dolomite rate considerably increased winter barley grain yield for 33 % compared to control. Significant effects of liming on the field crops yield were found by application of dolomite meal in amount of 5 t ha-1 for winter barley, 10 t ha-1 for maize in 2003 and 15 t ha-1 for wheat and maize in 2006.

liming ; maize ; winter barley ; winter wheat ; grain yield

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