U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 close



Research
                Research Home
                            National Programs
                            Research Projects
                            Scientific Manuscripts
                            International Engagement
                            Scientific Software/Models
                            Databases and Datasets
                            Office of Scientific Quality Review
            Media
                News & Features
                            Multimedia
                            Briefing Room
                            Down on the Farm
                            Press Room
                            Science in Your Shopping Cart
                            Scientific Discoveries
                            Tellus
                            Under the Microscope
            About ARS
                About ARS Home
                            Staff Directory
                            Labs and Research Centers (Map)
                            Headquarter Offices
                            Organizational Chart
                            Employee Services (REE Employees Only)
                            Office of Outreach, Diversity, and Equal Opportunity
            Work With Us
                Work With Us Home
                            ARS Vacancies at USAJOBS
                            Careers at ARS Information
                            Scientific Collaborations
                            Extramural Agreements
                            1890 Faculty Research Sabbatical ProgramSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications

Title:   Author  item
                                            Ritchey, Kennethitem
                                            Belesky, Daviditem
                                            Halvorson, Jonathan
  Submitted to: Agronomy Journal
                                    Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 7/7/2004
                                    Publication  Date: 11/15/2004
                                    Citation: Ritchey, K.D., Belesky, D.P., Halvorson, J.J. 2004. Soil properties and clover establishment 6 years after surface application of ca-rich by-products. Agronomy Journal 96:1531-1539.Interpretive Summary: Liming is important to establish and maintain low-acidity conditions in soils so that forage plants can grow well. Mechanical incorporation of limestone in hill lands can lead to soil loss. An alternative is to surface-apply calcium sources that are more soluble such as coal combustion by-product (CCB) gypsum. Gypsum is known to improve grass yield on acid soil for several years after application, but we do not know how long the benefits last, and soil sampling techniques for surface applied amendments are not well-worked out. We surface-applied limestone and several CCB materials to an acid Appalachian site and, after 4 years of grass production, overseeded with clover. Soil changes 6 years after application of 2 tons/acre limestone were concentrated in the surface inch. Soil improvements due to gypsum were less than those resulting from limestone addition. All the amendments reduced soil acidity, and clover-grass hay yields in the sixth year increased ad soil acidity decreased. The residual effects of application of CCB gypsum 6 years after application showed little benefit for grass-clover production apart from reduction in acidity due to a small (5%) calcium carbonate component in the by-product. Where gypsum had been applied by itself with no magnesium source, magnesium deficiency reduced yields, but use of calcium-magnesium limestone or magnesium oxide fertilizer overcame this problem. Yields were more closely correlated with properties of soil samples collected from the surface inch than from deeper samples.
                                Technical Abstract: Calcium-rich soil amendments can improve plant growth by supplying Ca and reducing detrimental effects of soil acidity, but solubility and neutralizing capacity of Ca sources vary.  Calcium and Mg soil amendments were surface-applied to an abandoned pasture in 1993 and orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata), bluegrass (Poa pratensis) and tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) Darbyshire) were sown in 1994.  Six years after application, reduction in soil Al and Mn and increases in Ca and pH from dolomitic limestone, fluidized bed combustion residue, and MgO fertilizer were greatest in the surface 2.5 cm, while high rates of gypsum application left little residual effect except for decreases in Mg. Plots were split to accommodate interseeding in spring of 1998 with red clover (Trifolium pratense) or white clover (T. repens), as well as a non-seeded control.  No N fertilizer was applied after interseeding.  Percentage clover in the sward increased as soil acidity decreased as a function of increasing CaCO3 equivalent of amendments.  Subsequent herbage yield increased as a function of legume increase.  Where high gypsum application decreased soil Mg levels, yields fell.  Yields were more closely correlated with properties of soil samples collected from the surface 2.5 cm than from deeper samples.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov