Changes in the chemical properties of acid soil and aggregate stability in the whole profile under long-term management history

Abstract

The effects of long-term (1959–2005) liming in combination with cattle manure application on the chemical properties and aggregate stability of acid soil were investigated in the whole soil profile to a 100 cm depth. Investigations were performed in a long-term liming and fertilizing field trial at Vezaiciai Branch of Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry situated in West Lithuania. The soil of the study site is Bathygleyic Distric Glossic Retisol (WRB 2014) with a texture of moraine loam. Acid soil had been periodically limed and manured at different intensity for 47 years. The experiment involved the following treatments: (1) unlimed and unfertilized (control); (2) unlimed and 60 t ha−1 manure; (3) limed and unfertilized; and (4) limed and 60 t ha−1 manure. During the 47-year period, liming was performed using pulverized limestone at a rate 1.0 (by hydrolytic soil acidity) every 7 years. During the whole study period, the soil received 38.7–36.5 t ha−1 CaCO3; 840 t ha−1 cattle manure, 2740 kg ha−1 mineral nitrogen; 3030 kg ha−1 phosphorus and 3810 kg ha−1 potassium. The data showed that long-term (47 years) periodic liming of different intensities in combination with cattle manure application significantly changed the chemical properties of the whole soil profile. The soil acidification was neutralized in the topsoil and subsoil to the 60 cm depth when the soil had been systematically limed with 1.0 rate every 7 years in combination with 60 t ha−1 manure application every 3–4 years. Periodic long-term liming in combination with manuring had a positive effect on the improvement of chemical properties of acid soil profile in the ElB1 and ElB2 horizons. The data of the soil structure in the topsoil and subsoil showed that such liming practice together with manuring had a positive effect on soil aggregate stability.