Publication Date

1985

Location

Kyoto Japan

Description

A dearth of knowledge relating to the effects of soil acidity on the growth of kikuyu grass presents constraints in formulating lime recommendations for kikuyu pastures. The response of kikuyu to lime at constant nitrogen and varying rates of phosphorus (P) fertilization was studied in field trials on three highly weathered soils. Significant increases in dry matter yield in response to liming were noted on all the soils, with these responses, together with large responses to P, being restricted almost entirely to the spring/early summer growth periods. Yield responses to lime were not related to soil pH or acid saturation values across the three soils, suggesting that soluble aluminium was not implicated in lime responses. Lime increased herbage P concentrations, and yields were closely related to P content at times when lime responses were apparent; this, together with the fact that maximum responses to lime and P were coincident, pointed to lime responses being attributable to improved P uptake by kikuyu.

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The Effects of Lime on the Dry Matter Production and Chemical Composition of Pennisetum clandestinum on Highly Weathered Soils

Kyoto Japan

A dearth of knowledge relating to the effects of soil acidity on the growth of kikuyu grass presents constraints in formulating lime recommendations for kikuyu pastures. The response of kikuyu to lime at constant nitrogen and varying rates of phosphorus (P) fertilization was studied in field trials on three highly weathered soils. Significant increases in dry matter yield in response to liming were noted on all the soils, with these responses, together with large responses to P, being restricted almost entirely to the spring/early summer growth periods. Yield responses to lime were not related to soil pH or acid saturation values across the three soils, suggesting that soluble aluminium was not implicated in lime responses. Lime increased herbage P concentrations, and yields were closely related to P content at times when lime responses were apparent; this, together with the fact that maximum responses to lime and P were coincident, pointed to lime responses being attributable to improved P uptake by kikuyu.