IMPACT OF LIMING ON MICRONUTRIENTS STATUS IN MAIZE GRAIN

Abstract

Soil acidity is a major yield-limiting factor for crop production. Liming is the most important and most effective practice to ameliorate soil acidity constraints for optimal crop production. However, liming can be accompanied with dramatic reduction of some nutrients intake in plants. Among widely cultivated food crops, maize plays a particularly important role. Aim of this study was testing impacts of liming with fertdolomite (24.0 % CaO + 16.0 % MgO + 3.0 % N + 2.5 % P2O5 + 3.0 % K2O) in five rates from 5 to 40 t ha (spring 2008) on micronutrient status in maize grain (the growing seasons 2010 and 2011). In general, concentrations of manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) in maize grain were very low and inadequate with aspect of animal and human feed needs. The growing season characteristics (mainly precipitation and temperature regimes) were more effective factor impact on grain micronutrient status in maize compared to liming (comparison averages values in mg kg in dry matter of all tretaments in 2010 and 2011: 20.7 and 24.7 Fe, 20.6 and 25.8 Zn, 4.77 and 7.07 Mn, 1.67 and 1.46 Cu, respcetively). As affected by liming slightly decreased concentrations of Mn and Zn, while grain-Fe and -Cu were independent on liming. By comparison the control (unlimed treatment) and averages limed treatment (2-year averages: 2010 and 2011) there found values as follows (mg kg in dry matter): 23.7 and 23.1 Fe, 23.3 and 22.5 Zn, 6.44 and 5.81 Mn, 1.55 and 1.56 Cu, respectively.