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Uptake of Calcium, Magnesium and Potassium by Corn (zea mays L.) in Relation to Liming, Soil Moisture and Plant Density
Thesis Abstract:
The study was conducted to determine the effects of lime and soil moisture levels on the uptake of Ca, Mg and K by corn, the absorption of Ca, Mg and K by corn with increase in plant density, and the influence of lime and soil moisture content on the amounts of exchangeable Ca, Mg and K in the soil.
Results showed that the Ca content of corn increased with increase in lime application on Lipa clay loam soil, but the differences obtained were not significant under field conditions. Significant effects of liming on Ca content occurred only in the pot experiment. Liming also significantly increased the relative Ca content of corn planted on Adtuyon clay soil.
Lime application adversely affected the uptake of Mg and K by corn on both types of soil. The amount of Mg absorbed per plant decreased with liming, the negative effect being more evident in Adtuyon clay soil. Also, on this soil in the pot experiment, the highest uptakes of Ca, Mg and K per plant were obtained at 3.56 tons of CaCO3 per 2 x 106 kg soil.
Plaint density had no effect on the amounts of Ca, Mg and K in the whole corn plants grown on Lipa clay loam soil, but the uptake per plant decreased at both silking and harvest stages as population increased from 17,777 to 81,632 plants per hectare.
Percentages of Ca, Mg and K were slightly higher in plants grown on both soil types at 80-90% soil moisture level than in those of lower level (45-50%). In terms of absolute content per plant, the differences were magnified as soil moisture increased.
Lime application significantly increased the pH and amounts of exchangeable Ca and Mg in both soils. Exchangeable K tended to decrease but insignificantly. Increasing the moisture content of both soils had no significant effect on the levels of pH and exchangeable Ca, Mg and K.
No significant differences were found in both grain and dry-matter yield at different lime treatments on Lipa clay loam soil under field conditions. However, both yields per plant significantly decreased as population density was increased from 17,777 to 81, 832 plants per hectare.
In the pot experiment, a significant interaction was observed between lime and soil moisture levels. Application of 11-43 CaCO3 tons per hectare resulted in the highest dry-matter yield when the soil moisture was 80-90% in Adtuyon clay.