Annual ryegrass response to limestone and phosphorus on an ultisol¹

Texas Agricultural Experiment Station Technical Article No. 24863

Abstract

Decreasing winter pasture productivity in unlimed Ultisols has been associated with increased soil acidity due to fertilizer N application. The susceptibility of cool season grasses to soil acidity and associated infertility factors that result in reduced forage yield are not well understood. This field study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of factorial combinations of limestone and P applications on annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam. ‘Marshall') dry matter production and tissue mineral concentrations on a strongly acid (pH 4.7), sandy soil. Limestone was applied to a Lilbert loamy fine sand (loamy, siliceous, thermic, arenic Plinthic Paleudult) at rates of 0, 672, or 3808 kg ha^‐1. Phosphorus was applied to split plots at rates of 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 240, or 480 kg P ha^‐1. Over three harvest years, ryegrass yields increased 90 to 750% and 25 to 80% at the highest lime and P rates, respectively. In the second year, yield response to applied P was significantly less at the high lime rate which indicated that liming made soil P more plant available. Lime and applied P increased plant tissue P, Ca, and Mg concentrations. Yield was positively correlated with soil pH, P, Ca, and Mg and negatively related to soil K and Al. Clear relationships between individual soil test levels and leaf mineral concentrations with yield fluctuations could not be established because these variables were inextricably related to the lime and P rates. Nevertheless, excessive soil Al, coupled with inadequate P, Ca, and Mg availability, were indicated as important nutritional factors limiting annual ryegrass growth in unlimed soil.

Notes

Texas Agricultural Experiment Station Technical Article No. 24863

Department of Agricultural Sciences, Education & Technology, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA 71272

Soil & Crop Sciences Department, Texas A&M University. College Station, TX 77843