Abstract

The effects of lime and P fertilizer application on chemical properties of acid soil, and dry matter yield (DMY) and phosphorus concentration of barley were investigated in a greenhouse experiment in 2013. The experimental soil was collected from Emdibir, South-Western Ethiopia. Five lime levels (CaCO3) (0, 6093, 12186, 18280, and 24373 mg CaCO3 kg-1 soil) in a factorial combination with five phosphorus (TSP) rates (0, 300, 600, 900 and 1600 mg kg-1) were used. The treatments were replicated three times. Barley, variety HB-1307, was used as a test crop. All the soil and plant analysis was conducted following standard laboratory procedures. The soil chemical properties, except Mg, were significantly (P≤0.05) affected by increasing rates of lime and/or P addition. The highest lime rate resulted in an increase in soil pH, exchangeable Ca and Cu, and a decrease in the levels of exchangeable acidity and Al, Fe, Mn, and Zn. The DMY and plant P of barley were increased with the lime rate. The lime and P interaction effects were significant (P≤0.05) on exchangeable Ca, Al, and DMY. Optimum lime (12186 mg kg-1) application has a decreasing effect on P fixation by Fe and Al. While the optimum lime rate in combination with the highest rate of P enhanced fixation by Ca. The change in soil chemical properties and DMY might encourage better barley growth on this soil. In conclusion, lime application beyond 18280 mg CaCO3 kg-1 soil may not be beneficial for the soil chemical properties and barley DMY.

Key words: Chemical properties, dry matter yield, soil exchangeable acidity, phosphorus concentration phosphorus fixation.