Abstract

CASTRO, Hugo  and  MUNEVAR, Óscar. CHEMICAL IMPROVEMENT OF ACIDIC SOILS THROUGH THE USE OF COMBINED LIMING MATERIALS. rev.udcaactual.divulg.cient. [online]. 2013, vol.16, n.2, pp.409-416. ISSN 0123-4226.

With the aim of contributing to the improvement of the chemical fertility of the acid soils on the Altiplano Boyacense (Colombia) through liming techniques, the lime (t ha^-1CaCO₃) requirements for controlling acidity were estimated, using liming curves obtained by submitting the soils to incubation tests. According to the acidic character of the soils, CaCO₃ doses were explored in the present study, incorporated in a pure form and combined with commercial liming materials (quicklime, dolomite and Thomas slag) at a ratio of 50:40:10, respectively. The corrective effect was evaluated in two soils with different acidification processes: an unproductive acid sulfate soil (UASS) of an organic origin and a mineral soil (Oxic Horizon). The following parameters were examined to describe the degree of chemical soil improvement: pH, Al³⁺, S and P. The results demonstrate that liming requirements are directly related to the chemical processes that characterize the acidity of each soil. The two greater corrective effects on acidity were seen with 16t ha^-1CaCO₃ in the UASS and 4t ha^-1CaCO₃ in the soil with oxic characteristics, doses that were able to neutralize the aluminum in the studied soils and bring the pH to values close to 5.5. While achieving similar effects in the acidity control, the liming requirements were decreased when the studied CaCO₃ doses were applied combined with commercial liming materials; thereby demonstrating the most effective action of the complex supplements in the improvement of the unsaturated acid soils, which have limited fertility.

Keywords : Soil improvement; incubation; liming; acidity; chemical equivalent.

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