Abstract
Liming with agricultural lime was carried out at some locations in the old South-eastern part of Nigeria. One hectare each was acquired at Akpabuyo (Cross River State), Calabar (Cross River State), Amakama (Abia State) and Igbariam (Anambra State) in August 2008. The plots were cleared, treated with 1.6 tons of agricultural lime and properly mixed by ploughing and harrowing up to 20 cm depth. The plots were planted to maize (Oban I variety) after four weeks of incorporating the lime followed by intercropping with cassava (TMS 30572), after two months of planting maize. In the second year (2009), the same plots were prepared and planted with maize and cassava consequently to investigate the effects on the yields of the crops with soil parameters also collected after harvesting. The results showed that lime greatly influenced the chemical and biological properties but had little effects on the physical properties of the soils even at the end of the second season. There was no significant influence of the liming on the yields of the crops in the first year, but significance was noticed after the second planting. The soils’ chemical and biological properties were significantly affected after the second planting. Agricultural limes when applied to the soil improved the chemical, biological and physical properties of the soils, as well as the yields of acid sensitive crops.
Keywords:
liming
agricultural lime
soil properties
soil parameter and crop yields.
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