DOLOMITE AND CALCITE TREATMENTS APPLYING IN MELIORATION OF AN ACIDIC SANDY SOIL

Abstract

In the Institute of Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science of Debrecen University in pot experiment, the effect of two carbonate containing amendments are examined on some properties of an acidic humous sandy soil (pHH2O=5.2) originating from Nagykáta. In the two treatments the amendments were granulated dolomite and calcite, the applied quantities were 3 t ha-1. In the amelioration pot experiment all treatments enriched NPK fertilizers taking into account the nutritional requirements of test plant (Phaseolus vulgaris nanus L); it was a „Yellow-podded -Maxidor" bean. On the bases of the first year results, the water management parameters were influenced positively by dolomite and calcite treatments. The water permeability of sandy soils decreased significantly in dolomite treatment. At the same time, the water holding capacity of the soil increased almost equally due to dolomite and lime doses. The pH of the soil increased, the hydrolytic acidity decreased, both under the influence of dolomite and lime, but the soil remained acidic. Among microbiological soil properties the number of total bacteria, the activity of saccharase, urease and dehydrogenase activity increased significantly, especially in the dolomite treatment. The CO2-production didn’t change significantly in the treatments. The intensive soil management, the application of high fertilizer doses affect negatively on soil reaction (pH), thereby some features of the soil would deteriorate; so the soil acidification affects an increasing proportion of agricultural land. With these results we would like to draw attention to the importance of soil amelioration of acidified soils with natural, carbonate-containing materials.

Keywords

• dolomite
• calcite
• acidic sandy soil
• water management
• chemical
• microbiological characteristics of soil