Soil Liming as a Way to Increase Crop Production Efficiency

Abstract

Approximately 25.5 million hectares of arable land in Russia are characterized by high acidity (pH below 5.5), which leads to up to a 30 percent reduction in the yield of major crops and a significant decline in the efficiency of mineral fertilizers. (Research purpose) To identify effective approaches for reducing soil acidity and to develop technical solutions for their practical implementation. (Materials and methods) The study analyzed the results of an experiment involving the application of coarsely ground dolomite flour to loamy chernozem soils, which demonstrated the effectiveness of this method in neutralizing soil acidity. The biochemical processes induced by liming materials and their influence on soil structure were also examined. (Results and discussion) Liming is a key method for reducing soil acidity, as it creates optimal conditions for microbial activity and enhances the efficiency of mineral fertilizer use. Moreover, it forms a geochemical barrier that prevents the leaching of mobile elements from the soil and helps reduce nutrient runoff into nearby water bodies. One of the most promising current approaches to applying lime-based soil ameliorants is the use of universal semi-trailers equipped with disc spreaders. (Conclusions) Liming increases the efficiency of mineral fertilizer use and creates favorable conditions for soil microbial activity. The efficiency of nitrogen fertilizer utilization increases by 1.4 to 2.7 times, while the uptake of phosphorus fertilizers improves by 10-15%. Coarsely ground dolomite flour has proven effective in reducing soil acidity. To deacidify the soil from moderately acidic to slightly acidic conditions (pHKCl 5.3-5.6), lime materials should be applied at a rate of 4 tons per hectare.