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The chemical composition of British agricultural liming materials

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

Margaret Chater  and
R. J. B. Williams
Margaret Chater
Affiliation:
Rothamsted Experimental Station, Harpenden, Herts
R. J. B. Williams
Affiliation:
Rothamsted Experimental Station, Harpenden, Herts
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Summary

Ninety-four British liming materials were examined. The contents of Ca, Mg, K, P, S, Sr, B, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Co, Mo, Ni, Cd and Na in the acid-soluble fraction, and Mn, Cu, Co, Mo, Ni, Sr, Ti, Cr, Ga, Pb, Sn, V, Y, Zr and Ba in the acid-insoluble fraction were determined by chemical and spectrographic analysis. Water soluble nitrate was also determined.

Only manganese, providing on average 3 kg Mn/ha for a 10 t/ha dressing, was found in agriculturally significant quantities in the acid-soluble fraction of the limestones or shell-sands analysed. Magnesium, present only in significant amounts in the dolomitic limestones, provided on average 27 kg Mg/ha from a 10 t/ha dressing.

The acid-insoluble fraction of the limestones contained, on average, a twentieth of the concentration of Mn in the acid-soluble fraction. The concentration of K was much larger and depended on the amounts and nature of the insoluble fraction. The acidinsoluble fraction contained no significant amounts of other plant nutrients. The relative concentrations of Mn and K in both fractions emphasize that results based on the total amounts of elements in limestones could overestimate their potential value as sources of plant nutrients.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 82 , Issue 2 , April 1974 , pp. 193 - 205
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1974

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