Summary
This long-term field study quantifies how liming alters soil exchangeable cation concentrations and their relationship to spring barley yield at two contrasting UK sites. Log-logistic relationships were found between yield and selected exchangeable cations (Mn, Ca, Al), with exchangeable aluminium concentrations exceeding 7.5 mg kg⁻¹ likely responsible for yield reductions under acidic conditions. The findings suggest that critical Mn concentration thresholds for toxicity may require revision, as barley maintained non-limiting yields at exchangeable Mn concentrations up to 417 mg kg⁻¹.
UK applicability
These findings are directly applicable to UK arable practice, being derived from two major UK long-term field sites (Rothamsted and Woburn). The results inform liming recommendations for managing soil acidity and exchangeable cation balance in UK cereal production, particularly regarding aluminium toxicity risk and reassessment of manganese toxicity thresholds.
Key measures
Relative yield (RY) of spring barley; concentrations of exchangeable cations (Mn, Ca, Al, Cd, Cr, Fe, Cu, Co, Zn, Ni, K); soil pH
Outcomes reported
The study measured relative yield of spring barley and concentrations of exchangeable soil cations across nine years at two long-term experiment sites under four liming rates. Relationships between soil exchangeable cation concentrations and barley yield were characterised using log-logistic models.
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