Evaluation of three calcium extractants for coastal plain soils |
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| Abstract: | Abstract Mehlich 1‐Ca is used as an index to predict the Ca requirement for peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) fruit development in major peanut growing states. Recently, some concern has been raised about the inadequacy of Mehlich 1 extractable Ca for that purpose. Possible use of alternative extractants for soil Ca has been suggested. In this study, relationships among Mehlich 1, 0.2 M NH4Cl and 0.01 M NaNO3 extractable Ca were examined in several Coastal Plain soils to which gypsum or lime had been applied. Variability in extractable Ca was much greater following lime treatment than following gypsum treatment. In Bonifay soil, the quantity of Ca extractable by the three extractants was similar in a gypsum treatment, but in a lime treatment (at an application rate equivalent to the gypsum treatment) Mehlich 1‐Ca was 2 and 5‐fold greater than NH4Cl‐ and NaNO3‐Ca, respectively. In Greenville soil, Mehlich 1‐Ca was 3 to 4‐fold greater than NaNO3‐Ca regardless of gypsum or lime amendment. For soil samples from a field experiment on Lakeland sand, where lime or gypsum was applied prior to planting, Mehlich 1‐Ca was 7.5 and 2.2‐fold greater than NaNO3‐Ca for the lime and gypsum treatments, respectively. Greater variability in Mehlich 1‐Ca in lime than in gypsum treatments was due to possible inclusion of undissolved limestone in the soil samples, resulting in overestimation of Ca available for peanut fruits. Mehlich 1‐Ca appears to be an adequate index of soil Ca for prediction of supplemental Ca requirement for peanut if lime has not been applied or has been applied well in advance of planting, thus minimizing the inclusion of undissolved limestone with the soil sample taken from the fruiting zone (0–8 cm depth) 10–14 d after planting. |
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