Liming increases alfalfa yield and crude protein content in an acidic silty loam soil

A three year field trial examined the effect of three hydrated lime (HL, Ca(OH) sub(2)) rates (0, 1.5 and 3 Mg HL ha super(-1)) on yield and quality characteristics of alfalfa on an acid soil (pH sub(water 1:2.5) 4.7) in Western Serbia. Lime was applied only once. Total dry mass yields of a new planting alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) increased up to 6500% by the treatments of HL, compared with the untreated control. Lime application significantly (P less than or equal to 0.05) increased the crude protein content of alfalfa, in comparison to the no limed control. Liming also significantly increased Ca, K, and P concentrations but decreased Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Al concentrations in alfalfa tissue, compared with the control treatment. Alfalfa yield increase was attributed to the increase of Ca, P and K uptake. Furthermore, the low (1.5 Mg HL ha super(-1)) and high (3 Mg HL ha super(-1)) lime treatments increased soil pH even further by 0.9 and 1.5 pH units, respectively. The results suggest that an initial application of hydrated lime at a rate of 3 Mg HL ha super(-1) may ameliorate soil acidity and increase the yield and quality characteristics of alfalfa at least over a 3-year period.