Evaluation of the effect of soil acidity amelioration on maize yield and nutrient interrelationships using stepwise regression and nutrient vector analysis

Abstract

The interrelationships between elemental content of selected soil and leaf nutrients and maize grain yield were evaluated in a liming experiment conducted on a Hutton and Oakleaf soil in a resource-poor farming area in the Mpumalanga Province of South Africa. Improved uptake of Mo by maize with increased soil P status was found on the Hutton soil, while N and P uptake improved, due to lime and fertiliser application, on both soils. Boron uptake by maize was depressed with lime application on the Oakleaf soil. Maize yield on the Hutton soil was adversely affected by Al toxicity, while plant Ca deficiency was the dominant factor that limited maize grain yield, followed by Al level and a depressed B uptake on the Oakleaf soil. Nutrient vector analyses showed a toxic build-up of Fe, followed by Al and to a lesser extent Mn. These toxic elements depressed the uptake of Ca, Mg and B by maize on the Hutton soil. On the Oakleaf soil, Al toxicity, followed by high concentrations of Mn and Fe, markedly reduced the uptake of Ca, Mg and K by maize.