Effect of Lime Particles Size and Application Rate on Soil Acidity and Base Cation Dynamics

Liming is a common practice for improving the quality of soils affected by acidity, due to climate change, acid rain, nitrate leaching, and oxidation of sulphide minerals. This study aimed not only to assess the efficiency of fine and coarse lime application at 3 t/ha and 6 t/ha doses in mitigating soil acidity, but also to determine which of the options has a stronger impact on improving subsoil characteristics. Over a period of two years, several key parameters were monitored: pH, exchangeable base cations (Caexch, Mgexch, and Kexch), and Alexch. In the topsoil, the highest increase in pH was observed 6 months after the ap-plication of 3 t/ha fine lime, while in the subsoil, only a modest increase was noted. The highest values of exchangeable base cations in the topsoil were: Caexch = 9.06 cmol/kg soil; Mgexch = 1.15 cmol/kg soil; Kexch = 0.360 cmol/kg soil. These were recorded 24 months after applying 6 t/ha of fine aglime, and were higher than those obtained in the subsoil. While in topsoil Alexch reached 0 at T3, in subsoil, the largest decrease was 38% at T3. The release rate of ca Ca and its mobility depend on the particle size and dose of aglime, playing an important role in alleviating aluminium toxicity.