HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Free Full Text (PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (5) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ritchey, K. D. Articles by Snuffer, J. D. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Ritchey, K. D. Articles by Snuffer, J. D. Agricola Articles by Ritchey, K. D. Articles by Snuffer, J. D. Related Collections Other Forage Crops Nutrient Management Plant Nutrition Soil Fertility and Productivity Industrial Waste

PRODUCTION PAPER

Limestone, Gypsum, and Magnesium Oxide Influence Restoration of an Abandoned Appalachian Pasture

USDA-ARS, Appalachian Farming Syst. Res. Cent., 1224 Airport Rd., Beaver, WV 25813-9423

* Corresponding author (dritchey{at}afsrc.ars.usda.gov)

Received for publication April 13, 2001. When restoring abandoned pastures on acidic hill-land soils to productivity, it is important to bring soil Ca and Mg to adequate levels. Gypsum is a readily available Ca amendment that is sufficiently soluble to move rapidly into the soil when surface-applied. Gypsum has been shown to reduce detrimental effects of subsurface acidity in soils of the southeastern USA. A 4-yr experiment was initiated to measure effects of surface gypsum application on forage production and to evaluate Mg-containing amendments to avoid gypsum-induced Mg deficiency. The study site was a southern West Virginia Gilpin silt loam (fine-loamy, mixed, mesic, Typic Hapludult) where abandoned hill-land pasture was being restored to productivity. Treatments included 0, 1000, 8000, 16000, and 32000 kg/ha flue gas desulfurization coal combustion by-product gypsum (gypsum) together with dolomitic limestone and five additional treatments to evaluate sources of supplemental Mg. Application of 16000 kg/ha gypsum together with limestone increased forage yields of mixed orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb) pasture during establishment by 42% and production by 11% compared with limestone alone. About 8% of the mean 790 kg/ha yield increase could be attributed to acidity-neutralizing effects of alkaline constituents in the gypsum by-product. Plants in higher gypsum treatments had higher concentrations of K and P, but gypsum application decreased soil and plant Mg concentrations. This indicated that gypsum should not be applied on typical acid soils without supplemental Mg.

Abbreviations: pH_s, pH in 0.01 M calcium chloride • TCE, total calcium carbonate equivalency

This article has been cited by other articles:

				F. Peregrina, I. Mariscal, R. Ordonez, P. Gonzalez, T. Terefe, and R. Espejo Agronomic Implications of Converter Basic Slag as a Magnesium Source on Acid Soils Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., January 25, 2008; 72(2): 402 - 411. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. B. Infalt and T. P. Young Forest Restoration in Campgrounds at Kings Canyon National Park, California Ecological Rest., January 1, 2008; 26(4): 302 - 310. [Abstract] [PDF]

				V. D. Zheljazkov, T. Astatkie, C. D. Caldwell, J. MacLeod, and M. Grimmett Compost, Manure, and Gypsum Application to Timothy/Red Clover Forage J. Environ. Qual., October 27, 2006; 35(6): 2410 - 2418. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. D. Ritchey, D. P. Belesky, and J. J. Halvorson Soil Properties and Clover Establishment Six Years after Surface Application of Calcium-Rich By-Products Agron. J., November 1, 2004; 96(6): 1531 - 1539. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]