THE EFFECT OF LIME AND MOLYBDENUM ON SOIL
REACTION AND EASE SATURATION PERCENTAGE
AMD ON THE YIELDS AND MOLYBDENUM UPTAKE
OF SEVERAL UICKI0-A1: CROPS

by
Fred T urner, J r .

ALT ABSTRACT

S u b m i t t e d t o t h e S c h o o l f o r Advanced G r a d u a t e S t u d i e s o f
M i c h i g a n S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y o f A g r i c u l t u r e and
A pplied Science i n p a r t i a l f u l f i l l m e n t of
th e re q u ire m e n ts f o r th e degree of
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

Department of S o il Science
1958

ABSTRACT

There i s d isa g r e e m e n t i n some o a s e s and la c k o f in fo r m a tio n i n
o t h e r s on th e k in d s , f i n e n e s s and r a t e s o f a p p lic a t i o n o f lim in g m a ter­
i a l s and o f t h e i r e f f e c t on th e a v a i l a b i l i t y t o th e p la n t o f n u t r i e n t
e le m e n ts*

A d d itio n a lly , very l i t t l e

s tu d y h as b een made o f e i t h e r th e

n a t u r a l a v a i l a b i l i t y o f molybdenum in M ich ig a n s o i l s o r o f th e a v a i l a ­
b i l i t y a s in f lu e n c e d by lim in g p r a c t ic e s *
S t u d ie s w ere u n d erta k en w ith s e v e r a l M ich igan s o i l s t o i n v e s t i g a t e
(l)

th e optimum s o i l pH v a lu e s f o r maximum cro p p r o d u c tio n , ( 2 ) th e

r e l a t i v e m e r it s o f d i f f e r e n t lim in g m a t e r ia ls a s t o c o m p o s itio n , d e g r e e
o f f i n e n e s s and n e u t r a l i z i n g v a lu e , and ( 3 ) th e i n t e r a c t i o n betw een lim e
and molybdenum and t h e i r e f f e c t s on p la n t growth*
V a rio u s lim in g m a t e r ia ls w ere a p p lie d a t t h r e e lo c a t i o n s a t e q u iv ­
a l e n t r a t e s c a l c u la t e d t o r a i s e th e s o i l pH t o 6 * 0 , 6 * 5 , 7*0 and 7*5*
Molybdenum was a p p lie d a s a sp ra y t o th e young p la n t s on o n e - h a lf o f
each lim ed p lo t *

A s im il a r ex p erim en t was co n d u cted i n th e g reen h o u se

on th r e e s o i l s , two m in e r a l and one o rg a n ic ., w it h c a u lif lo w e r a s th e
in d ic a t o r crop*
The y i e l d s o f o a t s and a legum e hay w ere n o t a f f e c t e d by lim in g a
N e s t e r sandy c l a y loam , a lth o u g h th e pH and b e se s a t u r a t io n p e r c e n ta g e
o f th e s o i l w ere m arkedly in c r e a s e d , e s p e c i a l l y where an a c e t y le n e by­
p ro d u ct m a t e r ia l had b een a p p lie d *
of fie ld

L i k e w i s e , no in c r e a s e i n th e y i e l d

c o m r e s u lt e d from lim in g a K o r l e y c l a y loam*

The pK and b a se

s a t u r a t io n p e r c e n ta g e o f t h i s s o i l were i r i c r e a s e d f a r l e s s than was th e

c a s e v / i t h i h e H e s t e r s an dy c l a y lo&n., p o s s i b l y i n d i e s t i n -

c high r e s i d ­

u a l hydrogen ion c o n c e n tra tio n *
Lime and molybdenum had no s i g n i f i c a n t e f f e c t on t h e y i e l d s of
b e a n s and w h e a t on a Montcalm s a n d y loam*

The r e s i d u a l am ou nts o f

t h e s e m a t e r i a l s m a r k e d l y i n c r e a s e d t h e y i e l d o f r e d c l o v e r grovm on
th is soil*

The pH and b a s e s a t u r a t i o n p e r c e n t a g e a l s o w er e g r e a t l y

increased*
In the greenhouse, lim ing s im ila r s o i l s in c re a s e d c a u liflo w e r
yields*

Molybdenum a p p l i c a t i o n i n c r e a s e d t h e y i e l d o f c a u l i f l o w e r and

e l i m i n a t e d m o l y b d e n u m - d e f i c i e n c y symptoms on a Montcalm s a n d y loam*
I n e a c h s o i l t e s t e d , t h e r e was a h i g h c o r r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n pH and
base s a t u r a t i o n p e r c e n ta g e .
S i g n i f i c a n t i n c r e a s e s were a l s o o b s e r v e d i n t h e molybdenum c o n t e n t
o f c a u l i f l o w e r , o a t s and c o r n l e a v e s w i t h i n c r e a s e s i n s o i l pH*

ACKh 0 V.LLDGEkEN T

The c o n s i d e r a t i o n , a d v i c e and a s s i s t a n c e o f
Dr* <V* Vv. M cCall i n t h e c o n d u c t o f t h e s e i n v e s t i g a ­
t i o n s an d i n t h e p r e p a r a t i o n o f t h i s m a n u s c r i p t a r e
g r a t e f u l l y ac kn ow le dg ed*
The a u t h o r i s a p p r e c i a t i v e o f t h e a s s i s t a n c e o f
Dr* E . J . Benne i n t h e molybdenum d e t e r m i n a t i o n s , and
o f Dr* J* F . D a v i s i n some p h o t o g r a p h i c p h a s e s *
These i n v e s t i g a t i o n s w er e s u p p o r t e d i n p a r t by
g r a n t s i n a i d f r o m t h e C li m ax Molybdenum Company,
M i c h i g a n Lime P r o d u c e r s A s s o c i a t i o n an d t h e L in de
A ir Products C o rp o ratio n .

S n o w b a ll "A” c a u l i f l o w e r

s e e d was f u r n i s h e d by t h e F e r r y - M o r s e Seed Company*

TEE EFFECT OF LIME AMD MOLYBDENUM ON SOIL
REACTION AND BASE SATURATION PERCENTAGE
AND ON THE YIELDS AND MOLYBDENUM UPTAKE
OF SEVERAL MICHIGAN CROPS

by
Fred Turner, Jr«

S u b m i t t e d t o t h e S c h o o l f o r Ad van ced G r a d u a t e S t u d i e s o f
M i c h i g a n S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y o f A g r i c u l t u r e an d
A pplied Science i n p a r t i a l f u l f i l l m e n t of
the req u ire m en ts f o r the degree of

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

Department of S o i l Science

1958

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Fred Turner, Jr*
candidate f o r the degree of
Doctor of P h ilo so p h y

F i n a l e x a m i n a t i o n , J u l y 3 1 , 1958, 1 0 : 0 0 A . M*,
Room 21 0, A g r i c u l t u r e H a l l *
D issertation:

The E f f e c t o f Lime and Molybdenum on S o i l R e a c t i o n
and Base S a t u r a t i o n P e r c e n t a g e and on t h e Y i e l d s and
Molybdenum U p ta k e o f S e v e r a l M i c h i g a n Crops*

O u tline of S tu d ies
Major s u b j e c t :
M in o r s u b j e c t :

S o il Science
P la n t Physiology

B iographical Item s
Born, J a n u a r y 13, 1920, P a r i s C r o s s i n g , I n d i a n a
U n d e r g r a d u a t e S t u d i e s , U n i v e r s i t y o f A r i z o n a , 1 9 3 7 - 4 0 , co n t *
1946-48.
G r a d u a t e S t u d i e s , W a s h in g to n S t a t e C o l l e g e , 1 9 4 8 - 1 9 5 0 ; M i c h i g a n
S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y , 1954-1957*
Experience:

Lt * C o l * , U n i t e d S t a t e s A i r F o r c e R e s e r v e , a c t i v e d u t y
19 4 1- 46 and 1 9 5 1 - 5 3 ; G r a d u a t e R e s e a r c h A s s i s t a n t ,
W a s h in g t o n S t a t e C o l l e g e , 1 9 4 8 - 5 0 ; S o i l S c i e n t i s t ,
I r r i g a t i o n E x p e r i m e n t S t a t i o n , P r o s s e r , W a s h i n g t o n , 19 50 -5 1
S o il S c i e n t i s t , N o rth ern Great P la i n s F ie l d S t a t i o n ,
Mandan, N o r t h D a k o t a , 1954; G r a d u a t e R e s e a r c h A s s i s t a n t ,
M i c h i g a n S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y , 1 9 5 4- 5 7; A s s i s t a n t A g r i c u l t u r a l
C h e m i s t , U n i v e r s i t y o f A r i z o n a , 1S57 t o d a t e *

Menber o f A lp h a Z e t a , S o c i e t y o f t h e Sigma X i , S o i l S c i e n c e S o c i e t y of
A m e r i c a , A m er ic an S o c i e t y o f Agronomy, and t h e W es te r n S o c i e t y o f S o i l
Science•

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page
INTRODUCTION..................................................................................

1

LITERATURE R E V I E W ....................................................................

2

Lime • • • « • • • • • • • • • • •

.........................

M o l y b d e n u m ............................................* ...........................

2
9

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES...........................................................IS
F ie ld Studies

* • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

15

Greenhouse S tiid ie s • * • • • • • • • • • • • •

17

METHODS OF A N A L Y S I S .................................................................... 19
Soils

• • • • • • • • • • • • • ...................................19

P lants

* • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

21

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION............................................................... 23
F ie ld Studies

« * • • • • . . . • • • • • • •

G r ee n h o u s e S t u d i e s

...........................................

23
38

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS...........................................................51
LITERATURE CITED ........................................................................

53

LIST OF TABLES

Table
I.

I I

.

III.

17.
V.

VI.

VII.

V III .

IX

X.

Page
Liming m a t e r i a l s a d de d t o t h r e e M i c h i g a n s o i l s on
w h i c h f i e l d s t u d i e s w ere c o n d u c t e d • • • • • » . <
m e c h a n i c a l a n a l y s i s o f X i c h i g a n s o i l s on w h ic h
f i e l d s t u d i e s w er e c o n d u c t e d

_o

C o m p a r is on o f li m e r e q u i r e m e n t a s d e t e r m i n e d by
t h e i n c u b a t i o n an d B r a d f i e l d - A l l i s o n me thod
• • • •

20

Some c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f s e v e r a l l i m i n g m a t e r i a l s

22

» .

The e f f e c t s of l i m i n g m a t e r i a l s and r a t e s o f
a p p l i c a t i o n and o f molybdenum on t h e vie;I ds of
o a t s an d t h e f i r s t c u t t i n g of a l f a l f a h ay on a
t e s t e r s a n d y loam
The e f f e c t s o f l i m i n g m a t e r i a l , a p p l i e d a t
v a r i o u s r a t e s , on t h e b as e s a t u r a t i o n p e r c e n t e g o
of s e v e r a l i'ic h ig a n s o i l s
The e f f e c t o f l i m i n g m a t e r i a l and r a t e o f
a p p l i c a t i o n and o f molybdenum on t h e y i e l d s
o f c o m i n 1955 on a F o r l e y c l a y loam • • • • • • >

50

The e f f e c t o f l i m i n g m a t e r i a l , r a t e o f
a p p l i c a t i o n , and o f molybdenum on t h e y i e l d s
o f c r a n b e r r y b e a n s , -wheat and r e d c l o v e r b a y
on i o n t c a l m s a n d y loam ........................ • • • • • » • • •
The e f f e c t o f li m e an d molybdenum a p p l i c a t i o n s
on t h e y i e l d s 0 1 c r . u l i f l o v e r i n a g r e e n h o u s e
experiment •

40

The e f f e c t o f lime upon s o i l r e a c t i o n end
molybdenum c o n t e n t o f c a u l i f l o w e r l e a v e s • • * • • •

47

LIST OF FIGURES

F igure
1#

2*

3,

4.

5*

6*

7.

8.

9*

10*

11*

12 .

Page
The e f f e c t o f l i m i n g m a t e r i a l s , a p p l i e d a t
e q u i v a l e n t r a t e s , on t h e s o i l r e a c t i o n o f
a N e s te r sandy c l a y
loam •« . • » • • • • . . » • • • *

25

C o r r e l a t i o n b et w ee n b a s e s a t u r a t i o n p e r c e n t a g e
and s o i l r e a c t i o n o f a l i m e d H e s t e r s a n d y
c l a y loam •

29

The e f f e c t o f l i m i n g m a t e r i a l s , a p p l i e d a t
e q u i v a l e n t r a t e s , on t h e s o i l r e a c t i o n o f a
M o r l e y c l a y loam • • » • • • • • . . ...........................................*

32

C o r r e l a t i o n be t w e e n b a s e s a t u r a t i o n p e r c e n t a g e
t h e s o i l r e a c t i o n o f a l i m e d M e r e l y c l a y loam

34

and
. • •

• •

The e f f e c t o f l i m i n g m a t e r i a l s , a p p l i e d a t
e q u i v a l e n t r a t e s , on t h e s o i l r e a c t i o n o f a
Montcalm s a n d y loam

36

C o r r e l a t i o n be tw ee n b a s e s a t u r a t i o n p e r c e n t a g e and
s o i l r e a c t i o n o f a limed Montcalm s an d y loam •• • • * «

39

L i o l y b d e n u m - d e f i c i e n t c a u l i f l o w e r grown on a.
Montcalm s a n d y loam i n a g r e e n h o u s e
study.

42

M olybdenum -deficient c a u l i f l o w e r in A lle g a n
C o u n t y , M i c h i g a n * N ot e in w a rd c u p p i n g and
c rin k lin g of leaves
* • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

44

The e f f e c t o f c a l c i u m h y d r o x i d e on s o i l r e a c t i o n
when a p p l i e d a t d i f f e r e n t r a t e s t o t h r e e M i c h i g a n
s o i l s in b greenhouse experiment • • • • • • •
....................

45

C o r r e l a t i o n b et w ee n b a s e s a t u r a t i o n p e r c e n t a g e and
s o i l r e a c t i o n o f t h r e e s o i l s from a g r e e n h o u s e
experiment . . . . . . . . .
............................. . . » • • • •

46

C o r r e l a t i o n be t w e e n molybdenum c o n t e n t o f
c a u l i f l o w e r l e a v e s and s o i l pH i n a g r e e n h o u s e
e x p e r i m e n t .......................................................... . . . . . . . . . .

49

C c r r e l a t i o n be tw ee n t h e molybdenum c o n t e n t o f t h e
s i x t h l e a f o f c o r n an d t h e s o i l r e a c t ion o f a
l i m e d I l o r l e y c l a y loam
.......................

50

INTRODUCTION

Many a s p e c t s o f th e ch e m ic a l and p h y s ic a l r e l a t i o n s h i p s o f s o i l s t o
crop p r o d u c tio n have b een in v e s t i g a t e d o v er th e y e a r s , th e s im p le s t o f
t h e s e to d eterm in e b e in g th e s o i l r e a c t i o n , or pH*

E x p e r im e n ta lly , i t

h as b een d em o n stra ted t h a t d i f f e r e n t s p e c ie s o f p la n t s have t h e i r own
optimum, minimum and maximum s o i l pH v a lu e s f o r g ro w th , w hich m ust be
c o n s id e r e d i f maximum r e tu r n s from a g r i c u l t u r a l v e n tu r e s a r e t o be r e a l ­
iz e d *

T h e r e fo r e , e i t h e r th e s e l e c t e d crop m ust be one w hich i s t o l e r a n t

o f t h e s o i l pH where i t i s t o be grow n, or th e pH o f th e s o i l m ust be
a d ju s te d t o a s u i t a b l e v a lu e *
I n th e humid r e g io n s o f th e n o r th e r n U n ite d S t a t e s , th e s o i l s are
p r e d o m in a te ly a c id *

The m ost eco n o m ic a l method f o r r a i s i n g th e pH v a lu es

o f a c i d s o i l s i s by th e a p p lic a t i o n o f lim e*

A lth o u g h much h a s been

w r it t e n c o n c e r n in g lim in g p r a c t i c e s , th e r e i s d isa g r e e m e n t i n some c a s e s
and la c k o f in fo r m a tio n in o th e r s o f th e k in d s , f i n e n e s s and r a t e s o f
a p p lic a t i o n o f lim in g m a t e r ia ls and o f t h e i r e f f e c t on th e a v a i l a b i l i t y
o f n u t r i e n t e le m e n ts t o th e p l a n t .
T hese s t u d i e s w ere u n d erta k en w ith s e v e r a l M ich igan s o i l s t o i n v e s ­
tig a te ( l )

th e optimum s o i l pH v a lu e s f o r maximum cro p p r o d u c tio n ( 2 )

th e r e l a t i v e m e r it s o f d i f f e r e n t

lim in g m a t e r ia ls a s t o c o m p o s itio n ,

d e g r e e o f f i n e n e s s and n e u t r a l i z i n g v a lu e , and ( 3 ) th e i n t e r a c t i o n
b etw een lim e and molybdenum and t h e i r e f f e c t s on p la n t grow th*

-1 -

LITERATURE REVIEW

Lime

Cr o p r e s p o n s e t o s o i l a p p l i c a t i o n s o f li m e ha ve b e e n o b s e r v e d and
studied fo r centuries*

R e v i e w e r s , s u c h a s Truog ( 7 0 ) , f o u n d r e c o r d s o f

i t s use i n th e C h r i s t i a n Era*

He r e f e r r e d t o i t s e a r l y u s e on t h i s c o n ­

t i n e n t i n V i r g i n i a by Edward R u f f i n ( 1 7 S 4 - 1 8 6 5 ) and i n Rhode I s l a n d b y
Vfrieeler n e a r t h e c l o s e o f t h e 1 9 t h c e n t u r y *

Li m in g h a s b ee n a p e r m a n e n t

g e n e r a l p r a c t i c e i n P e n n s y l v a n i a s i n c e t h a t ti m e*
Li me , a s u s e d a g r i c u l t u r a l l y , r e f e r s t o t h o s e compounds o f c a l c i u m
an d

magnesium w h i c h a r e c a p a b l e o f

a c i d s o i l (56)*

a lle v ia tin g the

h a r m f u l e f f e c t s o f an

L i m in g m a t e r i a l s s u ch a s c a l c i u m an d magnesium l i m e ­

s t o n e s , m a r l , h y d r a t e d l i m e , b u r n e d l i m e , wood a s h e s , s h e l l s ,
l o n g b e e n u s ed *

e t c * h av e

I n more r e c e n t y e a r s , b a s i c b y - p r o d u c t s o f c o m m e r c i a l

o p e r a t i o n s h a v e b e e n a p p l i e d t o s o i l s i n i n c r e a s i n g amounts*

These

i n c l u d e b l a s t - f u r n a c e an d p h o s p h a t e - f u r n a c e s l a g s , s u g a r - b e e t p r o c e s s i n g
r e s i d u e s , w a t e r - s o f t e n i n g p l a n t r e s i d u e s , and b y - p r o d u c t s o f a c e t y l e n e
m anufacturing•
B a s i c e l e m e n t s a r e c o n t i n u a l l y l o s t f r o m t h e s o i l b y l e a c h i n g and
by c r o o n i n g .

Some a r e r e t u r n e d t o s o i l s as c r o p r e s i d u e s an d m a n u r e s ,

an d

some a r e made a v a i l a b l e t o t h e

ing

of the s o i l m inerals*

plants

However, t h e r e

by
is

d e c o m p o s i t i o n and w e a t h e r ­

a n e t l o s s o fb a s i c elements

f r o m t h e s o i l , an d an a c i d s o i l w i l l become i n c r e a s i n g l y more a c i d u n l e s s
li m e i s a p p l i e d ( 7 0 ) *
A l t h o u g h g e n e r a l i n c r e a s e s i n c r o p y i e l d s due t o l i m i n g a c i d s o i l s
h a v e b e e n common, t h e r e a s o n s f o r c h a n g e s i n y i e l d s h a v e n o t be en so

apparent.

The e f f e c t s o f l i m i n g t h e s o i l may he s um ma riz ed ( 3 4 , 53 , 70)

as a ffe c tin g :

(l)

t h e s o l u b i l i t y an d a v a i l a b i l i t y o f n u t r i e n t e l e m e n t s ,

(2) the s o l u b i l i t y or e f f e c t s of to x i c elem en ts, (3) the a c t i v i t y of
s o i l m icroorganism s,

( 4 ) t h e s o i l s t r u c t u r e and ( 5 ) r o o t d i s t r i b u t i o n .

Truog ( 7 0 ) c h a r t e d t h e g e n e r a l a v a i l a b i l i t y o f t h e p r i n c i p a l and
some o f t h e m i n o r e l e m e n t s i n r e l a t i o n t o s o i l r e a c t i o n .

He an d o t h e r s

( 6 2 ) recommended a s o i l r e a c t i o n a t o r n e a r pH 6 . 5 f o r maximum a v a i l ­
a b i l i t y of n u t r i e n t elem en ts.

A pH o f 6 . 5 f o r m i n e r a l s o i l s and o f 5 . 5

f o r o r g a n i c s o i l s i n M i c h i g a n a r e recommended by P o r t e r , e t adL ( 5 6 ) .
A m o n an d J o h n s o n ( 5 ) ,

w o r k i n g w i t h n u t r i e n t c u l t u r e s , f o un d t h a t m o s t

p l a n t s made n o r m a l g ro w th a t v e r y low pH v a l u e s , p r o v i d e d s u f f i c i e n t
c a l c i u m was s u p p l i e d .
C a l c iu m and magnesium a r e a d d e d d i r e c t l y a s co m po ne nt s o f t h e
lim ing m a t e r i a l .

Calcium, i n p a r t i c u l a r ,

i s c o n s id e re d by K e l l e y (36)

t o be a s i m p o r t a n t f o r p l a n t n u t r i t i o n a s i s n i t r o g e n , p h o s p h o r u s o r
p o t a s s i u m , e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e g ro w th o f l e g u m e s .
P h o s p h o r u s i n t h e s o i l becomes m o s t a v a i l a b l e t o p l a n t s a t a b o u t pH
6 . 5 ( 6 8 , 6 9 ) , and a t t h i s pH i t s a v a i l a b i l i t y i s p r e s e r v e d ( 1 6 ) .

An i n ­

c r e a s e i n a v a i l a b l e p h o s p h o r u s w i t h an i n c r e a s e i n b a s e s a t u r a t i o n i n
M i c h i g a n s o i l s was n o t e d b y Cook ( 1 8 ) .

I n t h e more h i g h l y a c i d s o i l s ,

p h o s p h o r u s i s r e n d e r e d r e l a t i v e l y i n s o l u b l e by c o m b i n a t i o n w i t h aluminum
and i r o n .

Ho wev er, S c a r s e t h and Tidmore ( 6 3 ) f o u n d t h a t c a l c i u m c a r b o ­

n a t e decreased th e a v a i l a b i l i t y of phosphorus, a t l e a s t u n t i l a l l f r e e
c a r b o n a t e s h a d d i s a p p e a r e d fr om t h e s o i l .

McGeorge ( 4 0 ) an d o t h e r s

h a v e shown t h a t r e l a t i v e l y i n s o l u b l e t r i c a l c i u m p h o s p h a t e i s formed on
the a l k a lin e sid e of n e u t r a l .

B la ck and G o r i n g ( 1 2 ) r e v i e w e d t h e

t r a n s f o r m a t i o n and a v a i l a b i l i t y o f o r g a n i c p h o s p h o r u s i n t h e s o i l *
organic s o i l s ,

In

t h e o r g a n i c f or m s may c o n s t i t u t e 75 t o 85 p e r c e n t o f t h e

t o t a l phosphorus p r e s e n t (21)*

Howe ver , t h e s e f or m s m u s t become m i n e r a l ­

iz e d b e fo re the phosphorus i s a v a i l a b l e to the p la n ts (12)*

M cC al l ( 5 8 )

found t h a t th e s o i l o rg a n ic phosphorus i n s e v e r a l o rg a n ic s o i l s of
M i c h i g a n b e h a v e d d i f f e r e n t l y t h a n d i d o r g a n i c p h o s p h o r u s f r om o t h e r
sources•
O p i n i o n s d i f f e r r e g a r d i n g t h e e f f e c t o f l i m i n g on t h e a v a i l a b i l i t y
of potassium .

York a nd R o g e r s ( 7 4 ) f o u n d t h a t t h e u p t a k e o f p o t a s s i u m

f ro m l i m e d s o i l s d e p e n d e d on i t s i n i t i a l a v a i l a b i l i t y ,

the a b i l i t y of

t h e s o i l t o f i x a p p l i e d p o t a s s i u m and t h e s o l u b i l i t y of p o t a s s i u m
m in e ra ls in the s o i l .

Dean (2 2 ) and O p i t z , _et a l ( 5 2 ) f o u n d t h a t l i m e

o r c a l c i u m s a l t s i n c r e a s e d t h e amount o f e x c h a n g e a b l e p o t a s s i u m .

Peech

and B r a d f i e l d ( 5 4 ) o b s e r v e d an i n c r e a s e i n p o t a s s i u m i n t h e s o i l s o l u t i o n
when li m e was a p p l i e d t o a s o i l w h ic h was a l r e a d y w e l l s a t u r a t e d w i t h
c a l c i u m , b u t on s l i g h t l y a c i d s o i l s ,
amount o f w a t e r - s o l u b l e p o t a s s i u m .

l i m i n g h ad l i t t l e

e f f e c t on t h e

P r e t t y (58) limed s e v e r a l Michigan

s o i l s and f o u n d n o s i g n i f i c a n t c h a n g e s i n t h e a v a i l a b l e p o t a s s i u m *
The s o i l r e a c t i o n g r e a t l y a f f e c t s t h e a c t i v i t i e s

of s o i l microorgan­

ism s , which in t u r n a f f e c t s th e a v a i l a b i l i t y of n u t r i e n t e l e m e n t s , e s p e ­
c ia lly nitro g en ,

s u l f u r end p h o s p h o r u s ( 6 9 ) .

The a c t i v i t y o f many s o i l

m i c r o o r g a n i s m s i s g r e a t l y r e t a r d e d b y an a c i d r e a c t i o n , t h u s r e d u c i n g
t h e d e c o m p o s i t i o n o f s o i l o r g a n i c m a t t e r and i n h i b i t i n g t h e a c t i v i t i e s
of n i t r o g e n - f i x i n g organisms ( 7 0 ) .
A l l o f t h e e s s e n t i a l m i n o r e l e m e n t s , v / i t h t h e e x c e p t i o n o f m o l y b d e­
num, a r e r e n d e r e d l e s s a v a i l a b l e a s t h e s o i l pH i s i n c r e a s e d ( 6 2 ) .

-4 -

At

l o w e r pH v a l u e s , al um inu m , i r o n and manga nes e may be t o x i c ( 6 2 ,

69, 7 0 ) .

Molybdenum i s d i s c u s s e d i n more d e t a i l l a t e r *
The li m e r e q u i r e m e n t o f a s o i l c a n be d e f i n e d a s t h e amount o f a
l i m i n g m a t e r i a l t h a t m u s t be ad d e d t o r a i s e t h e s o i l pH t o some p r e s c r i b e d
v alu e (69)*

P e e c h an d B r a d f i e l d ( 5 4 ) h a v e c l a s s i f i e d l i m e - r e q u i r e m e n t

d e t e r m i n a t i o n s a c c o r d i n g t o t h e m e th o d s employed a s ( a ) d e t e r m i n a t i o n
of so il reaction,

(b) d e t e r m in a tio n of exchangeable hydrogen, ( c ) r a p i d

d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f t h e li m e r e q u i r e m e n t , ( d ) d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f e x c h a n g e a b l e
c a l c i u m , an d ( e ) d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f r e a d i l y s o l u b l e alu minu m, i r o n and
mang ane se *

E x t e n s i v e r e v i e w s o f v a r i o u s m e th o ds h av e be en made r e c e n t l y

( 5 5 , 58, 65, 69)*

W a l k e r , ( 7 3 ) when e s t i m a t i n g l i m e r e q u i r e m e n t , included

o b s e r v a t i o n o f t h e gr o w th o f d i f f e r e n t c r o p p l a n t s and n a t u r a l v e g e t a t i o n * •
A l t h o u g h t h e pH v a l u e o f a s o i l i s e a s i l y d e t e r m i n e d and i s w i d e l y
u s e d i n e s t i m a t i n g t h e l i m i n g n e e d s o f a s o i l , pH i s a m e a s u r e o f o n l y
the a c tiv e a c i d ity of a soil*

The r e s e r v e a c i d i t y ( h y d r o g e n i o n s h e l d

a t t h e e x c h a n g e s i t e s end w i t h i n some c l a y m i n e r a l s and o r g a n i c m a t t e r )
a l s o h a s a c o n s i d e r a b l e e f f e c t and must a l s o bo p a r t i a l l y n e u t r a l i z e d
in c o n sid e rin g th e lim ing needs (16, 56).

S o ils having h ig h c l a y or

o r g a n i c m a t t e r c o n t e n t s u s u a l l y h av e a h i g h r e s e r v e a c i d i t y w h i c h m u s t
be c o n s i d e r e d i n c o r r e l a t i n g s o i l pH w i t h t h e li m e r e q u i r e m e n t (4-4)*
'Walker ( 7 3 ) q u o t e s H a l l ( 1 9 0 5 ) t h a t , " a n y s o i l w i t h l e s s t h a n one
p e r c e n t c a l c i u m c a r b o n a t e w i l l be b e n e f i t e d by l i m i n g , ’1 b u t i n d i c a t e s
t h a t m o d e m m e th o d s r e l a t e

s o i l u n s a t u r a t i o n t o t h e amount o f li m e

n e e d e d t o b r i n g t h e s o i l pH t o a g i v e n l e v e l i n t h e l a b o r a t o r y * M e h l i c h
( 4 3 ) and T h o m e an d L e a t z ( 6 9 ) s u g g e s t u s e o f p H - p e r c e n t a g e b a s e s a t ­
u r a t i o n or u n s a t u r a t i o n curves*

J e n s e n ( 3 4 ) o b t a i n e d good l i n e a r

c o r r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n pH and p e r c e n t b a s e s a t u r a t i o n f o r f i f t y Do.nish
so ils.

Shimp ( 6 5 ) f o u n d t h a t t h e p K - p e r c e n t b a s e s a t u r a t i o n r e l a t i o n s h i p

i s too im p e rfe c t to use as a s in g le f a c t o r in lim e -req u irem en t d eterm ina­
t i o n s o f s e v e r a l M i c h i g a n s o i l s , an d t h a t pH a l o n e i s i n s u f f i c i e n t f o r
d e t e r m i n i n g t h e r e q u i r e m e n t o f s o i l s v a r y i n g i n t e x t u r e and ex c h a n g e
capacity.

O t h e r s ( 4 3 , 5 1 , 5 3 , 55) a l s o f o u n d t h a t s o i l s o f t h e same r e ­

a c t i o n may v a r y c o n s i d e r a b l y i n t h e i r p e r c e n t a g e b a s e s a t u r a t i o n .
B r a y and DeTurk ( 1 6 ) recommended t h a t f o r m o s t c r o p s t h e ex c h a n g e
c a p a c i t y o f t h e s o i l s h o u l d be a t l e a s t 80 p e r c e n t s a t u r a t e d w i t h b a s e s .
B e a r a n d To th ( 8 ) p r o p o s e d t h a t 65 p e r c e n t o f t h e e x c h a n g e c a p a c i t y
be s a t u r a t e d w i t h c a l c i u m .

M iles (48) found th e degree o f s a t u r a t i o n

f a v o r a b l e f o r m o s t c r o p s t o be b e t w e e n 40 and 60 p e r c e n t f o r k a o l i n i t i c
so ils.

Y,hiker ( 7 3 ) c i t e d t h e r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s o f R i c e - h i l l i & m s , who

e s t i m a t e d t h a t s o i l s o f E n g l a n d and Wales w h ic h c o n t a i n e d h i g h e r t h a n
30 p e r c e n t e x c h a n g e a b l e c a l c i u m , e x t r a c t a b l e w i t h 0 . 5 n o r m a l a c e t i c a c i d ,
d i d n o t need lim e .

Lipma n, e t a l ( 3 7 ) o b t a i n e d good y i e l d r e s p o n s e w i t h

li m e a p p l i c a t i o n s l e s s t h a n t h e amount i n d i c a t e d by t h e li m e re q u ir e m e n t *
D e t e r m i n a t i o n o f e x c h a n g e a b l e h y d r o g e n a s a c r i t e r i a f o r li m e
r e q u i r e m e n t h a s b ee n em p lo y e d , e s p e c i a l l y f o r t h e s a n d i e r s o i l s , w i t h
good r e s u l t s ( 4 2 ) .

Shimp ( 6 5 ) o b s e r v e d good c o r r e l a t i o n be t w e e n t h e

e x c h a n g e a b l e h y d r o g e n i n M i c h i g a n s o i l s and p l a n t y i e l d s *
The n a t u r e o f t h e c l a y m i n e r a l s p r e s e n t a f f e c t s t h e li m e r e s p o n s e
of the s o i l s .

M a r s h a ll ( 4 l ) found t h a t m o n t m o r i l l o n i t i c c l a y s s a t u ­

r a t e d b e l o w 70 p e r c e n t w i t h c a l c i u m have a h i g h e r e n e r g y o f a b s o r p t i o n
f o r t h a t e l e m e n t t h a n do t h e k a o l i n i t i c c l a y s , and so r e l e a s e i s

slow er.

C o l l o i d s of th e 2:1 ty p e r e q u i r e a h i g h e r p e r c e n ta g e of base s a t u r a t i o n

w i t h c a l c i u m them do t h e 1 : 1 m i n e r a l s t o be e q u a l l y e f f e c t i v e i n p r o ­
m o t i n g p l a n t gr owth*
Once t h e l i m i n g r e q u i r e m e n t h a s b e e n d e t e r m i n e d , t h e amount and
t y p e o f l i m i n g m a t e r i a l t o be a p p l i e d m u s t be c o n s i d e r e d *
m a t e r i a l s have d i f f e r e n t n e u t r a l i z i n g v a l u e s ,
s h o u l d be a p p l i e d ( 5 6 ) *

D ifferen t

so e q u i v a l e n t amounts

I t i s n o t g e n e r a l l y economical to use lim e­

s t o n e c o n t a i n i n g l e s s t h a n 80 p e r c e n t o f c a l c i u m c a r b o n a t e e q u i v a l e n t
(45).
I n v e s t i g a t o r s d i s a g r e e on t h e r e l a t i v e m e r i t s o f d i f f e r e n t l i m i n g
m aterials.

C oarser grades of d o lo m itic lim estone a re g e n e r a l l y con­

sid e re d le s s r e a c tiv e than are s im ila r grades of c a l c i t i c

lim estone

( 7 , 4 6 , 6 4 ) , a l t h o u g h y i e l d s i n some i n s t a n c e s h av e b e e n h i g h e s t where
t h e d o l o m i t i c f o r m was u s ed ( 5 9 ) .

W al k er ( 7 3 ) an d Powers ( 5 7 ) f o u n d

no d i f f e r e n c e s i n y i e l d s f o r c a l c i t i c o v e r d o l o m i t i c li m e a p p l i c a t i o n s .
The d e g r e e o f f i n e n e s s o f t h e l i m i n g m a t e r i a l i s p r o b a b l y more
im p o rta n t than i s i t s com position.

I n e a r l y Michigan e x p e r i m e n t s ,

McCool an d M i l l a r ( 3 9 ) o b t a i n e d h i g h e r y i e l d s o f r y e from h y d r a t e d
l i m e t r e a t m e n t s t h a n fr om m a r l o r 1 0 - 20 o r 4 0- 6 0- m es h l i m e s t o n e t r e a t ­
me nt s *

L a t e r r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s by M i l l a r ( 4 9 ) w ere f o r u s e o f a l i m e ­

s t o n e so g r oun d t h a t p r a c t i c a l l y a l l would p a s s t h r o u g h a 10-mesh s c r e e n
and a t l e a s t o n e - t h i r d wo uld p a s s t h r o u g h an 80-mesh s c r e e n .

A fter a

t w o - y e a r p e r i o d , J e n s e n ( 3 4 ) f o u n d no d i f f e r e n c e i n e f f e c t s o f d i f f e r e n t
g r a d e s o f l i m e s t o n e f i n e r t h a n 35 -m es h, and t h a t a f t e r f o u r y e a r s t h o s e
g r a d e s f i n e r t h a n 10-mesh were e q u a l l y e f f e c t i v e i n Denmark.

Walker ( 7 3 )

r e l a t e d t h a t work i n E n g l a n d i n d i c a t e s no d i f f e r e n c e s i n t h e l o n g run
between the e f f e c t s

o f c o a r s e an d f i n e g r a d e s *

R e l a t i v e l y s m a ll am ounts o f lim e a p p lie d a t f r e q u e n t i n t e r v a l s ,
su ch a s on ce i n ea ch r o t a t i o n , have been e f f e c t i v e , e s p e c i a l l y on
s a n d ie r s o i l s ( l ,

34, 47, 6 2 ).

A lb r e c h t ( l ) c o n t r ib u t e s t h i s t o th e

p r o x im ity o f th e d is p e r s e d lim e p a r t i c l e s t o a p o r t io n o f one r o o t
s y s te m , w hich i s

s e l e c t i v e i n i t s a d s o r p tio n f u n c t io n s *

Heavy a p p l i c a t i o n s o f c o a r s e r g r a d e s o f lim e have o v e r r id d e n th e
e f f e c t s o f l i g h t e r a p p l i c a t i o n s o f th e f i n e r g ra d es ( 7 , 3 3 )*

H y d ra tes

a r e no more e f f e c t i v e than a re f i n e g ra d es o f lim e s t o n e , a c c o r d in g to
r e s u l t s o b ta in e d by B each er ( ? ) and by J en sen ( 3 4 ) .
R u s s e l ( 6 2 ) p ro b a b ly r e s o l v e s th e c o n t r o v e r s y r e g a r d in g th e r e l a ­
t i v e m e r it s o f th e d i f f e r e n t d e g r e e s o f f i n e n e s s o f lim in g m a t e r ia ls
in h i s sta te m e n t t h a t , "Whether p a s s in g a 10-raesh or a 20-m esh s i e v e
i s th e p r e f e r a b le upper l i m i t o f s i z e h a s n o t been f u l l y i n v e s t i g a t e d ,
b u t f o r many lim e s t o n e s th e r e a p p ea rs t o be l i t t l e

t o ch o o se betw een

them ; th e im p o rta n t th in g i s t o have a c o n s id e r a b le v a r i a t i o n in p a r tic le
s i z e in th e m a t e r ia l t o e n su r e b o th r a p id a c t io n i n i t i a l l y and a r e a s o n ­
a b ly lo n g r e s i d u a l a c tio n * "

Molybdenum

A l t h o u g h t h e b e n e f i c i a l e f f e c t s on p l a n t gr ow th due t o t h e a p o l i o a t i o n o f li m e t o a c i d s o i l s have been o b s e r v e d and s t u d i e d f o r many
c e n t u r i e s , n o t u n t i l 1930 was t h e b i o l o g i c a l i m p o r t a n c e o f molybdenum
f i r s t r e a l i z e d , when B o r t e l s ( 1 3 ) f o u n d t h i s e l e m e n t t o be h i g h l y
b e n e f i c i a l i n t h e f i x a t i o n o f g a s e o u s n i t r o g e n by A z o t o b a c t e r c h r o o c o ccum.

More r e c e n t l y t h e n e e d f o r t h i s e l e m e n t i n o t h e r m i c r o b i o l o g i c a l

s p e c i e s h a s b ee n e s t a b l i s h e d #
Molybdenum d e f i c i e n c y i n c r o p p l a n t s *

A m on and S t o u t ( 4 ) w ere

t h e f i r s t t o e s t a b l i s h t h e n e c e s s i t y o f molybdenum f o r t h e g r o w th o f a
h i g h e r p l a n t , t h e tom ato #

A nd er s o n ( 2 ) r e p o r t e d d e f i n i t e c a s e s o f

molybdenum d e f i c i e n c y i n c l o v e r on a c i d s o i l s i n A u s t r a l i a i n a r e a s o f
h i g h w i n t e r r a i n f a l l , an d D a v ie s (1 9 ) l a t e r d e m o n s t r a t e d t h e d e f i c i e n c y
symptoms i n c a u l i f l o w e r i n Nev; Z e a l a n d ,

YV&lker ( 7 3 ) f i r s t d e m o n s t r a t e d

molybdenum d e f i c i e n c y on p l a n t s grown on a s o i l i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s #
E x t e n t o f molybdenum d e f i c i e n c y *

The symptoms o f molybdenum d e f i ­

c i e n c y h a v e b e e n n o t e d i n more t h a n 40 p l a n t s , b o t h le gum es and n o n le g u m e s , t h r o u g h o u t t h e w o r l d .
m ustard, a l f a l f a ,

The p l a n t s i n c l u d e c a u l i f l o w e r , c a b b a g e ,

clo v ers, rye, oats, c a rro t,

potato, c itr u s (tre e s )

an d o t h e r s , i n c l u d i n g ; many o r n a m e n t a l s , a c c o r d i n g t o H e w i t t ( 3 2 ) #

A l­

t h o u g h known d e f i c i e n t a r e a s a r e most w i d e s p r e a d i n A u s t r a l i a and New
Z e a l a n d , d e f i c i e n c i e s i n t h e f i e l d have been c o n f i r m e d i n many a r e a s
o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , n o t a b l y i n C a l i f o r n i a , F l o r i d a . , hew J e r s e y and
New Y o r k .

R u b i n s ( 6 l ) c i t e d known f i e l d d e f i c i e n c i e s i n 13 s t a t e s and

suspected d e f ic ie n c ie s in th ree o th e rs .

Molybdenum d e f i c i e n c y i s o f t e n a s s o c ia t e d w ith a c id s o i l s , b eca u se
th e e le m e n t becom es l e s s a v a i l a b l e w ith d e c r e a s in g pH#

A lth o u g h th e

d e f i c i e n c y i s more l i k e l y t o occu r in p la n t s grown on th e s a n d ie r s o i l s ,
i t a l s o h as b een o b serv ed in cro p s on f i n e t e x t u r e d s o i l s .

I n c r e a s in g

th e pH b y th e a d d it io n o f lim e i s an im p o r ta n t method o f overcom ing s o i l
d e f i c i e n c y o f molybdenum.

S t o u t , a t a l ( 6 8 ) found t h a t p h o sp h a tes

g r e a t l y in c r e a s e d th e u p ta k e o f molybdenum, and t h a t s u l f a t e s d e c r e a s e d
i t in a c id s o i l s .
S e v e r a l su r v e y s have been made o f th e molybdenum s t a t u s o f s o i l s
o f th e U n ite d S t a t e s .

R obinson and A lex a n d er ( 6 0 ) found an a v era g e o f

2 .3 ppm t o t a l molybdenum in th e s o i l s t h e y and o th e r s had a n a ly z e d , w ith
little

v a r i a t i o n betw een s o i l s .

R o le o f molybdenum in p la n t n u t r i t i o n .

Molybdenum i s r e q u ir e d in

v e r y s m a ll am ounts by p la n t s f o r th e p h y s i o l o g i c a l r e d u c tio n o f n i t r a t e s .
/
N i t r a t e s a ccu m u la te in th e t i s s u e s o f m o ly b d e n u m -d e fic ie n t p l a n t s , and
th e p r o t e in c o n t e n t o f th e p la n t i s r e d u c e d .

I t i s a l s o r e q u ir e d in

t r a c e q u a n t i t i e s f o r th e n o d u la t io n o f legum es when grown on e i t h e r
n i t r a t e o r a tm o sp h er ic n it r o g e n .
Molybdenum d e f i c i e n c y symptoms.

The symptoms o f p la n t d i s e a s e s

w h ich a r e now a s s o c i a t e d w it h molybdenum d e f i c i e n c y w ere r e c o g n iz e d
lo n g b e fo r e th e tr u e ca u se was known#

" W h ip te il1* o f c a u li f lo w e r and

b r o c c o l i was r e c o g n iz e d in New York s t a t e by C la y to n ( 1 7 ) and a l e a f
s p o t t i n g o f c i t r u s in F lb r id a was r e p o r te d e a r l y in t h e c e n tu r y b y
F lo y d ( 3 0 ) .

L a te r i n v e s t i g a t o r s found s im ila r symptoms on p la n t s grown

in o th e r a r e a s#

-1 0 -

Molybdenum d e f i c i e n c y symptoms i n many p l a n t s w er e d e s c r i b e d and
p i c t u r e d b y H e w i t t ( 3 2 ) an d A n d e r s o n ( 3 ) *

Legumes e x h i b i t t h e a p ­

p e a ra n c e o f n i t r o g e n s t a r v a t i o n , w ith p a le y ello w f o l i a g e , poor or
s t u n t e d g r o w t h , e n d i n some s p e c i e s a p r o n o u n c e d y e l l o w i n g b e t w e e n t h e
v e i n s w h i c h r e t a i n some g r e e n c o l o r .

A m o t t l i n g o f t h e l e a v e s ma.y be

e v i d e n t as i s o f te n the case w ith m olybdenum -deficient c i t r u s .

Iv hr g in al

s c o r c h i n g , a r o l l i n g o r c u r l i n g i n w a r d ( c u n n i n g ) and a w i t h e r i n g o r
o r i n k l i n g o f t h e l e a v e s o c c u r i n many s p e c i e s o f b r o a d - l e a v e d p l a n t s .
I n s e v e r e c a s e s t h e l e a v e s may d i e .
Some o f t h e c r u c i f e r s ,

s u c h a s c a u l i f l o w e r , b r o c c o l i , c ab b a g e and

b r u s s e l s s p r o u t s h av e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s e c o n d a r y symptoms o f more s e v e r e
molybdenum d e f i c i e n c y , w h ic h i s commonly te r m e d " w h i p t a i l . "

Leaf

t i s s u e d ev elo p s i r r e g u l a r l y from th e m id r ib to produce lo n g , narrow
l e a v e s , o f t e n h a v i n g e d g e s w h i c h a r e p l e a t e d o r o t h e r w i s e c o n t o r t e d in
appearance.

A l s o , l e a v e s ma.y f o rm i n t h e c u r d o f c a u l i f l o w e r , r e n d e r i n g

the head u n m a rk e tab le•

I n v e r y s e v e r e c a s e s no h e a d i s formed (Gammon

e t a l , 31)•
E f f e c t s o f molybdenum e x c e s s .

A l t h o u g h no symptoms o f molybdenum

e x c e s s i n p l a n t s h av e b e e n d e s c r i b e d , c a t t l e and s h e e p g r a z i n g on p a s t u r e
h e r b a g e o f h i g h molybdenum c o n t e n t a r e a f f e c t e d by t h e d i s e a s e ’’Mo lyb d e n o s i s ” , v a r i o u s l y te r m e d a s ’H e a r t ’ o r ’’t e a r t n e s s ” , p e a t s c o u r s o f
b e e f an d d a i r y c a t t l e , an d a t a x i a o f l a m b s .

Symptoms i n c a t t l e a r e

a c u t e s c o u r i n g , cha n ge i n c o a t c o l o r , g e n e r a l u n t h r i f t i n e s s and p o o r
growth of c a l v e s .

D ic k ( 2 4 ) and o t h e r s have shown t h a t t h e r e i s an

a n t a g o n i s m b e t w e e n c o p p e r and molybdenum i n t h e m e t a b o l i s m o f r u m i n a n t s ,
e s p e c i a l l y w he re t h e s u l f a t e i n t a k e i s h i g h ,

-1 1 -

b h e r e t h e molybdenum

3

orj.-4:uiat o f t h e f o r a g e i s high., o v e r 10 ppm ( 2 0 ) , c o p p e r r e t e n t i o n by

the anim al i s

lo w , t h u s c a u s i n g t h e d i s e a s e *

I t i s r e a d i l y c u r e d by

su p p lem en tin g the anim al*s d i e t w ith copper s a l t s . '

h x c e s s molybdenum

i n f o r a g e h a s be en f o u n d i n F l o r i d a . , C a l i f o r n i a and Oregon ( 6 1 ) *
R e s e a r c h on molybdenum i n 111chigan*
a g r i c u l t u r e h a s been e x p l o r e d v e r y l i t t l e
(9,

The r o l e o f molybdenum i n
i n M ic h i g a n *

10) r e p o r t e d t h e molybdenum c o n t e n t o f some p l a n t s ,

and K e n w o rt h y ( l l )
n u tr ie n t solutions*

Benne and J e r r i m
and Bergman

r e p o r t e d on s t u d i e s w i t h Conco rd g r a p e s grown w i t h
Van A r s d e l l an d a s s o c i a t e s (7?,) s u g g e s t e d a p o s -

s i b l e e x c e s s o f molybdenum i n a r e e d c a n a r y g r a s s p a s t u r e .

F ield

s t u d i e s on li m e and molybdenum r e l a t i o n s h i p s w er e i n i t i a t e d by t h e
a u t h o r i n t h e f e l l o f 1954 and g r e e n h o u s e s t u d i e s i n May 1956*

-1 2 -

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES
F ie ld Studies

General treatm en t s •

At th re e lo c a tio n s s e v e ra l types of lim ing

m a t e r i a l s w e r e a p p l i e d a t t h e r a t e s d e t e r m i n e d b y t h e method o f
B r a d f i e l d an d A l l i s o n ('15) t o r a i s e t h e s o i l pH t o 6*0, 6*5, 7 . 0 o r
7*5 ( T a b l e I ) .
rates.

C a l c i t i c an d d o l o m i t i c m e a l s w ere a p p l i e d a t a l l f o u r

A p u l v e r i z e d d o l o m i t e was a p p l i e d a t r a t e s t o r a i s e t h e s o i l

pH t o 6 . 5 an d 7 . 0 .

I n a d d i t i o n an a c e t y l e n e b y - p r o d u c t li m e was a p p l i e d

a t t h e f o u r r a t e s on s o i l s i n Ogemaw C o un ty an d a t one r a t e ,
i n '-'fashtenaw C o u n t y .

t o pH 7 . 0 ,

A Montcalm s a n d y loam r e c e i v e d one t r e a t m e n t ,

pH 7 . 0 , w i t h b l a s t - f u r n a c e s l a g *

to

A sod ium m o l y b d a t e s o l u t i o n was sprayed

on t h e young p l a n t s on o n e - h a I f o f e a c h l i m e d p l o t .
N e s t e r sandy c l a y loam.

The e x p e r i m e n t a l a r e a I s l o c a t e d n e a r Rose

C i t y , Ogemaw C o u n t y , i n t h e kri-g o f s e c t i o n 20 , to iw ish ip 23N, r a n g e 3E.
The m e c h a n i c a l a n a l y s i s o f t h i s a n d o t h e r s o i l s i n v e s t i g a t e d i n f i e l d
e x p e r i m e n t s a r e g i v e n i n T ab l e I T .
Ho manure or m i n e r a l f e r t i l i z e r h ad b ee n a dd ed t o t h i s
t o 1 94 9.

so il prior

I n t h a t y e a r , 200 pounds p e r a c r e o f 3 - 1 8 - 9 w ere d r i l l e d w i t h

b a r l e y and a l f a l f a a t p l a n t i n g t i m e .

1950 was t h e s ec on d v e e r f o r t h e

a l f a l f a , end i n 1951 a t o p d r e s s i n g o f 300 pounds p e r a c r e o f 0 - 2 0 - 0
was a p p l i e d .

Ten l o a d s o f manure w ere s p r e a d on t h e a r e a i n e a r l y 1952,

and p a s t u r i n g was c o n t i n u e d u n t i l t h e a l f a l f a was plowed u n d e r i n t h e
f a l l of 1 9 5 3 .

I n t h e s p r i n g of 1954, t e n l o a d s o f manure p e r a c r e w ere

a g a i n s p r e a d , i n c o r p o r a t e d i n t o t h e s o i l w i t h a f i e l d c u l t i v a t o r , 100
oound s o f 1 0 - 1 0 - 1 0 was d r i l l e d i n , and f i e l d c o rn was p l a n t e d .

-13

T able I •

Lim ing m a t e r ia ls added to th r e e M ichigan s o i l s on w hich
f i e l d s t u d ie s were conducted*

S o il
N e s t e r sandy
c l a y loam

M o rley c l a y
loam

Pounds p er a c r e t o a t t a i n pH o f
7*0
7 .5
6*0
6*5

L im ing m a t e r ia l
C a l c i t i o m eal

Q1

2700

5500

8200

D o lo m itic m eal

0

2200

4300

6500

P u lv e r iz e d d o lo m ite

0

2200

4300

____ 4

B y-p rod u ct^

0

2000

4000

6100

C a l c i t i c m eal

1500

4600

8000

11300

Do lo m it i e me a 1

1000

3700

5300

7800

P u lv e r iz e d d o lo m ite

-------

2900

6300

-------

5300

-------

B y -p ro d u ct

2

M ontcalm san d y C a l c i t i c m eal
loam
D o lo m itic m eal
P u lv e r iz e d d o lo m ite
B y -p ro d u ct

2200

3300

4900

6300

1700

3000

3900

5200

-------

2800

3700

-------

——

5000

— —

D eterm in ed by th e lim e -r e q u ir e m e n t method o f B r a d f ie ld and A l l i s o n
^ B y -p ro d u ct o f a c e t y le n e m a n u fa ctu rin g p r o c e s s ,
C o r p o r a tio n , Hammond, I n d ia n a
® W a ter-q u en ch ed b la s t - f u r n a c e s la g *
I llin o is
4 N o t a p p lie d a t t h i s r a t e

-1 4 -

L inde A ir

The G r a n a lite Company, B a s t C hicago,

T ab le I I *

S eries

M e c h a n ic a l a n a l y s i s o f M i c h i g a n s o i l s
f i e l d e x p e r im e n t s w ere conducted*

Texture

on w h i c h

Sand

S ilt

Clay

%

%

%

N ester

S an dy c l a y loam

5 1 .01

25.8

23.2

M orley

C l a y loam

44*0

27.8

28.2

M on tc al m

Sa n dy loam

72.0

14.8

13.2

3y t h e S o uy ou co s h y d r o m e t e r method

The e x p e r i m e n t was l a i d o u t f o r 15 t r e a t m e n t s , e a c h r e p l i c a t e d
f o u r t i m e s , an d o n e - h a l f o f t h e r e q u i r e d li m e was s p r e a d on t h e s o i l
s u r f a c e an d was plowed u n d e r on November 1 1 , 1954*

The r e m a i n i n g li m e

was s p r e a d on November

16 a nd 17 and was i n c o r p o r a t e d

w ith a f ie l d

cultivator#

p oun ds o f S - 2 4 - 1 2 p e r a c r e h a d

b ee n d r i l l e d i n

A f t e r 200

on May 2 , 1 9 5 5 , o a t s w e r e p l a n t e d #

S i x t e e n o u n c e s p e r a c r e o f so di u m

m olybdate were sp ray ed

cm t h e o a t s p l a n t s on J u n e 22#

The o a t s w e r e

h a r v e s t e d on A u g u s t 9 ,

and w h o le p l a n t s a m p l e s , e x c l u d i n g r o o t s , w ere

taken fo r a n aly sis#
-/in a l f a l f a - c l o v e r - g r a s s m i x t u r e was s e e d e d w i t h t h e o a t s i n 1955
and was p a s t u r e d i n t h e s p r i n g o f 1956 .

A f t e r r em o v a l o f t h e s t o c k ,

8 o u n c e s o f s odi um m o l y b d a t e p e r a c r e was a p p l i e d #

The f i r s t and o n l y

c u t t i n g was made on A u g u s t 3#
M o r l e y c l a y loam#

The e x p e r i m e n t a l a r e a i s

l o c a t e d n e a r Whitmore

Lake i n t h e SWj o f s e c t i o n 1 6 , t o w n s h i p 1S# r a n g e 6E i n Washtenaw C a n t y #
The e x p e r i m e n t c o n s i s t e d o f 12 t r e a t m e n t s , e a c h r e p l i c a t e d f o u r t i m e s #
O n e - h a l f o f t h e r e q u i r e d li m e was s p r e a d on a h e a v y c r o p o f c l o v e r and
g r a s s an d was plowed u n d e r on May 4 , 1955#

On May 1 7 , t h e r e m a i n d e r o f

t h e li m e was a p p l i e d an d d i s k e d i n , an d c o r n was p l a n t e d t h e n e x t day#
E i g h t o u n ce s p e r a c r e o f sodiu m m o l y b d a t e was s p r a y e d on t h e young c o r n
p l a n t s J u l y 31.
L e a f s a m p l e s w er e t a k e n on S e p te m b e r 2 fr om a l l u n s p r a y e d p l o t s i n
r e p l i c a t i o n IV#

The s i x t h l e a f o f e a c h c o r n p l a n t was p u l l e d a n d wa sh ed

i n DFJEFT and d i s t i l l e d w a t e r b e f o r e d r y i n g #

The m a t u r e c o r n was h a r ­

v e s t e d on O c t o b e r 2 0.
Ohio M-15 v a r i e t y o f c o m was p l a n t e d on May 30 , 195 6.

-1 6 -

The f a r m e r

u s e d a s p e c i a l sh o e t o p i e c e 200 pounds p e r a c r e o f a 6 - 2 4 - 1 2 f e r t i l i z e r
lpr i n c h e s b e l o w t h e s e e d a t p l a n t i n g ti m e*

The c o m d i d n o t m a t u r e

b e f o r e t h e f i r s t f r o s t and so was n o t h a r v e s t e d .

I t was damaged by a

2,4D weed c o n t r o l s p r a y w h i c h was a p o l i e d when t h e c o m p l a n t s were
a b o u t 10 i n c h e s h i g h #
M ont cal m s a n d y l o a m #

The same e x p e r i m e n t a l d e s i g n a s t h a t u s e d i n

'.Tashtenaw C o u n t y was u s e d n e a r Edrnore i n t h e h o f
2 , t o w n s h i p 12N, r a n g e 3VJ i n Montcalm C o u n t y .

the S ^

of s e c t i o n

The f i r s t h a l f o f t h e

r e q u i r e d l i m e was s p r e a d on Ma;g 14, 1955 and was d i s k e d u n d e r .

The

r e m a i n d e r , a p p l i e d May 19, was h a r r o w e d i n p r i o r t o p l a n t i n g c r a n b e r r y
b e a n s on May 2 0 .

Sodium m o l y b d a t e was a . p p li e d J u l y 6 a t t h e r a t e o f 4

o u n c e s p e r a c r e t o t h e young p l a n t s .

The m a t u r e p l a n t s w ere p u l l e d

A u g u s t 26 , p i l e d o u t s i d e t h e f i e l d , and t h r e s h e d when d r i e d #
Wheat was p l a n t e d i n t h e l a t e f a l l o f 1955, s p r a y e d w i t h 8 ou nc es
p e r a c r e o f sodium m o l y b d a t e on May 31, and h a r v e s t e d on A u g u s t 8 , 1956#
T h r e e h u n d r e d pounds p e r a c r e o f 5 - 2 0 - 2 0 f e r t i l i z e r was d r i l l e d i n t h e
fall,

and 100 t o 150 pounds p e r a c r e o f ammonium n i t r a t e w ere b r o a d ­

c a s t in th e s p r i n g .
Red c l o v e r ha d be en s e e d e d i n t h e w h e a t and t h e f i r s t c u t t i n g was
h a r v e s t e d on J u n e 19, 19 57.

Y i e l d d a t a w ere t a k e n , a l t h o u g h no p l a n t

or s o i l s a m e l a s w ere t a k e n a t t h a t tim e*
Greenhouse S tu d ie s
S o i l s a m p l e s f r om t h e plow l a y e r s o f t h r e e s o i l s ,

a Montcalm s an dy

loam fr om t h e v i c i n i t y o f Edmore, a W e s t e r s a n d y c l a y loam fr om a f o r m e r
a o o l e orchard, a t t h e Graham E x p e r i m e n t a l S t a t i o n n e a r Grand R a p i d s , and
a H o ugh ton muck from t h e M ic h i g a n S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y Muck E x p e r i m e n t a l

-17-

Far m w e r e u s e d i n t h i s s t u d y .
5.5,

The i n i t i a l pH v a l u e s w er e 5 . 2 , 4 . 5 and

t h e c a t i o n e x c h a n g e c a p a c i t i e s w er e 4 . 6 3 , 6 . 9 9 and 1 3 8 . 8 6 m i l l i -

o q u i m l e n t s o e r 100 g r a n s , and t h e t o t a l e x c h a n g e a b l e b a s e s w e re 1 . 4 2 ,
0 . 5 4 and 1 1 2 . 8 8 m i l l i e q u i v a l e n t s p e r 100 g ram s, r e s p e c t i v e l y .

N utrient

r e q u i r e m e n t s w er e d e t e r m i n e d by a s o i l t e s t u s i n g t h e metho ds o f Spurway
and Lawton ( 6 6 ) a n d t h e li m e r e q u i r e m e n t s by t h e B r a d f i e l d - A l l i son method
(in ).

The a m ou nt s o f c a l c i u m h y d r o x i d e ( h y d r a t e d l i m e ) d e t e r m i n e d t o

b r i n g e a c h s o i l t o pH v a l u e s o f 6 . 5 and 7*5 a r e h e r e a f t e r c a l l e d r a t e 1
and 2 r e s p e c t i v e l y f o r th e p a r t i c u l a r s o i l (Table I X ) .

Optimum l e v e l s

o f c * p . s a l t s c o n t a i n i n g a l l o f t h e e s s e n t i a l e l e m e n t s e x c e p t molybdenum,
and t h e c a l c i u m h y d r o x i d e , w her e r e q u i r e d , were mixed w i t h 4325 grams o f
M o n tc a l m , 3775 grams of t h e N e s t e r an d 1250 grams o f t h e Houghton s o i l *
The t r e a t e d s o i l s w er e t h e n p l a c e d i n o n e - g a l l o n m e t a l c a n s l i n e d w i t h
polyethylene bags.

Eac h t r e a t m e n t was r e p l i c a t e d t h r e e t i m e s .

The

s o i l s w e r e b r o u g h t t o f i e l d c a p a c i t y w i t h d i s t i l l e d w a t e r and were
i n c u b a t e d f o r one w e e k .

S e e d s o f u S n ow ba ll A*' v a r i e t y o f c a u l i f l o w e r

w e r e p l a n t e d on May 7 , and t h e r e s u l t i n g p l a n t s w er e l a t e r t h i n n e d t o
one p l a n t p e r c o n t a i n e r .

D i s t i l l e d w a t e r was add ed a s n e e d e d t o k e e p

the s o i l s near f i e l d c a p a c ity .
Sodiura m o l y b d a t e was d i s s o l v e d i n w a t e r , t o w hic h one t e a s p o o n o f
DLEFT had b e e n a d d e d t o e a c h g a l l o n o f w a t e r a s a s p r e a d e r , t o g i v e
p r o p e r c o n c e n t r a t i o n s a t t h e r a t e s o f 0 , 2, 4 and 8 ou nce s o f sodium
n o l v b d a t e p e r a c r e when a o p l i e d i n two a p p l i c a t i o n s *

The s o l u t i o n s

w ere a p p l i e d t o t h e l e a v e s w i t h a p l a s t i c s p r a y e r on J u n e 22 and 2 9 .
The p l a n t s were h a r v e s t e d on A u g u s t 12 b e f o r e f l o w e r i n g *

-18-

METHODS OF ANALYSIS
Soils
S o i l s a m p l i n g an d p r e p a r a t i o n .

Samples o f t h e 0 t o 8 i n c h d e p t h

w e r e t a k e n from a l l p l o t s a nd fr om t h e g r e e n h o u s e s o i l s p r i o r t o t r e a t ­
me n t a n d a t p e r i o d i c i n t e r v a l s t h e r e a f t e r .

A l l s a m p l e s w er e c r u s h e d

w i t h a wooden r o l l i n g p i n and w ere s i e v e d t h r o u g h a 2 - m i l l i m e t e r p l a s t i c
screen p r io r to a n a ly s is .
A nalysis*

A m e c h a n i c a l a n a l y s i s o f e a c h s o i l was made by t h e

h y d r o m e t e r me thod o f Bouyoucous ( 1 4 ) .
The f i e l d c a p a c i t y o f t h e s o i l s was a p p r o x i m a t e d from t h e amount
o f w a t e r r e t a i n e d by t h e s o i l s , w h ic h ha d be en s a t u r a t e d and t h e n
p e r m i t t e d t o d r a i n f o r 12 h o u r s .
The piFI o f a 1 : 1 s o i l : w & t e r s u s p e n s i o n was m e a s u r e d w i t h t h e g l a s s
e l e c t r o d e , u s i n g a Beckman Model N pH. m e t e r .

Hie c e n t r i f u g e methods

d e s c r i b e d . b y t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s S a l i n i t y L a b o r a t o r y ( 7 1 ) w ere f ou nd t o
be m o s t s a t i s f a c t o r y i n d e t e r m i n i n g t h e ex ch a n ge c a p a c i t y and t h e
exchangeable c a t io n s of th e s o i l .
The lime r e q u i r e m e n t was d e t e r m i n e d b o t h by i n c u b a t i o n w i t h v a r y i n g
amou nts of c a l c i u m h y d r o x i d e and by t h e t i t r a t i o n method o f B r a d f i e l d
an d A l l i s o n ( 1 5 ) .

The r e s u l t s o b t a i n e d by t h e s e two m e t h o d s , a s shown

i n T a b l e I I I , w ere v e r y n e a r l y t h e same.

T h e r e f o r e , t h e most r a p i d

m e t h o d , t h e t i t r a t i o n m e th o d , was u t i l i z e d f o r f u r t h e r d e t e r m i n a t i o n s .
A q u i c k t e s t o f t h e a v a i l a b l e s o i l n u t r i e n t s was made u s i n g t h e
me tho d o f Spurway and Lawton ( 6 6 ) .

Table I I I *

Co m p a r is o n o f li m e r e q u i r e m e n t a s d e t e r m i n e d by t h e
i n c u b a t i o n and B r a d f i e l d - A l l i s o n me thods*

S o il

M ontcalm
s a n d y loam

i l e s t e r sandy
c l a y loam

F o u g h t o n muck

Method

Ca(OH)^/acre

Incubation

lbs*
2300

B radfield-A llison

2850

Incubation

5300

B radfield-A llison

4820

I n c u b a t i on

7320

Br a d . f i e l d - A H i son

7770

A s i e v e a n a l y s i s was made o f e a c h l i m i n g m a t e r i a l .

The n e u t r a l i z i n g

v a l u e o f e a c h w rs d e t e r m i n e d ( o ) , and t h e d e t e r m i n a t i o n s a r e r e p o r t e d
in Table IV .
Plants
P reparation.

F r e s h s a m p l e s were wash ed i n DRDi'T and d i s t i l l e d

Vr t e r and t h e n r i n s e d .

A l l p l a n t s a m p l e s we re o v e n - d r i e d a t 70° C . ,

g r o u n d i n a ><iley m i l l w: t h s t a i n l e s s s t e e l h o p n e r end number 20 s c r e e n ,
and s t o r e d i n F l i n t - r l a s s b o t t l e s .
A nalysis.

Molybdenum d e t e r m i n a t i o n s on t h o n l s r . t s a m p l e s w ere made

b y t h e method of D ick and Bir.p l e y ( 2 3 ) a s m o d i f i e d by benne and J e r r i m
(2,

10)•

R e f e r e e s a m p l e s f u r n i s h e d by D r . Benne were a n a l y z e d t o i n s u r e

a c c u r a c y of the method.

-21-

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RESULTS ALB DISCUSSION
F ie ld S tudies

L e s t e r s a n d y c l a y loam*

The s o i l v a r i o b i l i t y f o u n d het ween

'lo ts

i n 0; .O’u w C ou n tv or t h e F e s t e r s a n d y c l o y l o a n - v r t i e l l y o b s c u r e s t h e
e f f e c t s of the tre a tm e n ts*

The d a t a i n T ab l e V show t h a t t h e t y r e o f

l i r r n n p m a t e r i a l , t h e r a t e o f i t s a p p l i c a t i o n , and t h e a d d i t i o n
addition

or non­

o f molybdenum h ad no a p p a r e n t s i g n i f i c a n t e f f e c t s on t h e y i e l d s

o f o a t s and hay*

However, t h e s o i l r e a c t i o n w as m a r k e d l y a f f e c t e d by

t h e l i m i n g m a t e r i a l s , e s p e c i a l l y by t h e a c e t y l e n e b y - p r o d u c t *

Soil

s a m p l e s o f t h e plow d e p t h w ere t a k e n p r i o r t o t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f liming
m a t e r i a l s an d a t p e r i o d i c i n t e r v a l s t h e r e a f t e r up t o 22 months*

As

shown i n F i g u r e 1, t h e d e c r e a s i n g o r d e r o f e f f e c t i v e n e s s i n r a i s i n g t h e
s o i l pH was a c e t y l e n e b y - p r o d u c t , h i g h c a l c i u m m e a l , r e f e r e n c e d o l o m i t e ,
and t h e d o l o m i t i c meal*
the s o i l reaction*

The l o w e s t l i m i n g r a t e s h a d l i t t l e

e f f e c t on

G r e a t e r d i f f e r e n c e s due t o d i f f e r e n t l i m i n g m a t e r i a l s

w ere e v id e n c ed a t th e h i g h e r r a t e s of a p p l i c a t i o n *

The d e s i r e d pH o f 6*5

was r e a c h e d w i t h a l l l i m i n g m a t e r i a l s e x c e p t t h e d o l o m i t i c meal*

However,

t h e d e s i r e d pH o f 7*0 was r e a c h e d o n l y w i t h t h e a c e t y l e n e b y - p r o d u c t , and
w i t h none o f t h e l i m i n g m a t e r i a l s was t h e d e s i r e d pH o f 7*5 a t t a i n e d *
I n t h e l a t t e r i n s t a n c e , t h e pH ha d i n c r e a s e d o v e r m e 22 mcnvh p e r i o d
0*1 bo 7L5, Li c o n t r a s t t o an i n c r e a s e i n t h e c h ec k p l o t s fr om 6*0
t o 6*1*

"Where t h e h i g h c a l c i u m and d o l o m i t i c m e a l s h ad been a p p l i e d a t

t h e h i g h e s t r a t e s , a f i n a l pH o f 6*7 was a t t a i n e d by b o t h m a t e r i a l s *
H ow ev er, 8200 pounds p e r a c r e o f t h e c a l c i t i c me al was no more e f f e c t i v e
i n r a i s i n g t h e pH t h a n was 5500 pounds p e r a c r e o f t h e same m a t e r i a l *
-23-

Table V.

The e f f e c t o f lim in g m a teria ls and r a te s o f a p p lic a tio n and
o f molybdenum on the y ie ld s o f o a ts and the f i r s t c u ttin g
o f a l f a l f a hay on a N ester sandy c la y loam*

Type

A lf a lf a hay
1956

O ats
1955

L im ing m a t e r ia l

No Mo

R ate

No Mo

Mo1

Mo1

I b s/a c

b u /a c

b u /a e

T /a c

T /a c

C a l c i t i c m eal

0
2700
5500
8200

4 3 . 62
4 1 .5
3 4 .1
4 0 .7

4 0 .7
5 0 .9
4 0 .9
4 3 .3

1 .6 8
1 .6 9
1 .7 0
1 .9 3

1 .8 4
1 .7 6
1 .7 8
1 .7 5

D o lo m itic m eal

0
2200
4300
6500

4 8 .6
4 3 .1
4 9 .0
4 1 .3

4 4 .8
3 9 .0
3 5 .6
4 4 .0

1 .7 0
1 .6 2
1 .9 5
1 .8 7

1 .6 7
1 .7 2
1 .8 6
1 .9 2

A c e t y le n e
b y -p r o d u c t

0
2000
4000
6100

4 5 .7
3 6 .0
4 5 .4
3 5 .9

4 7 .1
3 6 .3
3 5 .8
4 1 .1

1 .6 7
1 .7 7
1 .6 4
1 .7 3

1 .7 4
1 .8 3
1 .5 4
1 .8 3

P u lv e r iz e d d o lo m ite

2200
4300

3 2 .7
4 3 .0

3 9 .0
3 3 .9

1 .8 6
1 .5 8

1 .9 0
1 .5 1

No lim e

—— —

3 9 .8

4 2 .5

1 .6 6

1 .6 0

^ A p p lie d 16 o u n ces p er a c r e and 8 o u n ces p er a c r e o f sodium m olyb d ate
i n 1955 and 1 9 5 6 , r e s p e c t i v e l y
2 A v era g e o f t h r e e r e p l i c a t i o n s

-2 4 -

7.5

D e s i r e d nH 7 . 5 _____

7.0

6.0
5.8

20

10

D e s i r e d pH 7 . 0

5.8

•
o
□
A
x

7.0

c a l c i t i c me al
d o lo m itic meal
acety len e by-product
p u lv e riz e d dolom ite
n o li m e

D e s i r e d pH 6 . 5

10
Months a f t e r l i m i n g
F ig u re 1.

20

The e f f e c t o f l i m i n g m a t e r i a l s , a p p l i e d a t e q u i v a l e n t r a t e s ,
on t h e s o i l r e a c t i o n o f a K e s t e r s a n d y c l a y lo a m .

The b a s e s a t u r a t i o n p e r c e n t a g e s w er e d e t e r m i n e d on s o i l sa m pl ed i n
t h e f a l l 1955 a nd t h e f a l l 1956 an d a r e r e p o r t e d i n T a b l e V I .

I'Jhere 2200

p o u nd s p e r a c r e o f t h e d o l o m i t i c m e a l h a d been a p p l i e d , t h e b a s e s a t u r a ­
t i o n 1 p e r c e n t a g e was i n c r e a s e d f ro m 75*7 p e r c e n t t o 7 7 . 1 p e r c e n t i n 22
m onths, an i n o r e a s e of 3 .3 p e rc e n t#

The i n c r e a s e was s i m i l a r w her e 6500

p o und s p e r a c r e o f t h i s m a t e r i a l h a d b ee n a d d e d .

Howe ver , 4300 pound s

p e r a c r e o f th e m a t e r i a l r e s u l t e d in a n e t i n c r e a s e of 6.5 p e r c e n t , a
f i g u r e n e a r l y d o u b l e t h a t o b t a i n e d f r o m e i t h e r t h e h i g h e r or t h e lo w e r
rates.

A l a r g e r an d more r a p i d i n c r e a s e was o b t a i n e d w i t h t h e h i g h

c a l c i u m m e a l , t h e g r e a t e s t i n c r e a s e b e i n g 1 6 . 7 p e r c e n t w i t h an a p p l i ­
c a t i o n o f 5500 pounds p e r a c r e o f t h i s m a t e r i a l .

I n the case of the

a c e t y l e n e b y - p r o d u c t m a t e r i a l , much h i g h e r i n c r e a s e s i n t h e b a s e s a t u r a ­
t i o n p e r c e n t a g e w er e o b t a i n e d , b e i n g n e a r l y l i n e a r w i t h t h e a m o u n t ■o f
the m a t e r i a l a p p l i e d .

The b a s e s a t u r a t i o n p e r c e n t a g e o b t a i n e d w i t h t h e

two h i g h e r r a t e s o f t h i s l a t t e r m a t e r i a l was g r e a t e r t h a n IOC p e r c e n t ,
th e re being l i t t l e
cation.

d i f f e r e n c e i n e f f e c t be tw ee n t h e two r a t e s o f a p p l i ­

D u r i n g t h i s same p e r i o d , t h e b a s e s a t u r a t i o n p e r c e n t a g e o f t h e

unlimed s o i l d ecre ase d 0.7 p e r c e n t.
As shown i n F i g u r e 2 , t h e r e was a s i g n i f i c a n t c o r r e l a t i o n o f 0*392
b e t w e e n t h e pE and t h e b a s e s a t u r a t i o n p e r c e n t a g e , r e g a r d l e s s o f t h e
k in d o f lim in g m a t e r i a l or th e r a t e of a p p l i c a t i o n , d u rin g t h e o b s e rv a ­
tio n period.

S i m i l a r c o r r e l a t i o n was o b s e r v e d by J e n s e n ( 3 4 ) in D a n i s h

so ils.
l l o r l e y c l a y lo a m .

Th er e w er e no s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e s i n t h e

1955 y i e l d o f c o r n on t h e U o r l e y c l a y loam duo t o l i m i n g m a t e r i a l s o r
t o molybdenum, as shown i n T a b l e V I I .

-26-

Lining the s o i l d id d ec re a se

T a b l e VI •

The e f f e c t s o f l i m i n g m a t e r i a l s , a u p l i e d a t v a r i o u s r a t e s ,
on t h e b a s e s a t u r a t i o n p e r c e n t a g e o f s e v e r a l M i c h i g a n s o i l s *

Liming m a t e r i a l

D esired
pH

Months a f t e r l i m i n g

Increase
___
F a l l ' 55 !Fall ' 56

N e s t e r s a n d y c l a y loam
0

9

22

C a l c i t i c meal

6.0
6.5
7.0
7.5

68.7
70.9
75.6
75.9

72.2
81.4
85.6
86.9

62.5
85.0
90.3
86.9

3.5
10.5
12.0
11.0

- 6.2
14.1
17.7
11.0

D o l o m i t i c m e al

6.0
6.5
7.0
7.5

73.8
73.7
74.1
81.3

73.8
71.3
76.5
79.2

71.6
77.1
80.6
84.6

0.0
- 2.4
2.4
- 2.1

- 2.2
3.4
6.5
3.3

A cetylene
by-product

6.0
6.5
7.0
7.5

78.3
76.0
79.6
72.3

80.3
80.5
101.6
110.7

79.2
85.5
101.6
115.9

2.0
4.5
22.0
38.4

0.9
9.5
22.0
43.6

Pulverized
dolom ite

6.5
7.0

68.2
71.8

75.4
79.4

77.5
81.3

7.2
7.6

9.3
9.5

74.9

74.7

74.2

- 0.2

- 0.7

__ 6_
61.9
60.8
59.8
63.6

15
60.5
62.9
64.3
69.7

5.7
5.2
4.3
7.9

4.3
7.3
8.8
14.0

No li m e

M o r l e y c l a y loam
C a l c i t i c meal

6.0
6.5
7.0
7.5

0
56.2
55*6
55.5
55.7

D o l o m i t i c me al

6.0
6.5
7.0
7.5

54.7
51.5
63.2
58.2

58.2
56.6
70.4
67.3

62.5
61.0
72.6
69.6

3.5
5.1
7.2
9.1

7.8
9.5
9.4
11.4

P u l v e r i zed
dolom ite

6.5
7.0

57.0
54.7

64.5
68.9

67.4
71.7

7.5
14.2

10.4
17.0

A cetylene
by-product

7.0

53.6

69.5

73.6

15.9

20.0

51.9

50.5

51.9

- 1.4

0.0

No l i m e

-27-

T a b l e "VI.

Continued

Lining m a te ria l

D esired
pH

Months a f t e r l i m i n g

Increase
F a l l *55 F a l l *56

M ont cal m s a n d y loam
0

4

!5

C a l c i t i c m e al

6.0
6.5
7.0
7.5

41.2
44.3
44.0
37.8

63.4
72.4
74.0
77.2

68.9
76.0
77.6
84.6

22.2
28.1
30.0
39.4

27.7
31.7
33.6
46.8

D olom itic meal

6.0
6.5
7.0
7.5

44.1
43.8
41.7
43.6

56.8
55.4
63.8
62.1

61.6
59.5
67.7
69.1

12.7
11.6
22.1
18.5

1 7 .5
15.7
23.0
25.5

P u l v e r i zed
dolom ite

6.5
7.0

47.0
44.5

78.8
78.8

83.9
78.8

31.8
34.3

36.9
34.3

Slag

7.0

45.0

56.2

61.4

11 .2

16.4

N o li m e

—_ ——

47.3

47.3

44.4

0.0

- 2.9

-28-

C -l

•
t '

-1
O

♦
L-

co

CD

CO

• -4

Fi;;ure

FI

co -c;p

o

S-i

0

o:>
ic
a

rH

CO

<7>

o

CM
CD

c
CD

-29-

o

J

and

a>
=?
4>
C
q>
o
o
ca
percentage

soil

r ea ct ion

O
co

saturation

cm

bs.se

of

o
o
I—i

C o r r e l o t i o n between
sand y clap loam*

a limed

- P -P

2.

W ester

co

c

Table VII *

The e f f e c t o f l i m i n g m a t e r i a l an d r a t e o f a p p l i c a t i o n and
o f molybdenum on t h e y i e l d s of c o m i n 1955 on a M o r l e y
c l a y lo a m .

Li mi ng m a t e r i a l
Type

C a l c i t i c m e al

Com
Rate

No Mo

Mo1

lb/ac

bu/ac

bu/ac

6 7 . 02
71.9
74.2
68.4

67.3
72.6
79.3
73.4

1300
4600
8000
11500
1000
3700
5300
7800

64.2
71.5
77.0
74.0

69.2
6 6 .2
78.1
75.5

P u lv e riz e d dolom ite

2900
6300

61.4
70.7

65.3
71.1

A cetylene by-product

5300

70.0

No li m e

------

80.4

^ 8 o z / a c o f so d iu m m o l y b d a t e
2 Average of fo u r r e p l i c a t e s

-30-

CO
.
ff*

D o l o m i t i c m ea l

71.2

y i e l d s so rr ew ha t, and molybdenum d e c r e a s e d y i e l d s where no lime had been
applied.
m aturity*

The 1956 c r op was n o t h a r v e s t e d a s t h e c o r n was f r o s t e d b e f o r e
The s o i l was sampled b e f o r e t h e li m e a p p l i c a t i o n s and a t

p e r i o d i c i n t e r v a l s t h e r e a f t e r up t o 15 m o n t h s -

As shown i n F i g u r e 5 ,

t h e r e was much l e s s ch a n g e i n t h e s o i l r e a c t i o n due t o l i m i n g t h i s

soil

t h a n ’was t h e c a s e w i t h t h e F e s t e r s a n d y c l a y loam, a l t h o u g h l i m i n g r a t e s
w e r e b a s e d on l i m e - r e q u i r e m e n t d e t e r m i n a t i o n s *

The g r e a t e s t i n c r e a s e

was w i t h t h e a c e t y l e n e b y - p r o d u c t a p p l i e d a t t h e r a t e o f 5300 pounds p e r
acre*

The d o l o m i t i c m e al and t h e r e f e r e n c e d o l o m i t e b o t h gave l o w e r ,

a l t h o u g h n e a r l y e q u a l i n c r e a s e s i n t h e s o i l pH*

The s m a l l e s t c h a n g e s

w e r e o b s e r v e d w h e r e t h e h i g h c a l c i u m me al had b ee n a p p l i e d .
th e lo w e s t lim in g r a t e s had l i t t l e

A lthough

e f f e c t on t h e s o i l r e a c t i o n , an

in c r e a s e i n th e r a t e of the liming m a te r ia l a p p lie d r e s u l t e d in a c o r ­
r e s p o n d i n g i n c r e a s e i n t h e s o i l pH.
The e f f e c t s o f t h e a p p l i e d l i m i n g m a t e r i a l s on t h e b a s e s a t u r a t i o n
p e r c e n t a g e a r e shown i n Ta bl e V I .

At the low est lim ing r a t e ,

the

s m a l l e s t i n c r e a s e i n t h e b a s e s a t u r a t i o n p e r c e n t a g e , 4 . 4 p e r c e n t , was
o b ta in e d w ith the high calcium m eal,

Wi th i n c r e a s i n g li m e t h e b a s e

s a t u r a t i o n percentage of the s o i l in c re a se d w ith a l l m a t e r i a l s , th e
g r e a t e s t in c re a s e being w ith th e a ce ty le n e by-product m a te r ia l ap p lied
a t t h e r a t e o f 5300 pounds p e r a c r e , a n e t i n c r e a s e o f 2 0 . 0 p e r c e n t .
t h e h i g h e r r a t e s o f a p p l i c a t i o n t h e e f f e c t s w ere n e a r l y t h e same f o r
b o t h t h e h i g h c a l c i u m end d o l o m i t i c m e a l s , wdth a n e t i n c r e a s e o f 1 4 . 0
p e r c e n t w h er e 1 1 , 3 0 0 pounds p e r a c r e o f t h e c a l c i t i c meal had been
applied*

Over t h i s 15 month p e r i o d t h e r e was no cha nge i n t h e b a s e

s a t u r a t i o n p e r c e n t a g e of t h e u n l i m e d p l o t s .

-31-

At

6.6

D e s i r e d pH 7*5

6.4

6 .2

6.0

5.8

.5.6

10
D e s i r e d pH 7 . 0

6.6
6 .4

6.2
•
O
Q
A
*

c a l c i t i c me al
d o l o m i t i c me al
a c e t y l e n e bv-p:r o d u c t
p u l v e r i z e d dolio m i te
n o li m e

5.8«

10
D e s i r e d pH 6 . 5

6.2

6.0

5.8

10
Months a f t e r l i m i n g
F igure 3.

The e f f e c t o f l i m i n g m a t e r i a l s , a p p l i e d a t e q u i v a l e n t
r a t e s , on t h e s o i l r e a c t i o n o f a M o r le y c l a y loa m.

-32'

F i g u r e 4 shows t h e h i g h l y s i g n i f i c a n t c o r r e l a t i o n c o e f f i c i e n t o f
0*923 b e t w e e n t h e b a s e s a t u r a t i o n p e r c e n t a g e and t h e s o i l r e a c t i o n o v e r
t h e pH r a n g e o f 5*7 t o 6* 6 , r e g a r d l e s s o f l i m i n g m a t e r i a l o r o f t h e
ra te s of application*
Montcalm, s a n d y 1 cam*

The d a t a i n T a b l e V I I I

shew t h a t on Montcalm

s a n d y loa m t h e r e w er e n o s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e s c a u s e d by t r e a t m e n t s i n
t h e y i e l d s o f f i e l d b e a n s an d w h ea t*

However, r e s i d u a l sodium m o l y b d a t e

a n d l i m e h a d an e f f e c t on t h e r e d c l o v e r y i e l d s i n Montcalm C o u n ty
s i m i l a r t o t h a t o b s e r v e d on c a u l i f l o w e r grown on t h i s s o i l i n t h e g r e e n ­
house*

The y i e l d r e s p o n s e t o lime a l o n e , r e g a r d l e s s o f t h e t y p e o r r a t e

o f l i m i n g m a t e r i a l a p p l i e d , was h i g h l y s i g n i f i c a n t *

The a v e r a g e y i e l d

on a d r y - w e ig :h t b a s i s was i n c r e a s e d from 0*34 t o n s p e r a c r e w her e no
l i m e was a p p l i e d t o 1*58 t o n s from t h e lim ed p l o t s *

The i n c r e a s e w i t h

molybdenum a l o n e was from 0*34 t o n s t o 1*02 t o n s , and xvith lim e p l u s
molybdenum a l o n e , y i e l d s w er e i n c r e a s e d t h e m o s t whe re li me a t t h e lo w e r
r a t e s p l u s molybdenum h ad been a p p l i e d *
M o l y b d e n u m - d e f i c i e n t c l o v e r p l a n t s were s m a l l e r t h a n n o r m a l , t h e
l e a v e s w e r e p a l e - g r e e n and few n o d u l e s were o b s e r v e d on t h e r o o t s *

The

s t a n d was t h i n n e s t w h er e no lim e or molybdenum had been a p p l i e d *
As shown i n F i g u r e 5 , t h e p u l v e r i z e d d o l o m i t e h ad t h e g r e a t e s t
e f f e c t on t h e s o i l r e a c t i o n , i n c r e a s i n g t h e pH f r o m 5*2 t o 6*8 o v e r a
15 month p e r i o d w h e r e 2800 pounds p e r a c r e o f t h e m a t e r i a l had been
applied*

T h i r t y - s e v e n h u n d r e d pounds p e r a c r e o f t h i s m a t e r i a l was

sim ila r in i t s

effect*

The d e s i r e d pH l e v e l s w er e a t t a i n e d o r e x c e e d e d

w i t h t h e two r a t e s o f t h e h i g h c a l c i u m m e a l .

However, a d d i t i o n s of

4900 and 6300 pounds p e r a c r e w ere l i t t l e more e f f e c t i v e t h a n 3300

I
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6 .5

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5 .0 |

D e s ir e d pE 7 .5

6 .5

6.0

5 .0 '

D e s ir e d pH 7 .0

10

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5 .5
•
o
Q
A
X

D e s ir e d pH 6 .5

c a l c i t i c m eal
d o lo m it ic m eal
s la g
p u lv e r iz e d d o lo m ite
n o lim e

Months a f t e r l i n i n g
F ig u r e 5 .

The e f f e c t o f lim in g m a t e r i a ls , a p p lie d a t e q u iv a le n t r a t e s ,
on t h e s o i l r e a c t io n o f a Montoalm sandy loam .

36-

pounds p er a c r e , an a d d it io n a l in c r e a s e o f 0*1 pH u n i t s r e s u l t i n g from
th e h ig h e r r a t e s *

D o lo m itic m eal was s i m i l a r l y e f f e c t i v e t o th e h ig h

c a lc iu m m eal a t th e low r a t e o f a p p lic a t io n *

H ow ever, a d d it io n a l amovnts

o f t h i s d o lo m it ic m a t e r ia l in c r e a s e d th e pH o n ly s l i g h t l y m ore, 5200
pounds p er a c r e g iv i n g a n e t in c r e a s e o f o n ly 0*2 pH u n it s o v er t h a t
o b ta in e d w it h 3000 pounds p er a cre *

D uring th e o b s e r v a tio n p e r io d , th e

uttlim ed p l o t s in c r e a s e d 0*4 pH u n it s *

The e f f e c t o f th e s la g w as e q u a l

t o t h a t o f d o lo m it io m eal w here b o th had been a p p lie d a t th e same e q u iv ­
a l e n t r a te *
As shown i n T able YT, th e 16*3 p e r c e n t in c r e a s e i n th e b a se s a t u r a ­
t i o n p e r c e n ta g e w here th e s la g had been a p p lie d was h a l f o f t h a t w here
e q u iv a le n t am ounts o f th e h ig h c a lc iu m m eal and th e p u lv e r iz e d d o lo m ite
had b een a p p lie d , and was c o n s id e r a b ly l e s s th a n th e change due t o th e
d o lo m it ic m eal*

A d d it io n s o f th e p u lv e r iz e d d o lo m ite in c r e a s e d th e b a se

s a t u r a t io n p e r c e n ta g e th e m o st, fo llo w e d by th e h ig h c a lc iu m m eal and
th e d o lo m it ic m eal in t h a t ord er*

The h ig h c a lc iu m m eal was o n ly s l i g h t ­

l y l e s s e f f e c t i v e th a n was t h e p u lv e r iz e d d o lo m ite in t h i s r e s p e c t .

The

b a se s a t u r a t io n p e r c e n ta g e in c r e a s e d d i r e c t l y w ith th e amount o f c a l c i t i c
m eal a p p lie d , th e in c r e a s e s ra n g in g from 27*7 p e r c e n t w it h 2200 pounds
p e r a c r e o f t h i s m a t e r ia l t o 46*9 p e r c e n t w ith 6300 pounds per a c r e *
in c r e a s e s w ere l i t t l e

The

d i f f e r e n t f o r th e 1700 and 3000 pounds p er a c r e

a p p l i c a t i o n s o f th e d o lo m it ic m e a l, b e in g 17*5 and 15*7 p e r c e n t , r e s p e c ­
tiv e ly *

Where 3900 and 5200 pounds p er a c r e had been ad d ed , th e i n ­

c r e a s e s w ere 26*0 and 2 5 .5 p e r c e n t , r e s p e c t i v e ly *

A f t e r 15 m onths th e

p e r c e n t b a se s a t u r a t io n o f th e un lim ed s o i l had d e c r e a se d 2*9 p e r c e n t*

-37>

As shovm i n F i g u r e G, t h e r e was a h i g h l y s i g n i f i c a n t c o r r e l a t i o n
c o e f f i c i e n t o f 0*951 b e tw ee n t h e b a s e s a t u r a t i o n "p ercen tag e and t h e pH
o f t h e l.lontcalm s a n d y loam f o r pH v a l u e s o f 5*5 and above f o r t h e lim e d
p lo ts*

The c o r r e l a t i o n 7/ould be l e s s i f t h e b a s e s a t u r a t i o n p e r c e n t a g e

i n t h e u n li m e d p l o t s was i n c l u d e d i n t h e d e t e r m i n a t i o n *

G re e n h o u s e S t u d i e s
The d r y - w e i g h t y i e l d s o f c a u l i f l o w e r a r e g i v e n in T ab le I X .
a f f e c t e d t h e y i e l d on a l l s o i l s *

L in in g

G e r m in a tio n was e x c e l l e n t i n a l l c o s e s

b u t p l a n t s grown i n t h e H e s t e r o r c h a r d s o i l t o w h ic h no lim e h ad been
a p p l i e d f o i l e d t o grow beyond t h e s i n g l e l e a f s t a g e .

Lime ad d e d a t

r o t e 1 r e s u l t e d i n an a v e r a g e y i e l d o f 9*7 g ram sj h o w e v e r, lim e added
a t r a t e 2 d i d n o t g i v e an a d d i t i o n a l s i g n i f i c a n t i n c r e a s e i n y i e l d .
A d d i t i o n a l molybdenum had l i t t l e
s o il,

e f f e c t on t h e g ro w th o f p l a n t s i n t h i s

r e g a r d l e s s o f lim e t r e a t m e n t .
L im ing t h e Montcalm. s a n d y loam i n c r e a s e d c a u l i f l o w e r y i e l d s fro m

9*6 gram s f o r t h e c h e c k t o 1 2 .4 and 1 3 .1 g r a n s f o r l i n i n g r a t e s 1 and 2 ,
r e s p e c t i v e l y ( s i g n i f i c a n t a t t h e one p e r c e n t l e v e l ) .

The a v e r a g e y i e l d

o f c a u l i f l o w e r due t o t h e lim e t r e a t m e n t s was 1 1 .4 g r a n s .

Two o u n ces

n o r a c r e o f sodium m o ly b d a te s i g n i f i c a n t l y i n c r e a s e d t h e a v e r a g e y i e l d
t o 12*2 g r a n s .

H ig h e r r a t e s o f molybdenum had l i t t l e

a d d itio n a l e ffe c t

on t h e y i e l d s .
The eiv erage i n c r e a s e on t h e H ough ton muck fro m 3 0 .8 f o r t h e c h e c k
t o 3 2 . 8 gram s w h ere lim e was ad d ed a t r a t e

1 was h i g h l y s i g n i f i c a n t .

L i n i n g t o a h i g h e r pH r e s u l t e d i n y i e l d s w hich w ere lo w e r t h a n t h o s e
f r o m t h e u n lim e d muck.

A c c o r d in g t o P o r t e r , o t a l ( 5 6 ) and o t h e r s ,

l i m i n g o r g a n i c s o i l s in M ic h ig a n t o a pH h i g h e r t h a n 5 . 5 r e d u c e s y i e l d s .

-3 6 -

aj

&
CD

LO

ft

-3 9 u

O

a,
oc

CD

to

to

LO

LO

P

Lw

cd
m

cd

cd

w
ft)

percentage

and

Q>
aO
Oj
-P

s a tu r a tio n

LO

C o r r e la tio n between base
Montcalm sandy loam*

I—t

6#

soil

reactio n

X

Figure

CO

•H

-P

of

a lim ed

T a b le IX#

E f f e c t o f lim e and molybdenum a p p lic a t i o n s on th e y i e l d s
o f c a u li f lo w e r i n a g reen h o u se e x p e r im e n t.

S o il

Lime tr e a tm e n t
R ate
Amount
lb s /a c

M ontcalm
sa n d y loam

0
1
2

N e s t e r sandy
c l a y loam

0
1
2

Houghton muck

0
1
2

16003
3200
_____

3800
5800

4000
10800

Molybdenum
2
4

0*

8

9 .6 2
1 1 .9
1 2 .8

1 0 .1
1 3 .0
1 3 .6

9 .3
1 2 .0
1 3 .0

9 .6
1 2 .5
1 2 .8

n .h .4
1 0 .0
1 1 .1

n .h .
9 .2
1 0 .3

n .h .
9 .9
1 0 .7

n .h .
9 .6
1 0 .2

3 0 .4
32 . 2
3 0 .5

3 1 .5
3 3 .3
3 0 .6

3 1 .2
3 3 .8
3 0 .2

3 0 .3
3 1 .5
2 9 .3

^ O unces o f sodium m olyb d ate p er a c r e
2 D r y -w e ig h t y i e l d i n grams p er p o t .
3 C alciu m h y d r o x id e .
4 N ot h a r v e ste d .
sta g e

A verage o f t h r e e r e p l i c a t i o n s

N e u t r a liz in g v a lu e 1 3 5 .1

P la n t s d id n o t d e v e lo p beyond th e p r im a r y - le a f

40-

Wo s i g n i f i c a n t ch a n g es i n y i e l d w ere o b ta in e d b y th e a d d it io n o f m olyb­
denum t o th e p la n t s grown in t h i s s o i l , r e g a r d le s s o f lim e tr e a tm e n t*
T o t a l d ry w e ig h t s o f c a u li f lo w e r from th e N e s t e r c l a y loam , w here
lim e d , w ere s l i g h t l y l e s s than th o s e from s i m i l a r l y t r e a t e d M ontcalm
s o i l , b u t y i e l d s from t h e muck w ere two and o n e - h a lf tim e s la r g e r th a n
w ere t h o s e from e i t h e r o f t h e m in e r a l s o i l s *

In a l l c a s e s , s ig n ific a n c e

w as d eterm in e d by u se o f Duncan’ s m u lt ip le range t a b l e s (2 6 )*
A s shown in F ig u r e 7 , t y p i c a l molybdenum d e f i c i e n c y symptoms w ere
e x h ib it e d by c a u li f lo w e r grown on th e M ontcalm s o i l t o w h ich n o lim e or
molybdenum was a p p lie d *

N e c r o t ic a r e a s app eared a t th e t i p s o f th e

seco n d and o th e r w e ll- d e v e lo p e d le a v e s o f th e young p l a n t s , l a t e r e x ­
t e n d in g tow ard t h e p e t i o l e s a lo n g th e l e a f m argins*

L eaves cupped up

a lo n g t h e m a r g in s , e x h ib it e d a p a le g reen or y e llo w c o l o r betw een th e
v e i n s , and became s l i g h t l y c r i n k l e d .
s p o ts *
tim e *

The c o ty le d o n s d e v e lo p e d n e c r o t i c

N e a r ly a l l o f th e d e f i c i e n c y symptoms had d isa p p e a r e d by h a r v e s t
The se c o n d a r y d e f i c i e n c y symptoms o f " w h ip ta il" w ere n e v e r e v i ­

d en ced by t h e s e p l a n t s , w h ich c o n ta in e d 0*41 ppm molybdenum a t h a r v e s t*
E vans (2 7 ) found t h a t a l f a l f a p la n t s c o n t a in in g l e s s th an 0 .5 ppm m olyb­
denum resp o n d ed t o a p p lic a t i o n s o f th e elem en t*

H ow ever, t h i s c r i t i c a l

v a lu e d o es n o t n e c e s s a r i l y h o ld t r u e f o r c a u lif lo w e r *
M o ly b d e n u m -d e fic ie n t c a u li f lo w e r p la n t s w ilt e d a t h ig h e r s o i l
m o is tu r e l e v e l s and r e c o v e r e d more s lo w ly than d id p la n t s w hich had
a p p a r e n t a d eq u a te amounts o f th e e le m e n t.

T h is p o s s i b l y was due t o a

r e d u c tio n in t o t a l r o o t a rea o f th e d e f i c i e n t p l a n t s , t o p h y s i o l o g i c a l
c h a n g e s , or to a co m b in a tio n o f t h e s e or o th e r f a c t o r s *

-4 1 -

F ig u re 7 .

M o ly b d e n u m - d e f i c i e n t c a u l i f l o w e r grown on a M ontcalm s a n d y
loam i n a g r e e n h o u s e s tu d y *

-42-

M o ly b d e n u m -d e fic ie n t c a u li f lo w e r o f t h e S n o w b a ll "M” v a r i e t y was
o b se r v e d i n A lle g a n c o u n ty in 1954 (F ig u r e 8 )*
and c r i n k l i n g w ere n o ted *

T y p ic a l l e a f cu p p in g

A d ja c e n t p la n t s w h ich had been sp ra y ed w ith

a sodium m olyb d ate s o lu t io n a t th e r a t e o f 8 ou n ces o f th e s a l t per
a c r e d id n o t e x h i b i t t h e s e symptoms*
I t w as e s s e n t i a l t o in c r e a s e t h e pH o f t h e v e r y a c id N e s t e r orch ard
s o i l b e fo r e grow th o f c a u li f lo w e r p a s t th e f i r s t - l e a f s t a g e was obtained*
*1
H ow ever, when s e e d li n g s from th e u n lim ed s o i l w ere t r a n s p la n t e d in t o a
g r e e n h o u se s o i l , t h e y resumed a p p a ren t norm al growth*

B ear and T o tlf ( 8 )

v

fou n d i n Hew J e r s e y t h a t s o i l t o w h ich h y d ra ted lim e had been a p p lie d
had i t s h ig h e s t pH im m e d ia te ly a f t e r a p p l i c a t i o n , w ith r a p id r e d u c t io n
th e f i r s t d a y and more g r a d u a l r e d u c tio n th ro u g h o u t a th r e e -w e e k p e r io d *
J o r g e n se n ( 3 5 ) a c h ie v e d maximum pH on a sandy loam s o i l w it h in one or
tw o

days f o ll o w i n g a p p lic a t i o n o f h y d ra ted lim e*
S o i l pH ch a n g es a r e shown in

n o t a t t a in e d *

F ig u r e 9*

The

t;>
d e s ir e d

pH l e v e l s w ere

Maximum pH v a lu e s w ere a t t a in e d m ost q u ic k ly i n th e sandy

loam , b u t a t th e end o f 88 days w ere h ig h e s t in th e muck*
F ig u r e 10 shows t h a t th e h ig h c o r r e la t io n o b serv ed betw een th e b a se
s a t u r a t io n p e r c e n ta g e and th e s o i l r e a c t io n o f in d iv i d u a l lim ed s o i l s i n
th e

f i e l d was a l s o e v id e n c e d w it h th e green h o u se

b a se s a t u r a t io n p e r c e n ta g e o f t h e

muck was th r e e

s o i l s . The i n i t i a l
t o e i g h t tim e s t h a t o f

e i t h e r o f th e m in e r a l s o i l s *
A lth o u g h grow th o f c a u li f lo w e r p la n t s in th e u n lim ed N e s t e r s o i l
was i n s u f f i c i e n t f o r c o l l e c t i o n o f p la n t sa m p le s, an in c r e a s e in th e
molybdenum c o n t e n t o f th e c a u li f lo w e r p la n t s w it h in c r e a s e d s o i l pH was
fou n d i n b o th th e Montcalm and Houghton s o i l s , a s shown in T ab le X and

-4 3 -

Figure

8,

Molybdenum-deficient c a u l if lo w e r in Allegan
inward cupping and c r in k l in g of l e a v e s .

County,

Michigan.

Note

M ontcalm san d y loam

7 .0

d e s ir e d pH 7 .5

6.0

d e s ir e d pH 6 .5

5 .0

n o lim e

pH

4 .5

H e s te r sandy c l a y loam

6.0
5 .0

4 .0

Houghton muck
7 .0

6.0
pH
5 .0
4 .5
20

40

60

80

Days a f t e r w e t t in g s o i l
F ig u r e 9 .

The e f f e c t o f c a lc iu m h y d ro x id e on s o i l r e a c t io n when
a p p lie d a t d i f f e r e n t r a t e s t o th r e e M ichigan s o i l s in
a g ree n h o u se e x p e r im e n t.

100

7.5

7 ,0

M ontcalm
sandy loam

6.0
Houghton
muck

5 .5

5 .0
N e s t e r sandy
c l a y loam

4 .5

4 .1
20

40

60

80

100

B ase s a t u r a t io n p e r c e n ta g e
F ig u r e 1 0 .

C o r r e la t io n betw een b a se s a t u r a t io n p e r c e n ta g e and s o i l
r e a c t io n o f t h r e e s o i l s from a g reen h o u se e x p e r im e n t.

-46-

120

T a b le X*

The e f f e c t o f lim e upon s o i l r e a c t io n and
molybdenum c o n t e n t o f c a u li f lo w e r l e a v e s .

S o il

Lime
r a te

Molybdenum
i n le a v e s

S o il
pH

ppm
M ontcalm
sa n d y loam

N e s t e r san d y
c l a y loam

H oughton muck

0

0 .4 1 1

4 .9 1

1

1 .1 1

5 .9

2

2 .1 2

6 .7

0

____ 2

4 .3

1

1 .4 1

5 .8

2

1 .9 9

6 .8

0

2 .0 2

5 .4

1

3 .9 4

6 .1

2

7 .3 2

7 .2

^ A verage o f th r e e r e p l i c a t i o n s
2 P la n t s d id n o t d e v e lo p beyond th e p r im a r y -le a f s t a g e

-47'

a n d Figure.- l l *

Moore ( 5 0 ) , E v a n s , j ^ t ^ l . ( 2 8 ) and o t h e r s h av e fo u n d

s im ila r re la tio n sh ip s*
A h i g h l y s i g n i f i c a n t c o r r e l a t i o n o f 0 . 9 3 2 , a s shown i n F i g u r e 1 2 ,
was a l s o fo u n d b e tw e e n pH and molybdenum i n t h e l e a v e s o f c o m grown i n
1955 i n V iashtenaw C o u n ty on t h e Ivlorley c l a y lo a m , r e g a r d l e s s o f t h e
lim in g m a t e r i a l .

The molybdenum c o n t e n t v a r i e d from 1 .0 8 ppm a t pH 5 . 9

t o 2 . 0 0 ppm a t pH 6 . 4 .
P o ssib ilitie s

o f e x c e s s m olybdenum.

An e x c e s s o f molybdenum in

h e r b a g e f o r l i v e s t o c k f e e d s h o u ld be a v o i d e d .

D a v ie s ( 2 0 ) recommends

a f i v e t o s i x y e a r p e r i o d b etw een molybdenum a p p l i c a t i o n s *

Xn t h e

g r e e n h o u s e , l i m i n g a l o n e d i d n o t r a i s e t h e molybdenum c o n t e n t o f t h e
c a u l i f l o w e r grown on t h e m i n e r a l s o i l s t o more t h a n 2 .1 2 ppm a s shown
i n T a b le X .

H o w ev er, on t h e muck w h ic h was lim ed t o pH 7 . 2 , molybdenum

c o n t e n t o f t h e c a u l i f l o w e r l e a v e s i n c r e a s e d t o 7 . 2 ppm.

F isk e ll, e t a l

( 2 9 ) fo u n d 11 ppm molybdenum i n c o r n grown on an E v e r g l a d e s p e a t .
A l t h o u g h l e s s t h a n t h e 10 ppm p r e v i o u s l y s u g g e s t e d a s a maximum f o r
f o r a g e p l a n t s , ad d e d molybdenum t o M ic h ig a n o r g a n i c s o i l s u n d e r su c h
c o n d i t i o n s m i g h t i n c r e a s e t h e molybdenum c o n t e n t o f t h e p l a n t s above t h e
danger l e v e l in s o f a r as liv e s to c k feed is concerned.

'H ow ever, l i m in g

t o h i g h pH v a l u e s on muck d e c r e a s e d y i e l d , so t h i s p r a c t i c e o r d i n a r i l y
w o u ld n o t be f o l l o w e d .

An i n c r e a s e from 2 . 4 t o 6 . 2 0 ppm i n m a tu r e o a t s

grown i n Ogemaw C o u n ty on t h e lim e d N e s t e r s o i l r e s u l t e d from s p r a y i n g
t h e young p l a n t s w i t h a molybdenum s o l u t i o n .

G e n e ra lly , sp ra y in g

d o u b l e d t h e molybdenum c o n t e n t o f t h e o a t p l a n t s .

F i s k e l l , e t £ l (29)

r e p o r t e d s i m i l a r e f f e c t s i n c o r n grown on a N o r f o l k loamy f i n e s a n d t o
w h ic h h a d b e e n ad d e d f o u r o u nces p e r a c r e o f sodium m o l y b d a t e .

-4 8 -

7.C
I.i onto aim s a n d y loam

Hough con muck

5.5

0

4.0

.0

G.O

8.0

kolybde nu m —— ppm

F i g u r e 11 .

C o r r e l a t i o n Ietvre en molybdenum c o n t e n t o f c a u l i f l c v v s r l e a v e s
and s o i l pH in a ;-reen ho u se e:-: e r i m e n t .

-49-

1 -1

o

o

ft

00
LO
"between
a limed

the molybdenum content
korley clay loam*

of

the

sixth

leaf

o

C o r r e la ti o n
reaction of

CO

12,

of

com

end

CO

Figure

the

soil

nO

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

F i e l d . a n d g r e e n h o u s e s t u d i e s w ere c o n d u c t e d d u r i n g t h e p e r i o d o f
1954 t o 1957#

The e f f e c t s o f lim e an d molybdenum a p p l i c a t i o n s upon t h e

s o i l r e a c t i o n a n d b a s e s a t u r a t i o n p e r c e n t a g e an d upon t h e y i e l d s o f
s e v e r a l c r o p s grown on d i f f e r e n t M ic h ig a n s o i l s w e re d e t e r m i n e d .

T h ese

i n c l u d e d o a t s a n d a l f a l f a - g r a s s h a y fro m a N e s t e r s an d y c l a y lo a m , c o m
f r o m a M o r le y c l a y lo a m , f i e l d b e a n s , w h e a t and r e d c l o v e r fro m a
M o ntcalm s a n d y lo a m , a n d c a u l i f l o w e r from a N e s t e r s a n d y d a y loam
o r c h a r d . s o i l , a M ontcalm s a n d y loam and a H oughton muck*
A c e t y l e n e b y - p r o d u c t lim e i n c r e a s e d b o t h t h e s o i l pH an d t h e b a s e
s a t u r a t i o n p e r c e n t a g e f a s t e r an d t o h i g h e r v a l u e s t h a n d i d t h e o t h e r
l i m i n g m a t e r i a l s w h ic h w ere i n v e s t i g a t e d *
S i m i l a r l y , c a l c i t i c m eal was t h e m o st e f f e c t i v e when a p p l i e d t o a
N e s t e r s a n d y c l a y loam an d a M ontcalm s a n d y lo a m , w h e r e a s d o l o m i t i c m eal
w as t h e m o st e f f e c t i v e on a M o rle y c l a y loam*
more e f f e c t i v e t h a n d o l o m i t i c m eal*

P u l v e r i z e d d o l o m i t e w as

W a te r- q u e n c h e d b l a s t f u r n a c e s l a g

w as t h e l e a s t e f f e c t i v e fo rm o f l i m i n g m a t e r i a l #
A h i g h d e g r e e o f c o r r e l a t i o n was fo u n d b e tw ee n t h e s o i l r e a c t i o n
an d t h e b a s e s a t u r a t i o n p e r c e n t a g e w i t h i n e a c h lim e d s o i l , r e g a r d l e s s
o f t h e l i m i n g m a t e r i a l and t h e r a t e s o f a p p l i c a t i o n *
No s i g n i f i c a n t i n c r e a s e s o c c u r r e d i n t h e y i e l d s o f c r o p s grown on
t h e lim e d s o i l s w h ic h had an i n i t i a l pH n e a r 6*0 o r above*
A h i g h d e g r e e o f c o r r e l a t i o n was fo u n d b e tw ee n t h e molybdenum c o n ­
t e n t o f p l a n t s and t h e s o i l r e a c t i o n , e x p r e s s e d i n some c a s e s a s t h e pH

-5L

a n d i n o t h e r s sis t h e l o g o f t h e h y d r o g e n i o n c o n c e n t r a t i o n «
Y i e l d s o f c a u l i f l o w e r an d o f r e d c l o v e r w ere s i g n i f i c a n t l y i n ­
c r e a s e d b y s o i l a p p l i c a t i o n s o f lim e t o a M ontcalm s a n d y lo a m .
Y i e l d s o f t h e p l a n t s grown on a M ontcalm s a n d y loam w ere i n c r e a s e d
s i g n i f i c a n t l y b y r e s i d u a l an d d i r e c t s p r a y a p p l i c a t i o n s o f m olybdenum.
M o l y b d e n u m - d e f i c i e n c y symptoms o b s e r v e d on c a u l i f l o w e r grown i n A l l e g a n
C o u n ty d i d n o t a p p e a r on p l a n t s w h ic h w e re s p r a y e d w i t h molybdenum.
A l t h o u g h t h e y i e l d s o f c a u l i f l o w e r and o f r e d c l o v e r w ere i n c r e a s e d
more b y lim e a l o n e t h e n b y molybdenum a l o n e on t h e M ontcalm s a n d y lo a m ,
t h e h i g h e s t y i e l d s w e re o b t a i n e d by t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f molybdenum p l u s
low r a t e s

o f l i m e , i r r e s p e c t i v e o f t h e lim e s o u r c e .

Y i e l d s ivere n o t

f u r t h e r i n c r e a s e d b y h i g h e r r a t e s o f lim e p l u s molybdenum.
The molybdenum c o n t e n t o f c a u l i f l o w e r , c o m a n d o a t s i n c r e a s e d w i t h
an i n c r e a s e i n s o i l pH*

Molybdenum t r e a t m e n t d o u b le d t h e molybdenum

co n ten t of oat p la n ts .
A d d i t i o n a l r e s e a r c h on t h e molybdenum s t a t u s o f c r o p s and s o i l s
i n M ic h ig a n i s n e e d e d t o f u r t h e r e x p l o r e t h e m o ly b d e n u m -s u p p ly in g
c a p a b i l i t i e s o f t h e s e s o i l s and o f c r o p v a r i e t i e s w h ic h a r e l e s s s u s ­
c e p t i b l e t o molybdenum d e f i c i e n c y when grown on t h e s e s o i l s #

-5 3 -

LITERATURE CITED

1*

A l b r e c h t , W. A , P l a n t n u t r i t i o n and t h e h y d ro g e n io n * V*
R e l a t i v e e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f c o a r s e l y g ro u n d and f i n e l y p u l ­
v e r i z e d li m e s t o n e * S o i l S c i* 6 1 :2 6 5 - 2 7 1 , 1946*

2•

A n d e r s o n , A . J . Molybdenum d e f i c i e n c y on a S o u th A u s t r a l i a n
i r o n s t o n e s o i l . J o u r . A u s t. I n s t . A g r. S c i . 8 :7 3 -7 5 , 1942.
______ * Molybdenum d e f i c i e n c i e s i n legum es i n A u s t r a l i a .
” § o i T S c i . 8 1 : 1 7 3 - 1 8 2 , 19 5 6 .

4.

A r n o n , D. I . an d P . R. S t o u t . Molybdenum as an e s s e n t i a l e l e m e n t
f o r h i g h e r p l a n t s . P l a n t P h y s i o l . 1 4 :5 9 9 - 6 0 1 , 1939*

5.

A r n o n , D. I . an d C. M. J o h n s o n . I n f l u e n c e o f h y d r o g e n - i o n c o n c e n ­
t r a t i o n on g ro w th o f h i g h e r p l a n t s u n d e r c o n t r o l l e d c o n d i t i o n s .
P l a n t P h y s i o l . 1 7 : 5 2 5 - 5 3 9 , 19 4 2 .

6.

A s s o c i a ti o n O f f i c i a l A g r i c u l t u r a l C h em ists.
Ed.
’W a s h in g to n , D« C . , 1 9 5 0 .

7.

B e e c h e r , R . L . , D. Longneclcer and F . G. M e r k l e . I n f l u e n c e p f f o rm ,
f i n e n e s s , an d am ount o f l i m e s t o n e on p l a n t d e v e lo p m e n t a n d c e r t a i n
s o i l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s . S o i l S c i . 7 3 : 7 5 - 8 2 , 1 95 2.

8.

B e a r , F , E . and S . J . T o t h . The. pH v a l u e s o f li m e r e q u i r e m e n t s o f
20 Lew J e r s e y s o i l s . N . J . A g r . B x p t . S t a . C i r c . 4 4 6 . 15 p p . ,
1942.

9.

B enne, E . J . a n d D o r i s M. J e r r i m . R e p o r t on molybdenum i n p l a n t s .
J o u r . A s s o c . O f f i c i a l A g r . C h e m is ts 3 9 :4 1 2 - 4 1 9 , 1956.

10.

• R e p o r t on molybdenum i n p l a n t s .
A g r . C h e m is ts 4 0 : 3 7 0 - 3 7 3 , 1957 .

M ethods o f A n a l y s i s .

J o u r. A ssoc. O f f ic ia l

11.

B ergm an, E . L . and A . L . K e n w o rth y . Molybdenum d e f i c i e n c y and
n i t i \ ? . t e t o x i c i t y on C o n co rd g r a p e s . M ic h . A g r . E x p t . S t a . Q u a r t .
B u i . 3 8 :5 2 4 - 5 2 7 , 1 9 5 6 .

12.

B l a c k , C. A . and C . A . I . G o r i n g . O rg a n ic p h o s p h o r u s i n s o i l s . I n
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4 :1 2 3 -1 5 2 , 1953.

13.

B o r t e l s , H . Molybdenum a.s a c a t a l y z e r i n b i o l o g i c a l n i t r o g e n f i x a t i o n . A r c h , lv i ik r o b io l . l : 3 o o —3 4 2 , 19oC.

-5 3 -

14 •

B o u y o u c o s , G. J . D i r e c t i o n s f o r making m e c h a n i c a l a n a l y s e s o f
s o i l s by t h e h y d r o m e t e r m e th o d . S o i l S c i . S o c . Amer. 4 2 : 2 2 5 - 2 2 9 ,
1936.

15 •

B r a d f i e l d , R . and
H. A l l i s o n . C r i t e r i a o f base s a t u r a t i o n in
so ils.
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B r a y , R . H . , and E . E . D eT u rk . F i e l d m ethod f o r lim e r e q u i r e m e n t
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C l a y t o n , E . E . I n v e s t i g a t i o n s o f c a u l i f l o w e r d i s e a s e s on Long
I s l a n d . N . Y. S t a t e A g r . E x p t . S t a . Bui* 5 0 6 . 1 5 p p . w i t h p l a t e s ,
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IS .

C o o k , R . L* D i v e r g e n t i n f l u e n c e o f d e g r e e o f b a s e s a t u r a t i o n o f
s o i l s on th o a v a i l a b i l i t y o f n a t i v e , s o l u b l e , and r o c k p h o s p h a t e s .
J o u r . A m er. S o c . A g ro n . 2 7 :2 9 7 - 3 1 1 , 1935.

19.

D a v i e s , E . B . A c a s e o f molybdenum d e f i c i e n c y i n New Z e a l a n d .
N a t u r e 1 5 6 :3 9 2 , 1 9 4 5 .

20

.

•

I n t r o d u c t i o n t o symposium on molybdenum.

New Z e a la n d

~ Z b T T News No. 3 , 19 5 3 .

21

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D e a n , H . L . Some b a c t e r i o l o g i c a l and c h e m ic a l e f f e c t s o f c a l c i u m
a n d m agnesium l i m e s t o n e s on c e r t a i n a c i d Iow a s o i l s . Iow a S t a t e
C o l . J o u r . S c i . 1 0 : 6 9 - 7 1 , 19 35.

22

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• E f f e c t s o f l i m i n g on th e l i b e r a t i o n o f p o ta s s iu m i n
"some Iowa s o i l s . Iowa. A g r . E x p t . S t a . R e s . B u i. 197, 1936.

23.

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D ic k , A , T . , and J . B. Bing l e y .
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p l a n t and i n a n i m a l t i s s u e . A u s t . J o u r . E x p t . B i o l . Med. S c i . 25:
1 93-202, 1947.
• F u r t h e r o b s e r v a t i o n s on th e d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f m o ly b d e n u m T n ~ p l a n t a n d a n i m a l t i s s u e . A u s t . J o u r . E x p . B i o l . Med.
S c i . 2 9 :4 5 9 , 1951.

25.

D i c k , A . T.
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S o i l S c i . 8 1 :2 2 9 ,

26.

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27.

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The im p o r ta n c e of molybdenum i n f e r t i l i z e r s .
C h e m ic a ls 5 ( 8 ) : 3 1 - 3 2 , 7 2 - 7 5 , 1 9 5 0 .

M u l t i p l e r a n g e and m u l t i p l e F t e s t s .

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B i o m e t r i c s 2:

A gr.

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Ei^ans, B« J * , E* R* P u r v i s a n d F* E . B ear* E f f e c t o f s o i l r e a c t i o n
on a v a i l a b i l i t y o f molybdenum* S o i l S c i* 7 1 : 1 1 7 - 1 2 4 , 1951*

29*

F i s k e l l , J . G. A *, L* G. Thompson, J r * , H* Wins o r and T. L* Yuan*
R e l a t i v e a v a i l a b i l i t y t o c o r n o f n u t r i e n t e l e m e n t s a s a f f e c t e d by
m in o r e l e m e n t s o u r c e s a p p l i o d t o E v e r g l a d e s p e a t an d R o r f o l k
loam y f i n e s an d * A gron* J o u r * 4 9 : 3 0 0 - 3 0 6 , 1957*

30*

F l o y d , B* F , L e a f s p o t t i n g o f c i t r u s *
Ann* R e p o r t 9 1 , 1908*

31*

Gammon, N . , J r . , G. M* V o lk , E* N* McCubbin a n d A* H* E d d in s* S o i l
f a c t o r s a f f e c t i n g molybdenum u p t a k e by c a u l i f l o w e r * S o i l S c i* Soc*
Amer* P ro c * 1 8 : 3 0 2 - 3 0 5 , 1954*

32*

H e w i t t , E* J * Symptoms o f molybdenum d e f i c i e n c i e s i n p l a n t s *
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33*

H o y e r t , J* H* and J* K* A x ley* I n f l u e n c e o f
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35*

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lim e on r e a c t i o n , r e s i d u a l c a r b o n a t e s and e x c h a n g e a b le c a l c i u m ,
m agnesium an d p o t a s s i u m
i n an o r g a n i c and a m i n e r a l s o i l * Un­
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36.

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37*

Lipm an, J* G . , A . W. B l a i r , H* C* McLean and A. L . P r i n c e , a
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5-year ro ta tio n s*
S o i l S c i* 1 5 :3 0 7 -3 2 8 * 1923*

38.

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s o i l p h o s p h a te and p h o s p h a te f e r t i l i z e r s i n A r iz o n a s o i l s . A r i z .
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The l i m i n g problem *

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F l o r i d a Agr* Expt* S ta *

S o il

l i m in g m a t e r i a l s on
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I n t * Soc* S o i l S c i*

I:

S o i l S c i . 39:

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43*

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65*

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