Maize response to dolomitic limestone and potassium in La Frailesca, Chiapas (Mexico)

IPNI-2015-MEX-61

29 Apr 2016

2015 Annual Interpretive Summary


This project is a continuation of IPNI-2014-MEX-57. For this study, two application rates of dolomitic limestone (0 and those calculated on the basis of percent of exchangeable Al (Al-exch)), and three K2O application rates (0, 90 and 180 kg/ha) were applied in four locations to soils that had average pH 4.7, 0.2 cmol K/kg, 1.3 cmol Ca/kg, 0.5 cmol Mg/kg, and 42% Al-exch in the surface 15 cm, and pH 5.2, 0.2 cmol K/kg, 3.2 cmol Ca/kg, 0.8 cmol Mg/kg, and 17% Al-exch in the 15 to 30 cm layer.

Maize grain yield responded significantly to liming in one location where it reached 4,350 kg/ha with 1.28 t lime/ha and only 3,850 kg/ha in the untreated check. Significant effects from K were detected only in one location: 2,420, 3,350 and 3,890 kg/ha, for 0, 90 and 180 kg K2O/ha treatments. The severe drought that affected the region most likely limited the potential for greater responses to the treatments under study.