Gypsum incubation tests to evaluate its potential effects on acidic soils of Colombia

• DOI: 10.15446/rfnam.v73n3.85259
• Publication Date: 2020-09-03T20:54:37Z
• Authors: Jorge Enrique Cue...; Nelson Walter Osorio
• Keywords: Saturation (graph theory)

Tropical soils are characterized by acidity and poor plant nutrient availability, limiting their agricultural productivity. These commonly amended with lime, but its low solubility impairs effectiveness to enhance soil fertility. The use of gypsum has gained attention among farmers due higher mobility in the soil, local accessibility, price. Therefore, this study was conducted determine effects Agricultural Gypsum (AG) addition on ten Colombian acid that had fertility contrasting physical chemical characteristics. Surface (0-20 cm) samples were air-dried, sieved (<2 mm), transferred into plastic vases, 40 g (dry base) per vase. Increasing rates added duplicate: 0.0, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, 8.0, 16.0 kg-1. Then, incubated for two weeks watered maintain 50% maximum water holding capacity. Soil pH, Al+3, Ca+2, Mg+2, K+, S-SO4-2, P-H2PO4-2 measured using standard methods. results showed AG significantly (P<0.05) increased exchangeable Ca+2-K+, Ca+2 saturation, S-SO4-2 concentration, particularly doses above 4.0 In contrast, Al+3 pH decreased as increased, while Mg+2 levels not affected. incubation tests could be promissory amelioration associated mainly increase Ca2+ S-SO 42- decrease Al3+ saturation.