Abstract:
The interactive effects of lime and phosphorus on maize growth in an acid soil were investigated in a greenhouse experiment. A
completely randomized design with 12 treatments consisting of four lime levels, 0, 2, 10, and 20 t ha−1, in a factorial combinationwith
three phosphorus rates, 0, 30, and 100 kg ha−1, was used.Maize was grown in pots for six weeks and its heights and dry matter yield
were determined and soils were analyzed for available P and exchangeable acidity. Liming significantly reduced the exchangeable
acidity in the soils. The effect of lime on available P was not significant but available P increased with increasing P rates. There
was a significant effect of lime, P, and P by lime interactions on plant heights and dry matter.Without lime application, dry matter
increased with increasing P rates but, with lime, dry mattes increased from 0 to 30 kg P ha−1 but declined from 30 to 100kgPha−1.
The highest dry matter yield (13.8 g pot−1) was obtained with a combined 2 t ha−1 of lime with 30 kg P ha−1 suggesting that lime
application at low rates combined with moderate amounts of P would be appropriate in this soil
