INFLUENCE OF LIMING ON FERTILIZER-INDUCED SOIL ACIDITY AND NUTRIENT UPTAKE BY MAIZE (ZEA MAYS L.) IN ALFISOLS

Continuous use of acid-forming fertilizers leads to soil acidification, which adversely affects nutrient availability and uptake by crops. Liming is an effective soil management practice for neutralizing fertilizer-induced acidity and improving the availability of essential nutrients in acidic soils, particularly Alfisols under intensive maize cultivation. A field experiment was conducted during the Kharif season of 2021-22 at the College of Agriculture, V.C. Farm, Mandya, to evaluate the effect of lime and granulated dolomite on nutrient content and uptake of maize (Zea mays L.) grown on Alfisols. Treatments included neutralization of 100% and 50% of fertilizer acidity using lime and granulated dolomite, standard checks of lime (500 kg ha- ¹) and granulated dolomite (250 kg ha- ¹), recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF), and an absolute control. Farmyard manure (FYM) was applied along with RDF in relevant treatments. Neutralization of 100% fertilizer acidity using lime along with FYM and RDF recorded significantly higher nitrogen (1.50 and 1.45%), phosphorus (0.29 and 0.26%), and potassium (1.15 and 1.32%) contents in kernel and stover, respectively. Application of lime at 500 kg ha- ¹ along with FYM and RDF resulted in significantly higher calcium content in kernel (0.89%) and stover (0.94%), while 100% neutralization with granulated dolomite recorded the highest magnesium content in kernel (0.58%) and stover (0.69%). Nutrient uptake of maize was significantly higher under liming treatments compared to RDF alone, whereas the lowest uptake was observed in the absolute control. The correlation results indicated that higher nutrient availability and uptake under liming treatments were strongly and positively associated with improved maize yield.