Summary
Observations from a soil management trial conducted on a previously grassed down orchard showed that after 3 years the pH of the surface soil (0–10 cm) whether measured in distilled water or 1N KCl was significantly lowered in herbicided and cultivated treatments in comparison with plots under continued grass sod. The drop in pH was accompanied by a decrease in base saturation and a consequent increase in exchange acidity. This was attributed to the leaching of Ca and also Mg from the surface soil of the non-grassed plots.
In a subsequent laboratory leaching study, cubic soil blocks (16 cm3) were leached with distilled water at two weekly intervals for 24 weeks. It was found that over the experimental period, the cumulative quantity of cations leached (in milli-equivalents) per soil block from the herbicided and cultivated treatments was approximately 3.5 times that leached from the grassed treatment.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Atkinson, D. 1974 Soil management effects on root growth and activity. Rep. E. Malling Res. Stn.1973, 71–72.
Atkinson, D. 1975 Soil management effects on root growth and activity. Rep. E. Malling Res. Stn.1974, 54–55.
Atkinson, D. 1977 Some observations on the root growth of young apple trees and their uptake of nutrients when grown in herbicided strips in grassed orchards. Plant and Soil49, 459–471.
Atkinson, D. and White, G. C. 1976 Soil management with herbicided — The response of soils and plants. Proc. British Crop Prot. Conf.1976, 873–883.
Bache, B. W. 1976 The measurement of cation exchange capacity of soils. J. Sci. Food Agric.27, 273–280.
Banwell, M. G. 1972 The role of herbicides in modern fruit management. Proc. 11th Br. Weed Cont. Conf., pp. 1002–1011.
Blakemore, L. C., Searle, P. L. and Daly, B. K. 1972 A. Methods for chemical analysis of soils. N.Z. Soil Bur. Sci. Rep.10A. New Zealand Soil Bureau, Wellington.
Bolt, G. H., Bruggenwert, M. G. M. and Kamphorst, A. 1976 Adsorption of cations by soil.In Soil Chemistry A. Basic Elements, pp. 54–95. Eds. G. H. Bolt and M. G. M. Bruggenwert, Elsevier, Amsterdam.
Bulfin, M. and Gleeson, T. 1967 A study of surface soil conditions under a non-cultivation management system. I. Physical and chemical properties. Irish J. Agric. Res.6, 177–188.
Cockroft, B. and Wallbrink, J. C. 1966 Root distribution of orchard trees. Aust. J. Agric. Res.17, 49–54.
Coker E. G. 1959 Root development in apple trees in grass and clean cultivation. J. Hortic. Sci.34, 111–121.
Frink, G. R. and Voight G. K. 1977 Potential effects of acid precipitation on soils in the humid temperate zone. Water, Air Soil Pollut.7, 371–388.
Haynes, R. J. and Goh, K. M. 1978 Ammonium and nitrate nutrition of plants. Biol. Rev.53, 465–510.
Lathwell, D. J and Peech M. 1964, Interpretation of Chemical Soil Tests. Cornell Univ. Agr. Exp. St. Bull. No.995, Cornell Univ., Ithaca, N.Y.
Leger, R. G. and Millette, G. J. F. 1977 Properties of four Quebec soils after incubation with five species of earthworms. Can. J. Soil Sci.,57, 165–172.
Lovelidge, B. 1975 Better tree growth, higher yields and larger fruit in grass-free orchards. The Grower83, 412.
Low, A. J. and Armitage, E. R. 1970 The composition of leachate through cropped and uncropped lysimeters compared with that of the rain. Plant and Soil33, 393–411.
McFee, W. W., Kelly, J. M. and Beck, R. H. 1977 Acid precipitation effects on soil pH and base saturation of exchange sites. Water, Air Soil Pollut.7, 401–408.
Oden, S. 1976 The acidity problem — an outline of concepts. Water, Air Soil Pollut.6, 137–166.
Raeside, J. and Rennie, W. F. 1974 Soils of Christchurch region New Zealand: the soil factor in regional planning. N.Z. Soil Survey Report, pp 74, New Zealand Soil Bureau, Wellington.
Seatz, L. F. and Peterson, H. B. 1964 Acid, alkaline, saline and sodic soils. In Chemistry of the Soil, pp. 292–319. Ed. F. E. Bear, Reinhold Publishing Corp., New York.
Wiklander, L. 1973/74 The acidification of soil by acid precipitation. Grundforbattring26, 155–164.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Haynes, R.J., Goh, K.M. Some observations on surface soil pH, base saturation and leaching of cations under three contrasting orchard soil management practices. Plant Soil 56, 429–438 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02143036
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02143036