COMPARATIVE STUDY OF AGRICULTURAL LIME AND DOLOMITE EFFECT ON ACID SOILS AND YIELD COMPONENTS OF POTATO (Solanum tuberosum .L) IN ENOR WOREDA, CENTRAL ETHIOPIA

Abstract

The problem of soil acidity threatens food production in many areas of Ethiopia, especially the highlands of the country. The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of lime type and rates of agricultural lime and dolomite on acid soil properties and potato production. The field experiment was carried out followed a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications. The factor for blocking was difference in slop. The treatments comprised of two lime sources (agricultural lime and Dolomite) applied at four levels (0 t ha -1, 2.175 t ha -1, 2.9 t ha -1and 3.625 t ha -1 CaCO3 equivalent). This finding showed that statistically significant differences were scored among the lime rates in the case of pH, Ex.Ca, CEC andExch.Acidity. The soil pH was highly influenced by the application of different lime rates. It was successively increased as the rate of lime applied increased. The highest increment was scored at lime rate 3.625 t ha -1of both lime types by 1.73 and 1.75 units respectively increased as compared with the control and followed by rate 2.9 t ha -1. The soil Exch .acidity was significantly reduced from one level to another successively as the dose of lime applied was increased. The highest reduction of Each .Acidity was scored at lime rate 3.625 t ha -1of both lime types by reducing 1.647 meq/100 g soils and followed by lime rate 2.9 t/ha. At lime rate 3.625 t/ha CEC was high for both lime types and followed by lime rate 2.175 t ha -1. The soil Ex.Mg was influenced by both lime type and rate with a significant interaction effectand the highest Ex.Mg scored at Dolomite rate 3.625 t ha -1by 8.44 meq/100g soil, followed by Dolomite rate 2.9 t ha -1 by 6.49 meq/100g soil. Plant parameters like number of tillers, marketable yield and total tuber yield are influenced by both lime type and lime rate.Agricultural lime scored a significance increment over dolomite with the interaction effect was observed on number of tillers and marketable yield. The highest values was scored at agricultural lime rate 2.175 t ha -1 by 11.75 tillers, 34.41 t ha -1 marketable yield and 42.67 t ha -1 total tuber yield. As the data showed application of agricultural lime at a minimum dose had significantly promoted growth and yield of potato, thereby economically efficient for potato producers in Enor Woreda. Further study is needed to analyze efficiency of other lime types including locally available liming materials, the effects of lime with fertilizer and without fertilizer, the effects of liming materials at different sites.