Plant and soil composition as affected by an alternative lime source containing sulfate

Reduced crude conversion spent lime (RCCSL) containing mostly CaO, CaSO₄, and MgO, was evaluated as an alternative lime source in greenhouse studies with tobacco and corn. Equivalent amounts (CaCO₃ basis) of RCCSL, reagent-grade Ca(OH)₂, and agricultural-grade dolomitic limestone were applied at different rates to an acid Maury silt loam (Typic Paleudalf). The RCCSL and Ca(OH)₂ were equivalent in raising the soil pH and reducing active Al³⁺, H⁺, and Mn ²⁺. Agricultural line was less effective. The overliming response could not be ascribed to impaired P, Mg or Zn nutrition in either species and was speculatively attributed to Al toxicity at near-neutral pH. -from Authors