Managing soil acidity vs. soil Ca:Mg ratio: What is more important for crop productivity?

Soil balancing (SB), or base cation saturation ratio (BCSR), is a soil management approach that strives to maintain specific calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) levels improve health, decrease pest problems, have better crops, increase crop yield. To achieve ideal of Ca Mg, BCSR practitioners apply gypsum (calcium sulfate) high-calcium lime (Hi-Cal lime) amendments, with the former increasing later both pH. We hypothesized positive benefits ascribed by are due pH, rather than levels, which occur after application. Thus, we conducted successive applications epsom (magnesium without Hi-Cal dolomitic lime, either lower Ca:Mg pH in an Ohio-based experiment over 6 yr evaluated yield responses corn (Zea mays L.)–soybean (Glycine max L.)–small grain rotation. Repeated significantly increased repeated decreased ratio. Crop was not affected for any year. However, study, yields were positively related increases conclude Mg did impact soybean but managing acidity remains fundamental tool yields.