Mitigating phosphorus leaching from a clay loam through structure liming

Phosphorus (P) losses from clay soils can be mitigated by introducing measures for improving soil structure. These include structure liming, where a mixture of CaO or Ca(OH)2 and CaCO3 is added to the soil. In field experiment with separately tile-drained plots on loam in Sweden, we examined effects liming leaching total-P, phosphate P (PO4-P) total nitrogen (N) during three years after initial application. The treatments included two application rates (8 16 t ha−1) common product comparison control (no lime). Effects emerged second third year application, 45 38% lower total-P than unlimed control. A significant effect rate was found year. Nitrogen crop yield were not affected. As expected, pH raised following lime addition. Measurements aggregate stability did confirm reduction leaching, indicating that it important measure concentrations drainage water directly when assessing liming.