AMELIORATION OF SUBSURFACE ACIDITY IN SANDY SOILS IN LOW RAINFALL REGIONS .1. RESPONSES OF WHEAT AND LUPINS TO SURFACE-APPLIED GYPSUM AND LIME

Amelioration of subsoil acidity using gypsum (CaSO4.2H(2)O) or lime (C aCO3) was studied on sandy textured soils with low water holding capac ity in a low rainfall environment. Field trials were established in 19 89 at two sites on yellow sandplain soils to investigate whether diffe rent rates, sources and combinations of gypsum and lime application co uld be used to increase wheat and lupin yields. Gypsum increased wheat yields by up to 45% in the first two growing seasons whereas lime inc reased wheat yields by up to only 15% in the second season. The highes t yields were generally recorded when gypsum and lime were applied tog ether. The response of wheat to the various treatments varied both reg ionally and temporally and it is suggested that the inherent soil solu tion composition affected the magnitude and rapidity of wheat response s to gypsum. The rate of gypsum application affected the longevity of the wheat responses, with a low application rate (1 t ha(-1)) increasi ng yields for only one season. No differences in wheat yields were rec orded between different sources of gypsum or application rates higher than 3 t ha(-1). In contrast to wheat, lupin yields were substantially lower on gypsum-treated plots. The yield decline did not appear to be related to any simple nutritional factor and the gypsum effect was ge nerally minimized when lime was added with the gypsum. The results ind icated that lower rates of gypsum than used in previous subsoil amelio ration studies were suitable for increasing wheat yields on sandy soil s in low rainfall environments, and that gypsum should not be used if lupins are to be grown within at least 2 years of its application to t he soil surface.