The effect on yield as well as on chemical and physical soil conditions of
elevated applications over several years of carbonation lime (0, 75, 150, 3
00 t/ha) was investigated in soils of high pH value. Neither yields nor con
tents of the most important macro- and micronutrients were affected by the
rising quantities of carbonation lime. The pH of the topsoil was raised sli
ghtly only in the case of a natural lime content of less than 0.5%. The lev
els of phosphorus and exchangeable magnesium in the soil increased. With ap
plications of carbonation lime exceeding 150 t/ha, the amounts of iron and
manganese available to plants declined. Levels of copper, zinc and boron re
mained unchanged. Application of carbonation lime improved hy draulic condu
ctivity and penetrability, and there was greater root development. At the c
onventional level of carbonation lime application of about 10 t/ha per crop
rotation, no detrimental effect on plant growth or harvested product quali
ty is to be expected even in soils of high lime content.