Effect of liming on upland rice, common bean, corn, and soybean productionin cerrado soil

Liming is one of the most efficient cultural practice to improve crop yield s in acid soils, but there are a few data about timing in rotation system o f annual crops. A field experiment was conducted for four consecutive years with the objective to determine adequate level of lime for upland rice (Or yza sativa L.), common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), corn (Zea mays L.), an d soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) grown in rotation on a Dark-Red Latosol. Treatments arranged in a complete block design, with three replications, w ere the following lime rates: 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 ton ha(-1). Grain yie lds of common bean, corn, and soybean were significantly increased with tim ing. However, upland rice yield was not affected. The 90% maximum yield con sidered as economic level was obtained with the application of 5, 8 and 9 t on ha(-1) lime on common bean, corn and soybean respectively. Soil pH, exch angeable Ca and Mg, Ca/K and Ca/Mg ratio, Ca saturation and Mg saturation i ncreased significantly with lime aplication at 0-20 and 20-40 cm soil depth .