| dc.description.abstract | Acid soils cause soil fertility problems such as Al and Mn toxicity, Ca, Mg, N deficiency and P fixation. These are
constraints to high crop yields. Historically, liming is the common management practice used to neutralize soil acidity and to
overcome the problems associated with soil acidification. A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of
cropping systems, lime placement methods and lime rates on some soil chemical properties and nutrient uptake by sugarcane
during the plant crop and ratoon one cycle under acidified Cambisols of Kibos, Kisumu, Kenya. A Split - split plot in
randomized complete block arrangement was employed. The factors and respective levels (in parenthesis were): main plot; two
cropping systems (sugarcane monoculture [MC] and intercropped sugarcane and soybeans [IC]). The sub – plots were three
lime placement methods (lime broadcasted [L-BC], lime shallow banded, 0 – 15 cm [L-SB] and lime deep banded, 15 – 30 cm
(L-DB] and the sub - sub plots were three lime rates (0, 1 and 2 t ha-1). Lime rate of 2 t ha-1 significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased
soil pH to 6.4 and 5.2 as determined in water and 1 N KCl, respectively compared to 1 t ha-1 and control (0 t ha-1). Increased
lime rate led to decreased levels of manganese, iron, and copper hence confirms the inverse relationship between soil pH and
these micronutrients. Lime deep banded (L-DB) increased soil pH and available phosphorus for soil depth 15 – 30 cm
compared to lime shallow banded (L-SB) and lime broadcasted (L-BC). Intercropped sugarcane and soybeans (IC) led to
increased soil acidity and soil organic carbon (SOC) than did sugarcane monoculture (MC). For nutrient content of sugarcane
leaves, IC system led to increased Ca and Mn compared to MC. Lime broadcasted (L-BC) caused high nitrogen and
phosphorus content of sugarcane leaves and lime shallow banded resulted in increased Ca and Zn content of sugarcane to
optimum levels. In view of the findings, the lime rate of 2 t ha-1 is recommended for use to ameliorate soil acidity for acidified
Cambisols of Kibos, Kisumu County, Kenya. Lime broadcasted (L-BC) is preferred to ameliorate acidity at top depth (0 – 15
cm) while lime banded both (L-SB) and L-DB) is preferred to reduce sub - soil acidity. | en_US |
