UPTAKE OF CALCIUM AND MAGNESIUM BY BUCKWHEAT FROM LIMESTONE

Abstract Liming is a most fundamental agricultural practice for acid soils. Calcium and magnesium are necessary elements for plant growth. Strong acid soils, in addition to possible magnesium and/or calcium deficiency, may supply toxic amounts of trace elements to the plant. Soil testing has become an important factor for it indicates the need of lime and fertilizers. With advances in soil chemistry, many testing methods have been suggested and are being used. Advances have been made in the measurement of soil acidity, for instance, the “lime potential” theory of Schofield and Taylor (1,2) may provide basic information on that problem. In recent years there have been radical changes in the concept of exchangeable aluminum associated with the problem of soil acidity (3,5,5).