Changes in chemical characteristics of the soil profile by surface lime application in no-tillage system

Surface lime application is becoming an usual practice for soil acidity correction in the established no-tillage system in Southern Brazil. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of lime reapplication, with and without incorporation into the soil on chemical characteristics of the liquid and solid phase, in the soil profile at different periods. A field experiment was set up in a Rhodic Paleudult soil under no-tillage system with lime reapplication every four years. Lime (2.5 ton ha(-1)) was then applied (October, 1996) after the eighth year and, as previously done in 1992, incorporated into the soil in half of each of the tillage plots. Soil analysis in 1 cm soil layers in short time periods showed relatively fast effects of surface lime application in changing the chemical characteristics in the soil profile. Maximum lime dissolution effects occurred after 90 days of lime reapplication. The effects in the soil depth occurred after 180 days of lime reapplication, and reached after 360 days 2 cm for Ca and Mg content in soil solution and 4 cm for pH (CaCl2) and exchangeable Al, Ca and Mg.