Soil pH changes after application of plant shoot materials of faba bean and wheat

ISSN： 0032-079X

Source： Plant and Soil, Vol.220, Iss.1-2, 2000-05, pp. : 279-287

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Abstract

In a soil incubation experiment, the effect of green material of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) on soil pH was compared. In comparison with control, the application of both plant materials caused a significant soil pH increase. The liming effect was higher for faba bean than for wheat. This difference in liming effect between the two plant species was closely related to their alkalinity concentration. In total, 82% of the alkalinity in faba bean and 96% of that in wheat were water-soluble. To elucidate possible factors responsible for the difference in liming effect, plant matter of wheat and faba bean was fractionated and organic anions were identified. The total concentration of identified organic anions was comparable for both plant species. For wheat, over 80% of the alkalinity occurred in the form of simple organic anions with malate as the dominant one. In faba bean, only 40% of the alkalinity was identified as simple organic anions. About 40% of the alkalinity were related to macromolecules, possibly pectinates. Our data suggest that macromolecules such as pectinates may be mainly responsible for the greater liming effect of faba bean, as compared to wheat.