COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF LIMING MATERIALS FOR MITIGATING AND MANAGING SOIL pH AND ENHANCING MAIZE CROP YIELDS

This study investigates the effectiveness of various liming materials in mitigating soil acidity, optimizing nutrient availability, and enhancing maize yield at Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) in Morogoro, Tanzania. We applied four treatments: dolomites (T1), calcites (T2), mixtures of gypsum and dolomites (T3), and gypsum and calcites (T4), against a control without lime (C). Initial soil pH was recorded at 5.62, indicating moderate acidity. Post-application analysis revealed soil pH improved significantly, with dolomites increasing pH to 6.25 and calcites to 6.23 over two growing seasons. Corn treated with dolomites achieved a remarkable average plant height of 97.95 cm and a grain yield of 4.065 tons/ha in the first season, surging to 5.871 tons/ha by the second season. In contrast, the control group only produced an average yield of 1.814 tons/ha with an average height of 26.79 cm. Notably, nitrate, potassium, and magnesium levels in dolomite-treated plots increased, directly correlating with improved phytoavailability and, consequently, plant performance. This study supports the hypothesis that strategic liming can significantly enhance maize productivity in acidic soils, providing actionable insights for local farmers seeking to optimize their agricultural practices for sustainable development.