Maize (zea mays l.) yield, and selected chemical properties of soils as influenced by lime and manure application in acid soils of Meket District, northeastern Ethiopia

Acid affected soils have been expanding in the Ethiopian highlands, and caused serious yield decline. Organic amendments and lime have been used to manage soil acidity. However, the rate and the right combinations have not been sufficiently documented for various crops and locations. This study aimed at investigating the effects of four manure rates (0, 4, 8, and 12 t ha -1 ), with three lime rates (0, 1.5 and 3 t ha -1 CaCO 3 ) on maize yield, and selected soil chemical properties. The experiment was arranged in factorial combinations using randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The result showed that significant variations were obtained for yield, and yield components of maize where maximum grain yield (4087.0 kg ha -1 ) was harvested from the combination of 8 t manure ha -1 with 1.5 t lime ha -1 . However, significantly (P < 0.01) highest stalk yield (11155.0 kg ha -1 ) and yield of dry aboveground biomass (14803.7 kg ha -1 ) were achieved from the integrations of 3 t lime with 12 t manure ha -1 . The plots that received 12 t ha -1 manure only had the highest OC content (1.96%), with an increase of 54%. Following 3 t ha -1 lime plus 12 t ha -1 manure applications, the available P content was found to be significantly (P < 0.01) the highest (14.41 mg kg -1 ). The present experiment indicated that integrated application of 3 t ha -1 lime with 8 t ha -1 manure could help increase maize yield and profitability while maintaining fertility of soils in acid affected soils of Meket area and similar other locations.