The base status of Scottish soils: II. Further studies of the effects of lime on typical soils from north-east Scotland

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Abstract
An investigation into the effects of lime on five acid soils in north-east Scotland has been continued during the second and third years after the application of lime and also extended to two other centres.On four of the original soils the full effect of the lime on the surface soil has been largely maintained up to the end of the third year. The fifth, a soil of low base-exchange capacity, shows a considerable loss of lime by the end of the second year.The lime leached from the top nine inches of soil appears to be retained to only a slight extent in the second nine inches. This was particularly noticeable on a soil of low base-exchange capacity, where, during the two years after liming, the percentage saturation of the subsurface soil showed an increase from 64 to 67%, and the surface soil a decrease from 92 to 74%.The existence of a low liming factor (1·5), previously found to hold for a geologically basic soil, has been verified and found to apply also to a soil derived from slate.A fundamental property of the soils with a low liming factor is the high content of inorganic and organic fine material. Secondary characteristics that distinguish these soils from the others are the relatively high values for hygroscopicity and heat of wetting.