Extractable Potassium and Soluble Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, and Potassium in Two-Whey-Treated Calcareous Soils

Robbins, C.W. and Hansen, C.L. and Roginske, M.F. and Sorensen, D.L. (1996) Extractable Potassium and Soluble Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, and Potassium in Two-Whey-Treated Calcareous Soils. Journal of Environment Quality. 25:791-795.

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Abstract

Cheese whey contains 1.0 to 1.4 g K kg-1 and 5.0 to 10.0 g total
salts kg-1 (electrical conductivity [EC] of 7 to 15 dS m-1) and has a
pH of 3.3 to 4.6. Much of the 38 x 10^9 L of whey produced in the
USA each year is applied to soils. Whey application effect on the K and
salinity status of irrigated calcareous soils has not been documented.
Objectives of this study were to measure soil pH, sodium adsorption
ratio (SAR), saturation paste extract (EC,), and extractable Ca, Mg,
Na, and K changes due to whey application to irrigated calcareous
soils at different whey rates and different times of the year. Whey
was applied to two calcareous Portneuf silt loam (coarse-silty, mixed,
mesic, Durixerollic Calciorthids) soils and a calcareous Nibley silty
clay loam (fine, mixes, mesic Aquic Argiustolls) soil at rates up to
2200 m3 ha-1 These treatments added up to 1050 kg Ca, 200 kg Mg,
790 kg Na, and 2200 kg K ha-1 during winter-time, growing season,
or year-round whey application. Soil bicarbonate-extractable K increased
to more than 500 mg K kg-1 in the surface 0.3 m at the
highest whey rates and may induce grass tetany in livestock grazed
on high whey-treated pastures. Soil K did not increase below 0.6 m
in any treatment. Soil pH and SAR were not affected sufficiently to
be of concern under these conditions. The EC, increased to nearly
2.0 dS m-1 in the surface 0.3 m under the highest whey rates and would
likely affect salt-sensitive crop yields. After a 1-yr whey application rest
period under irrigated alfalfa (Medicago saliva L.), the EC, levels
returned to background levels.

Item Type:	Article
NWISRL Publication Number:	0910
Subjects:	Soil > Amendments > Whey Soil > Calcareous soil Soil > Chemistry > Potassium Mass Import - autoclassified (may be erroneous)
Depositing User:	Dan Stieneke
Date Deposited:	20 Nov 2010 21:54
Last Modified:	22 Nov 2016 22:48
Item ID:	665
URI:	https://eprints.nwisrl.ars.usda.gov/id/eprint/665