Crop Response to Soil Acidity Factors in Ultisols and Oxisols in Puerto Rico. XIII. Cabbage

Abstract

The effect of acidity factors of two Ultisols and one Oxisol on yield and foliar composition of cabbage was determined. On all soils, cabbage responded markedly in yield to liming, but response was stronger on the ultisols. All soil acidity factors correlated significantly with yields. On the Ultisols, yields increased with decreasing acidity up to the highest level of limiting, pH 5.6. Only 50% of maximum yield was obtained at 12-13%. AI saturation of the CEC and essentially no yields were produced at pH values below 4.5 with 50% Al saturation, a level of acidity common in Ultisols. About 50% of maximum yield was obtained at pH 4.7 with 25% Al saturation on the Oxisols compared with about 22% of maximum yield obtained at this level of acidity on the Ultisols. Density of the cabbage heads correlated positively with soil acidity on all soils. Soil acidity had no apparent effect on foliar composition of the basal leaves. Calcium content of the head leaves correlated negatively with soil acidity factors on the Ultisols. Basal leaves had a higher Ca content than head leaves and both had a higher Ca and a lower P content on the Coto soil than on the Corozal soils.