Studies with soil columns (Ø = 4 cm; h = 25 cm) were carried out under laboratory conditions in the years 1999 and 2000, in Londrina, using the Bw horizon of a Red Latosol. The following weed species were tested: Synedrellopsis grisebachii, Acanthospermum hispidum, Amaranthus hybridus, Leonotis nepetifolia, Parthenium hysterophorus, Ricinus communis, Galinsoga parviflora and Commelina benghalensis. Shoot extracts (3 g in 150 mL of water) were applied onto the soil surface with a lime top dressing and then leached with three pore volumes of deionized water. Alterations of soil pH and exchangeable cation contents were determined, taking samples from soil layers of 5 cm and leached solutions from the columns. Liming without plant extracts increased soil pH and Ca and decreased Al in the top layer, and, less intense, in the 5-10 cm layer. Liming with plant extracts increased soil pH and reduced Al down to 20 cm of depth. Ricinus communis presented the greatest capacity as Ca carrier, increasing its content down to 15 cm of depth. G. parviflora and C. benghalensis reduced soil acidity most effectively and also stimulated highest Al leaching, while least effective weeds were S. grisebachii and A. hispidum. The tested plant extracts present potential to transfer lime alkalinity to acid soil subsurface.
plant residues; metal-organic complex; Ca leaching