In this study there has been an evaluation of (i) the liming effect on some electrochemical and physical properties of a no-tilled Oxisol (Haplohumox) for 21 years, and (ii) the effect of soil disturbance to lime incorporation on soil physical properties. Liming increased the surface electric potential, regardless of lime application method, and the estimated values varied from (-) 90mV to (-) 118mV. However, the amount of clay dispersed in water was not affected by liming, probably due to its negative relationship with total organic carbon (TOC) and Ca+Mg concentrations, with the greatest values occurring in soil surface layers. The liming had no effect on the mean geometric diameter (MGD) of soil aggregates, which was positively related to TOC stock of the different soil layers. After five years, no negative effect of plow and disking to lime application into the soil was observed for MGD and porosity of this clayey (690 g kg-1 clay) and gibbsitic oxisol, in comparison to surface liming treatment. In addition to the favorable conditions to microbial activity, the highest TOC and Ca+Mg in the surface layers of no-tillage soils contribute to mitigated the effect of liming on clay dispersion.
soil organic matter; variable charge soils; lime; clay dispersion
