The experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions at the Soil Science Department of the Federal University of Lavras, Lavras, from August 1995 to June 1996. The objectives were to evaluate the application of limestone on several chemical properties and on the nutrition and production of common bean cultivated in samples of four lowland soils and to compare the doses established as appropriate according to base saturation and Al and Ca + Mg methods. A 6x4 factorial scheme in a completely randomized design with four replications was utilized, involving six levels of base saturation (V): natural condition, 40, 60, 80, 100 and 120% and four soils: Alluvial, Low Humic Gley, Humic Gley and Bog. After two successive cultivations, the data showed that, in the studied soils at greenhouse conditions, the levels of base saturation and pH in water for reaching 90% of maximum production of common bean ranged from 44 to 52% and from 5.1 to 5.3, respectively, values which are lower than those indicated for this crop in highland soils. The limestone doses needed to increase the V and pH values to levels established were close to those indicated by the base saturation method for V = 70%; the Al and Ca + Mg method underestimated these doses. Liming is important to furnish Ca and Mg and in the neutralization of Al and Mn toxicity.
liming; base saturation; soil pH; mineral nutrition; organic matter; soil chemistry