A Latin Square experiment put down 15 years ago to test the value of the Hutchinson and McLennan determination of lime requirement was used to determine the long-term effect of liming on the uptake of nutrients by the plant. The site was sown with Steadfast Wheat in 1946 and samples were taken on five occasions. The main changes with liming were increased plant size, decreased concentrations and total contents of manganese in the plant, and increased concentrations and total contents of magnesium in the plant, Calcium and potassium concentration were almost unaffected by the treatments, although the total content in the plant was increased through increased plant size. Analyses of other crops grown on the same site in 1945 and 1947 indicate that these effects are not specific for wheat, and especially that the increased calcium concentration in mixed herbage resulting from liming is due to a higher proportion of legumes. The effect of liming on yield is attributed to the reduction in soil acidi and to the increased supply of calcium. The reduced soil acidity increased supply of calcium is compensated by increased plant growth.

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