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Dolomite or Calcite Aglime: What’s Best?. Tim Wagar, Regional Extension Educator. Definition of Ag Liming Material. Contains Ca and Mg compounds that can neutralize soil acidity Limestone Quicklime Hydrated lime Marl Shells Byproducts. Agricultural Limestone.
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Dolomite or Calcite Aglime: What’s Best? Tim Wagar, Regional Extension Educator
Definition of Ag Liming Material • Contains Ca and Mg compounds that can neutralize soil acidity • Limestone • Quicklime • Hydrated lime • Marl • Shells • Byproducts
Agricultural Limestone • Mixture of - Calcite CaCO3 and Dolomite CaCO3 + MgCO3 • Calcite - 40% Ca and 0-0.6% Mg • Dolomite – 21.7% Ca and 13.1% Mg • Ca:Mg ratio of crops is closer to that of dolomite
Agricultural Limestone Quality • Laboratory measurement of chemical effectiveness – % Total Nuetralizing Power (% TNP) • Particle size from crushing/grinding – (Fineness Index) • (Fineness Index) X (% TNP) = % ENP • % ENP X 2000 lbs X % Dry Matter = Pounds of Effective Neutralizing Power/ton
Summary • No agronomic evidence that Mg levels in dolomite lime are detrimental to alfalfa • Should be more concerned about inducing grass tetany in cattle from forages grown on soil with the exclusive use of calcitic lime • No agronomic or economic reason to “import” purported calcitic lime