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Soil Acidity and Liming

Soil Acidity and Liming. Pellet Lime Finely ground limestone Glued together into water soluble pellets Advantage: Handling, spreading, speed of reaction Disadvantage: Cost. 100-200 mesh. Soil Acidity and Liming. Fluid Lime Finely ground limestone Suspended in water with clay

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Soil Acidity and Liming

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  1. Soil Acidity and Liming • Pellet Lime • Finely ground limestone • Glued together into water soluble pellets • Advantage: Handling, spreading, speed of reaction • Disadvantage: Cost 100-200 mesh

  2. Soil Acidity and Liming • Fluid Lime • Finely ground limestone • Suspended in water with clay • Approx. 1000 lb CCE/ton material • Advantage: Spreading, speed of reaction • Disadvantage: Cost

  3. Less than recommended very fine limestone applied compared to normal liming program 7 6 5 pH 4 3 0 3 6 9 Reaction Time (years)

  4. Less than recommended very fine limestone applied annually but similar rate over time. 7 6 pH 5 4 0 3 6 9 Reaction Time (years)

  5. 0.8 0.6 0.4 Pellet Lime @ 0.2 500lb/A/yr Change in pH Pulverized Lime @ 0 8000 lb/A Start 1994 1995 1996 1997 -0.2 -0.4 -0.6 Soil Acidity and Liming Effect of Pellet Lime on Soil pH

  6. Soil Acidity and Liming • Calcium and Magesium • Normal liming practices will also supply required calcium and magnesium • At normal rates usually adequate Ca will be supplied for most crops • Magnesium will depend on the type of limestone used • If Mg is required use a Mg containing limestone (dolomitic) • Mg recommendations • pounds Mg/A • % Mg in recommended limestone

  7. Calcium and Magnesium • Management Recommendations • Maintain optimum pH • Maintain at least optimum levels of Mg (60 ppm) and K (100 ppm) • Don’t worry about ratios until they are way out of balance • eg. Mg:Ca >1, K:Mg>1 • Rare

  8. By-product Liming Materials • Quality • Liming value • Undesirable components

  9. Example: Liming Value Material sold in western PA for $2/ton CCE = 5.38% For 1 ton of neutralizing value: 2000 X 100 ÷ 5.38 = 37,174 lbs. or 18.6 tons ($37.20) Fineness: Through 20 Mesh = 98.8% (90%) Through 60 Mesh = 78.2 % (60%) Through 100 Mesh = 63.2% (50%)

  10. Gypsum • CaSO4 • Excellent source of Ca and S • 33% Ca & 27% S • No neutralizing value • Not a liming material

  11. Limestone vs Gypsum • Limestone changes pH  Gypsum doesn’t • Both are good sources of Ca • Lime to recommended pH . . . no need for additional Ca for the soil or for agronomic crops in PA • High pH but low calcium soils (Sodic Soils) use gypsum as a source of Ca for the soil and the crop (Western US) • Improves physical properties  Relieves chemical compaction • Low pH, acid loving crops or highly weathered soils, use gypsum as a source of Ca for the soil and the crop (Tropics) • Minimal lime to reduce Al toxicity

  12. Byproduct MaterialsUndesirable components • Should be registered (PDA) • Must be approved for land application by DEP • May limit lifetime application • Problem with unregistered materials and materials from out of state • May be little or no checking of quality • Determine the source • Dust, screenings • Stainless steel slag • Ask what contaminants might be present • If in doubt . . . get it analyzed OR don’t use it

  13. Example: Undesirable components - Metals in Aglime

  14. Other Materials • Biosolids and Water Treatment Sludges • Often have significant neutralizing value • Must be clean • Must be registered if sold as liming materials

  15. Promesol 30, Liquid Lime Trihydroxy glutaric acid 25% Ca 1 gallon = 500-750 lb CCE? Liqui-Til Trihydroxy glutaric acid Neutralizes pH in alkaline soil? KK Organic Soil Builder Neutralizes both acidic and alkaline soils? Liqui-Cal 8% Ca 1 gallon = 500 lb CaCO3? Liquid Calcium 1 gallon = Ca in 500 lb CaCO3? Suggest it is a lime substitute Golden Cal Glucoheptomic acid 1 gallon = 500 lb CCE? pH Plus 1 gallon = 500-750 lb CCE? Other MaterialsOrganic Calcium Compounds

  16. Other Materials • Remember: 1 Eq. of base is required to neutralize 1 Eq. of acid • Watch out for materials that contain Ca with unwritten or suggestive claims for liming value

  17. Soil Acidity and Liming • Limestone Application • Apply limestone far enough ahead of time to be effective • Spread limestone uniformly • Spinner spreaders • Boom spreaders • Damp lime • Dust • Spit high rates of limestone (>4 ton/A) • Time of year is not too critical • Consider soil quality issues – compaction • Mix limestone as much as practical • Adjust for depth of mixing - 6 2/3 in. standard depth • No till – Correct pH before going to no-till

  18. Soil Acidity and Liming Soil pH vs No-Till With 6000 lbs/A of Lime Applied Every 3rd Year Time (years)

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