Northwest and lime application

[moored4]

I have come on a cheap source of Ag lime and need to move on it before it is gone! I need to know if any of you from west of the cascades have applied any lime to your pastures? I know that I need to test my soil and will before making an application, but I would like to know a 'ballpark amount'! the price is that if I get too much it is not going to break me but I want to get enough!
How many pounds per acre! Thanks Folks in advance!:thumbsup:

 

[smstonypoint]

Your best bet would be to call your local Cooperative Extension office. An Ag. Agent should be able to give you a "ballpark" estimate.

I don't know whether Washington State U. (WSU) offers soil-testing services as some land grants no longer do so. If WSU in longer in the business, the Agent can steer you to a soil-testing service provider.

Steve

 

[BeezFun]

You probably only need lime if you are planting a garden or crops of some kind. Lawns and trees generally like a more acidic soil, which you likely have. But without a soil test you really have no idea what is required. I wouldn't buy anything until you do the soil test. They have test kits for gardeners that are probably accurate enough to tell you whether to pursue it.

 

[muddstopper]

Your local extention office can give you a ballpark estimate, but what ever they tell you will be a guess at best. Testing is the only way to determine how much and what kind of lime you really need.. The usual purpose of adding lime to the soil is to increase the levels of calcium, if calcitic lime is being used, or calcium and magnesium if dolomite is being used. Right about now sombody is reading this and saying to themself, Lime is used to raise ph levels. Wrong, Lime will raise ph levels in the soil but, Ph is a measure of hydogen in the soil and I can raise ph levels using sodium carbonate, you wont be able to grow anything in your soil, but you will have a perfect ph. A couple of things do effect limes ability to help your soil.

Number one being particle size, everytime the particle size of lime is cut in half, you increase its effectiness by a factor of 4. Ag grade lime usually has a pretty big particle size and is very slow in reacting with the soil. Finely ground pulverized lime will tranlocate faster thru the soil faster than the ag grade of lime. Faster reaction and more effectivness means not as much is needed per application and will yeild better results. A ton of lime is a ton of lime, but a 2000lb limestone rock dropped in your garden isnt going to provide the same benefits as 2000lbs of powered limestone spread evenly on the same garden.

Number 2 would be incorporation into the soil. Lime simply broadcast on top of the soil will probably only influence about 15% of the growing zone of your plant roots, it can take years (and moisture),for the full effect of the applied lime to reach the the entire root zone of anything planted in the soil. You can pretty much figure 15% additional effectiveness for every 1 inch of incorporation of the lime into the soil. If you will be broadcasting the lime in a pasture, consider core areation, a ripperhipper, or something to open up the soil to help the lime work its way down to the root zone.

 

[Smallplot]

And lime is usually applied at tons per acre, not pounds. It will cost more to deliver/spread the product than the cost of the lime. We can get Ag lime for under $20 a ton without trucking or application prices.