Lime for soil: how and why liming is carried out
Lime is used to improve soil properties, specifically to deoxidize them. To achieve this, sugar waste, dolomite, limestone, slaked lime, and calcite are added to the soil. This is an effective way to normalize acidity and increase soil fertility.
Content
What is lime?
Lime is a raw material obtained by calcining and processing chalk, shell rock, and other natural rocks containing carbonate. It is a natural material containing exclusively natural components.
Lime may contain a small amount of clay impurities and mineral additives.
When and why is liming done?
Many gardeners use lime to deoxidize soil. It reduces soil acidity and increases the concentration of calcium, magnesium, and other beneficial nutrients. Lime can also be used as a fertilizer.
Another advantage of liming is that it loosens the soil and ensures its proper moisture absorption. Plant rhizomes are well-saturated with water in hot weather. Moist and nutrient-rich conditions promote rapid development of soil microflora, which naturally fertilizes the crops.
It is unacceptable to lime the soil and add manure at the same time - this can result in an insoluble mixture that is useless for garden crops.
If the soil in your garden is acidic, you can't expect a good vegetable harvest. While some plants thrive in this type of soil, they're the exception. If the soil is also sandy, your plants will suffer from magnesium and calcium deficiencies. Conversely, the activity of manganese and aluminum, which are toxic to plants, will increase.
How to determine soil acidity
You can test soil acidity at home. Litmus paper or a special device are most often used for this purpose. However, there are other methods.
If horsetail grows in abundance in a plot, there is an alkaline deficiency. Sorrel, mint, plantain, and clover prefer acidic soil.
The top layer of acidic soil often resembles wood ash. In some areas, a gray coating is present. Numerous low-lying areas, puddles of reddish-colored water, and the appearance of a rainbow-colored film on their surface are further signs of increased acidity.
A popular method for determining this parameter is using table vinegar. If the soil begins to fizz and foam after adding vinegar, it can be concluded that it is alkalizing.
Signs of soil requiring liming
The application of lime to the soil is required in the following cases:
- the beds have a light grey coating, as if they were sprinkled with wood ash;
- the area is dominated by vegetation that likes acidic soil: plantain, mullein, dandelion;
- Moss appears in shady places.
The plants listed above sometimes grow in slightly acidic soils, but in this case, they grow slowly and appear stunted. If your garden contains a lot of nettles, clover, and quinoa, there's no need to add lime. These plant species prefer neutral soil. Liming will only harm the area.
Types of lime fertilizers
Lime as a fertilizer improves soil properties. The most popular type of lime fertilizer is calcite limestone. This fertilizer contains calcium carbonate, hydroxide, and oxide.
The second type has a higher concentration of magnesium carbonate; this is called dolomitic lime. It is used when the soil lacks MgCO3.
Limestones can be hard (chalk, dolomite, limestone), soft (lake lime), or industrial waste (shale ash, cement dust). The former are used after grinding or firing.
Important nuances of liming
The optimal amount of lime to apply is determined based on the soil's current pH and texture. It's important to select the right lime fertilizer and apply it to the correct depth. The time since the last application must also be taken into account.
Limestone application rate
Every gardener should know how to apply lime to the soil. There are certain standards.
| pH level | Clayey, loamy | Sandy, sandy loam |
| less than 4 | from 500 g and above | 300–400 |
| 4.1–4.5 | 400–500 | 250–300 |
| 4.6–5 | 300–400 | 200–400 |
| 5.1–5.5 | 300–250 | lime is not required |
| 5.5–6 | no need to add lime | not required |
Methods of soil liming
Lime is used as a fertilizer to improve soil fertility. This fertilizer can be applied either as a primary or secondary fertilizer, using various methods. Primary liming, also known as ameliorative liming, is used in highly acidic areas. The dosage should be full.
Lime is reapplied to maintain the soil pH achieved during the first application. This compensates for annual losses of fertilizer in the soil due to leaching and removal by plants.
Slaked liming
Large trees and shrubs are treated with slaked lime to protect them from pests. Slaked lime can also serve as a fertilizer, but the soil's acidity should be determined beforehand.
Liming is required for areas where acid-intolerant plants, such as cabbage, beets, carrots, and spinach, will be grown. The same applies to plants that thrive in neutral soil, such as cucumbers, grapes, and corn.
If the treatment is performed in the fall, the slaked powder should be mixed with the soil during plowing to activate the composition. Ensure the ingredients are evenly distributed.
For highly acidic soil, 650 g of slaked fertilizer is needed per square meter. For moderately acidic soil, the dosage is reduced to 520 g, and for slightly acidic soil, to 450 g.
Liming the soil with lime
The soil is usually covered with lime to a depth of 20 cm. If the amount is less than the recommended dosage, for example, ¼ of the recommended dose, a depth of 4–6 cm is sufficient.
It is advisable to use lime on loams and clay soils.
A thin layer is scattered over the area, watered. After 30 minutes, the soil is dug over.
Liming the soil in spring with eggshells
Eggshells contain a large number of beneficial microelements. They are a good substitute for chalk and lime. They saturate the soil with sulfur, phosphorus, and silicon. They enrich the soil, making it looser, preventing weeds from growing, and preventing the surface from drying out. This fertilizer can be applied in the spring before planting; it will not harm the vegetation.
Only fresh eggshells should be used.
Before use, the shells are dried and ground using a coffee grinder or meat grinder. This is important, as large pieces can damage the soil and take a long time to decompose.
You can make a combined fertilizer by baking the shells in the oven or over a fire. This fertilizer provides phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and calcium carbonate. It's very beneficial for acidic soil, improving its structure. Adding the shells year after year will significantly increase your garden's yield. Some gardeners make a liquid fertilizer using them: they mix crushed shells with water and let it steep for two weeks.
What is the best time to apply lime?
Liming is best done in the fall, before digging or plowing the area. The fertilizer won't take effect until it reaches the soil. By spring, the soil's key characteristics will change: acidity will decrease, and the concentration of micronutrients will increase.
Sprinkling lime on planted areas during winter is pointless. This is because the fertilizer will lose most of its nutrients when exposed to low temperatures.
In spring, liming is only carried out if the soil pH is very high and no planting is planned for the season. Otherwise, the lime is spread in a thin layer, after which the soil is tilled. This procedure is performed 20 days before planting to allow the active ingredients to take effect and prevent burning the roots of the crops.
Correctly carried out liming makes the soil more fertile and promotes increased crop yields.
