There is no wrong time to apply lime

By Doug Carter, Rankin County Extension Service We have been taught that fall is the preferred time to apply lime, so that it will have the winter months to get into the soil solution and neutralize acidity, but this is not an absolute requirement. The first consideration is that we use a good quality lime, that is finely ground, so it can react with the soil acids and do its job. We must also consider that the lime and the water, in which it is carried must move into the soil profile, by infiltration, by way of pores in the soil. Or it may need to be incorporated, in situations where the need for lime is to severe. Another factor is that when lime is applied to the surface, the application of most nitrogen fertilizers following it will lead to the loss of nitrogen as ammonia gas. When nitrogen must be applied soon after lime, it should be injected or incorporated, in order to avoid loss of nitrogen. Another precaution is to separate the lime and nitrogen fertilizers by as much as possible and at least one good rain. Another question I get is about the neutralization ability of poultry litter. Poultry litter does contain small amounts of basic elements calcium and magnesium. The lime value of a ton of good quality broiler litter may range from 200 to 00 pounds per ton. This is just not enough to correct a low soil pH problem, although it may be enough to maintain soil pH in the preferred range after it has been corrected. In other words litter will not fix the problem, but it may help prevent it. Regular soil testing is important. Lime is important to the availability of most plant nutrients. Soil pH levels below 5.6 or above 7.0 may significantly reduce the availability of some of the other nutrients including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, calcium, and magnesium. Another issue in most of our soils is that when pH falls below about 5.5, aluminum and manganese enter the soil solution and are toxic to plant growth. Lime is important enough to apply almost any time, you can get it done, and crops will begin to gain benefits from it as soon as it begins to go into solution. About the only time we might want to avoid liming is when the crop is nearing maturity. Good soil pH is the foundation of a sound soil fertility program.