1. Liming and Liming Materials

2. Most Productive Soils Basicity Acidity 9.0 8.0 7.0 6.0 5.0 4.0 Neutrality pH value defines relative acidity or basicity pH = - log[H + ]

5. What Causes Soil Acidity? Rainfall leaches basic elements (Ca ++, Mg ++, Na +, K + ) Acidic parent material granite more acidic than shale or sandstone Organic Matter OM decay produce H + Harvest of high yielding crops most significant role

6. Soil Acidity H+H+ clay - - - -- - - - --- (Soil Solution) Ca 2+ H+H+ H+H+ H+H+ Al 3+ H+H+ (Cation Exchange) pH = - log[H + ]

7. How Lime Reduces Soil Acidity A Ca 2+ ion from the lime replaces two H + ions on the cation exchange complex The H + ions combine with OH - to form water Soil pH increases because the acidity source (H + ) has been reduced

8. Neutralizing Acidity with Lime CaCO 3 + H 2 O Ca ++ + HCO 3 - + OH - Displaces Al & H from Clay Breaks down to carbon dioxide + water Combines with H + released from the clay or from Al-OH to form water

9. How Lime Works Ca 2+ clay - - - -- - - - --- H+H+ H+H+ - - - -- - - - --- CaCO 3 (Lime) + H 2 O + CO 2 (Water) (Carbon Dioxide) Ca ++ + HCO 3 - + OH -

10. How Lime Works Ca 2+ clay - - - -- - - - --- Al +++ clay - - - -- - - - --- CaCO 3 (Lime) Al(OH) 2 + + H 2 O + CO 2 (Water) (Carbon Dioxide) H2OH2O Al +++ + 2H 2 O --> Al(OH) 2 + + 2H + Ca ++ + HCO 3 - + OH -

11. Lime Materials: Effectiveness is Determined: Particle Size Neutralizing Power

12. 200 mesh 20 mesh 10 mesh 100 mesh 1/8” 3/16” 1/4” 1/2” 3/4”

13. FINENESS PPI

14. AgLime Mesh Size Specifications: Virginia Ground Limestone MeshGuar. to Pass 2090% 6050% 10030% Pulverized Lime 2095% 10070%

15. Neutralizing Power or Calcium Carbonate Equivalency (CCE) CaCO 3 set to 100. All other materials compared to it.

16. Neutralizing Value (CCE) of Pure Compounds

17. Lime Neutralizing Power Purity: minimum calcium carbonate equivalency (CCE) of 85%

18. Properties of various lime materials

19. Which Lime Should I Use? Dolomitic Calcitic Hydrated Burned Suspension Pelleted Ag Marl

20. Liming When is the best time to apply?

21. Apply Lime Well Ahead of Planting

22. 5.0 6.0 7.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 Sandy Loam Silt Loam 1.5 tons 2.5 tons pH