Lime question...

[pondman]

Men,

I am in a little bit of a bind. It looks like I am going to need to put down some lime, but I don't have time for regular aglime to start reacting and change my pH. I plan on putting that down next year.

In lieu of aglime, I am going to use either pelletized or hydrated lime. I know I will only get one season out of either one. Any experiences good or bad? I don't have a huge area, may 5 acres broken up over 3 or 4 areas.

Thanks,

Pond

[SWAG]

I have used the pelletized lime on small plots for quick response. I was pleased with the application but bot the price . Used on some clover establishment plots and once on a RR alfalfa plot. Do not remember the rates off hand but we did sample in early winter after fall application and planting and saw a good response to the application. For some people, the pelletized lime may be best option because of ease of spreading application and plots just too small to get larger equipment in.

[Warren]

What kind of prices are you finding on the pelletized lime?

[SWAG]

It was in 2005 and 2007 when I used the pelletized lime, so I do not remember cost, but it would have been very expensive had it been on a larger scale. We were doing some 30 X 30 plots. Only advantage it has over regular ag lime is the application of it. Fairly certain it would take just as many pounds/acre of pelletized lime as it would regular ag lime to get same pH response. I do not know if one will work quicker than the other, but we saw a pH response by early winter on these plots.

[dandy_don]

What kind of prices are you finding on the pelletized lime?

Seeds, Inc. in Memphis has it for $4.00 in a 40# bag. Most applications rates I have read recommend 300# per acre for foodplots with a moderate need for lime disked in a few inches deep; more for heavy need.

http://aes.missouri.edu/pfcs/research/prop805b.pdf

Pelletized Lime
In recent years, agricultural fertilizer dealers have reported 2 to 3 fold increases in sales of pelletized lime. Pelletized lime is finely ground limestone, which is made into small pellets for broadcasting with conventional fertilizer equipment. Because pelletized lime is relatively expensive per ton, it is applied at lower rates (<300 lbs/acre) as compared to recommended rates of agricultural lime. A "1:10 ratio" rule of thumb has been promoted for comparing the short-term neutralizing effectiveness of pelletized lime to agricultural lime. (Example: if a soil test recommends the ENM equivalent of 2000 lbs of agricultural lime per acre apply 200 lbs of pelletized lime/acre). Most farmers realize that pelletized lime is not a long-term "fix", but expect it to reduce soil acidity to tolerable levels for one year. Typically, farmers apply this material on fields that a landlord is unwilling to share part of the cost of applying agricultural lime or will not provide a lease agreement for more than one year.

[pondman]

Madison county co-op is $159 a ton (bulk). They are recommending 800 lbs to the acre. Sending soil samples off this week, hopefully we can get a better idea.

Pond

[dukmisr2005]

I put both down some I get the effect of quick from pelletized and long term correction of AG lime. It will save more in the long run.