Soil liming is an important agrotechnical procedure that allows you to raise the pH of too acidic soil, as well as to compensate for the deficiency of calcium necessary for plants. Garden lime is inexpensive and available at most specialty stores. The most popular products: Agrecol, Biopon, Flora, Florovit, Planta, Plantiko, Sumin, Target.
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Dosage
It is recommended to add lime to dry soil on a calm day. The powder is dispersed and mixed with the top layer of the earth. Typically 1 kg of lime is sufficient to fertilize a 10 m² plot, however the dosage may vary depending on the composition of the product and the condition of the soil.
Deacidification of the earth is best done in autumn (after the vegetation of plants), but it is allowed to do it in winter and early spring (before the resumption of vegetation). Lime should not be combined with nitrogen fertilizer, and the procedure should be applied no more than 1 time in 2-3 years. Instead of calcium fertilizers, it is allowed to use natural ground chalk or dolomite.
It should be remembered that plants should not be planted immediately after liming. Calcium fertilizers require thorough mixing with the soil. Other fertilizers can only be applied after 2-3 weeks.
The fertilizer dose depends mainly on the pH of the soil and its type. It is calculated depending on the percentage of calcium oxide (CaO) in the product and the state of the earth.
How much lime you need to add to the soil on the site depends on the type of soil.
For light soils:
For heavy soils:
If the calcium fertilizer contains 50% CaO, then the dose should be doubled. For example, for soils with a pH in the range of 5.1-6.0, 5 kg of fertilizer per 10 m² should be used.
When to lime the earth:
- On light and peaty soils, fertilizers in the form of oxides are not used (they can destroy the structure); it is better to use chalk or ground lime.
- Oxide fertilizers are used for heavy soils.
- Work should be carried out in dry, calm weather.
- Fertilizer is not recommended to be added to wet soil.
- Calcium fertilizers must be mixed with the soil immediately after adding.
Lime should be evenly distributed and mixed with the top layer of earth. This procedure should be carried out in dry weather. It should be borne in mind that lime cannot be combined with phosphoric, sulfate and potash compositions, because calcium elements reduce the content of nitrogen and phosphorus. An interval of at least 2-3 weeks must be observed between the use of lime materials and other fertilizers.
Application
Garden lime is widely used in plant care. It is used as a fertilizer, to deacidify the soil (raise the pH level), and in winter to whitewash tree trunks. Lime is most commonly used to raise the pH level in order to improve the quality of the soil in the garden. It is most often added to acidic earth, which has pH values of 4.0-5.5, to make it slightly acidic (pH 5.0-6.0), neutral (pH 6.0-7.0) or alkaline (pH 7.0-8.0), depending on the purpose and type of cultivated cultures.
Calcium oxide (CaO) has a positive effect on the growth of cultivated products. This element is necessary for plants. The substance is often added to heavy, clayey, infertile soil to change its structure: for deoxidation, water and air permeability, or for other purposes.
Most often liming is done to change the soil from acidic to slightly acidic, which is preferred by most plants. Liming improves soil structure and humus quality.
Before adding lime, analyze the pH level at the site. You can check the condition of the earth using an acid meter or by supplying soil samples for laboratory analysis. It is recommended to take samples from several different sites, as rates may vary. An acidic soil is considered acidic if the pH is 6.0 or lower. Soils with a pH below 4.5 are defined as very acidic, while those with a pH of 5.6-6.5 are considered slightly acidic.
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