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Posted 6 October 2008. Crop Management. Limestone Important in Crop Production University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. aces.illinois.edu Urbana-Champaign, Illinois (September 29, 2008)--Proper use of limestone is one of the most important management strategies in crop production. Limestone should be the first soil amendment considered in cropping systems.
Don't try to guess what your soil lime needs are. A soil test every 4 years is the best way to monitor the need for limestone. The measurement of soil pH tells if limestone is needed, but not how much. In a cash-grain system a pH of at least 6.0 is recommended. With alfalfa and clover in the rotation, the pH needs to be at least 6.5, preferably closer to 7.0. The benefits of a liming program are many. Limestone can lower the soil solution concentration of aluminum and manganese, which can be toxic to plants. An increase in soil microbial activity is noted as soil acidity is decreased. Liming enhances nitrogen fixation and may improve soil structure and tilth. The availability of mineral elements (for example phosphorus and molybdenum) to plants can be increased by proper liming. Several factors determine the type of liming program, with the crop to be grown probably the most important. Soil texture, organic matter, and method and depth of tillage are other critical items. The timing and frequency of lime applications are also important. For example, with leguminous crops, lime should be applied at least 6 months before seeding on acid soils. If applied just before seeding, the lime will not have adequate time to react with the soil. Contact: |
