Todd County Extension Agent Traci Johnson recently shared with WEKT the importance of agricultural lime.
Agricultural lime is crushed limestone that can benefit soil. Johnson says it’s often needed to raise soil to the correct pH for crops.
She says it’s very important for crop investment, and one that farmers shouldn’t skip. Johnson says getting soil pH to the right level allows the crops to be able to use fertilizer as well as the nutrients already in the soil.
Johnson encourages farmers to have soil tested, preferably in the fall before crop season begins, as it’s important to know what the baseline pH is before making any liming decisions. She notes this is something Todd County Extension Services has available online or at the office.
Relative neutralizing value is a measurement of a material’s ability to neutralize acidic soil. Johnson says it’s rare for any lime source to be at 100%. Ph can change, and a quarry tested last season may not show the same numbers later on. Johnson says it’s a balancing act.
Johnson says in many ways, she thinks of lime as a catalyst, one that can’t be afforded to be overlooked.
For more information about lime, contact the Todd County Extension Office at 270-265-5659 or stop by the Elkton office at 240 Pond River Road.
