Agricultural Lime Application. Whenever possible aglime should be tilled into the soil. Dolomitic lime may be used as a soil input to provide similar effects as agricultural lime while supplying magnesium in addition to calcium.
The name ag lime most often refers to a crushed limestone product that is used to improve acidic soil to a neutral ph. This publication describes the consider ations for deciding when to apply lime and the best strategy for applying it. Tilling the aglime also minimizes the risk of losing any liming materials to wind or the elements.
The finer the liming material the faster the reactivity.
Because lime reacts relatively slowly it needs to be in place well before planting acid sensitive crops such as alfalfa to allow adequate time for the ph change to occur. Figure 1 surface application of lime south of northam. Ag lime works by dissolving and releasing a base that lowers the acidity of the soil. There are no problems with applying limestone on a frozen soil as long as the limestone stays where it is applied.
