Liming Acidic Soils

Many Kansas soils require regular applications of lime for optimum crop production. Fall is the ideal time to apply lime to your fields since it is generally drier and before the lime piles start freezing up in the heart of winter. Having the proper pH in your soil reduces the harmful, or even potentially toxic, conditions of acid soils, which are primarily caused by nitrogen fertilizers.

Most crops grown in Kansas prefer slightly acidic soil, but once the pH falls below 6.0, nutrient availability starts to become hindered, and yield reduction starts taking place. (See Percent Yield Chart Below).

Additionally, herbicide weed control starts to break down faster. Soil pH levels vary significantly across the field, so we highly recommend conducting grid soil sampling before applying, as the rates can vary from 0 to 5 tons per acre on average. This will ensure that you apply the correct amount of lime to every acre with a variable rate prescription and avoid over-liming an area, which can have very negative effects as well.

The price of lime application varies mostly on how far away the field is from the lime source, but the average rate of lime vrt applied is $35.00/ton, so it doesn't take much variability to pay for the grid soil test. MKC is your local grid soil sampling and liming expert, so please reach out to your nearest MKC location or Strategic Account Manager or email us at [email protected]. We want to help set your fields up for success in 2024.

To learn more about our grid sampling options, please see last month's article on Optimal Acre. We also have new sources of Hi ECC Water Treatment lime coming from Salina and Herrington. Now is an even better time to lime if you are within 30-50 miles of those locations. To learn more about liming your soils, please read this K-State eUpdate. https://eupdate.agronomy.ksu.edu/eu_article_prep.php?article_id=955

Article provided by Ross Benisch, Ag Technology Manager