Overliming?

[Boll Weevil]

I've got the lime man scheduled and want to pose a question with the intention of extending the time between liming. As I understand, depending on soil type once pH is optimized through liming, it will slowly decline at 0.1 - 0.3 units/yr until it falls outside of the desired pH. If instead of adding lime to raise the pH from to say 5.8 to 6.5 I added enough to get to 7.0, does that increase the time between lime applications?

These are all Durana plots that were limed well at establishment (even though this particular variety does well with low pH of 5.6 right on up to 7.0). My thinking is since I've got the lime buggy in there anyways, and at a lower incremental cost vs. time between lime applications, take the pH up another few units.

Am I thinking about this properly...anyone else "over" lime intentionally?

 

[bbcoach]

At 7.0, you should be good for 4-5 years depending on soil type. Durana can tolerate a PH down to 5.5 but it is recommended 6.5 so you have quite a bit of wiggle room. I wouldn't add any additional lime right now. My avatar, to the left, is a Durana plot in planted pines. I started it, in the fall of 2015. The initial PH was 4.6. I added 3 tons of bulk lime on the 1/2 acre plot and this brought the PH to 6.2. I just added two more tons in January. The Durana is spreading and thriving, even after 3 full seasons. Here's a couple more PICS from May 2016. Once your Durana is established it will be a GREAT food source, mine gets destroyed every winter. Good Luck.

 

[yoderjac]

I've got the lime man scheduled and want to pose a question with the intention of extending the time between liming. As I understand, depending on soil type once pH is optimized through liming, it will slowly decline at 0.1 - 0.3 units/yr until it falls outside of the desired pH. If instead of adding lime to raise the pH from to say 5.8 to 6.5 I added enough to get to 7.0, does that increase the time between lime applications?

These are all Durana plots that were limed well at establishment (even though this particular variety does well with low pH of 5.6 right on up to 7.0). My thinking is since I've got the lime buggy in there anyways, and at a lower incremental cost vs. time between lime applications, take the pH up another few units.

Am I thinking about this properly...anyone else "over" lime intentionally?

7 won't kill you with clover but you don't want it much higher. I'm not sure that it will extend the time between liming. Lime moves through the soil over time. With very sandy soil, I know folks that add 3 tons of lime each time they plant. It moves that quickly. I have heavy clay and it moves very slowly. I can't quite make a full adjustment on a new field in one application. With my soils, they recommend 2 applications 6 months apart if you need to add more than 3 tons/ac. Because lime moves slowly through my clay, I can go for 3 years or more before soil tests show that I need maintenance lime. I generally wait until about 1 ton/ac is needed before I add lime.

Thanks,

Jack

 

[Boll Weevil]

Really appreciate the replies. These are all on high ground where clay dominates with some sand in places. Low transmissivity, low natural fertility, but have been in clover for 6-7 years and wheat drilled in the fall. The soil has gone from red when I started to generally brown as OM decomposes and soil health has improved.

 

[Wild Thing]

I've got the lime man scheduled and want to pose a question with the intention of extending the time between liming. As I understand, depending on soil type once pH is optimized through liming, it will slowly decline at 0.1 - 0.3 units/yr until it falls outside of the desired pH. If instead of adding lime to raise the pH from to say 5.8 to 6.5 I added enough to get to 7.0, does that increase the time between lime applications?

These are all Durana plots that were limed well at establishment (even though this particular variety does well with low pH of 5.6 right on up to 7.0). My thinking is since I've got the lime buggy in there anyways, and at a lower incremental cost vs. time between lime applications, take the pH up another few units.

Am I thinking about this properly...anyone else "over" lime intentionally?

I have to believe that it certainly does. I needed ag-lime for 10 new acres that I opened up after a timber sale in 2014. I have fairly natural occurring neutral soils so I only needed about 12-14 tons for the 10 acres of new plots. Unfortunately, they wouldn't deliver anything less than a full load to me so I ended up buying 26 tons. I just put in on a little heavier on the new ground and then top-dressed the older plots with the remainder. All of my plots are still between 6.9 - 7.3 pH and I don't expect to have to add lime for many more years.

 

[Boll Weevil]

Wildthing...EXACTLY what I hoped someone would have some experience with. I also got guidance from a soil conservation specialist that corroborates the above. Thanks for the input!