⇦ Back to Fertilizer Lime Amendment Technology and Use Home
The following ag‐lime rate recommendations are calculated from the Sikora‐1 buffer pH analysis results based on an assumed 8‐inch soil sampling depth. The recommended rates are expected to adjust the final soil:water pH to the target pH for about three to five years when soil incorporated to an 8‐inch depth. This time period may be shorter or longer, depending on field conditions. Adjust rates for actual sample depth and lime quality.
¶ Table 1. Buffer pH, Sikora‐1 |
|||||||||||||
6.0 | 6.1 | 6.2 | 6.3 | 6.4 | 6.5 | 6.6 | 6.7 | 6.8 | 6.9 | 7.0 | 7.1 | 7.2 | |
Target soil pH: | -------------------- Tons 100% ECC Lime per Acre* -------------------- | ||||||||||||
6.0 | 4.3 | 3.8 | 3.4 | 2.9 | 2.4 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
6.4 | 5.1 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 3.4 | 2.9 | 2.3 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
6.5 | 5.3 | 4.7 | 4.1 | 3.6 | 3.0 | 2.4 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
6.8 | 5.9 | 5.2 | 4.6 | 4.0 | 3.3 | 2.7 | 2.1 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
7.0 | 6.3 | 5.7 | 5.0 | 4.3 | 3.6 | 3.0 | 2.3 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Target soil pH: | -------------------- Tons 100% ENM Lime per Acre** -------------------- | ||||||||||||
6.0 | 3450 | 3100 | 2700 | 2350 | 2000 | 1600 | 1250 | 900 | 500 | 150 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
6.4 | 4100 | 3650 | 3200 | 2750 | 2350 | 1900 | 1450 | 1000 | 600 | 150 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
6.5 | 4200 | 3750 | 3300 | 2850 | 2400 | 1950 | 1500 | 1050 | 600 | 150 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
6.8 | 4700 | 4200 | 3700 | 3200 | 2650 | 2150 | 1650 | 1150 | 650 | 150 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
7.0 | 5050 | 4500 | 4000 | 3450 | 2900 | 2350 | 1800 | 1250 | 750 | 200 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
¶ Table 2. Buffer pH, Sikora‐1 |
|||||||||||||
4.7 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 5.1 | 5.2 | 5.3 | 5.4 | 5.5 | 5.6 | 5.7 | 5.8 | 5.9 | |
Target soil pH: | -------------------- Tons 100% ECC Lime per Acre** -------------------- | ||||||||||||
6.0 | 10.3 | 9.8 | 9.4 | 8.9 | 8.4 | 8.0 | 7.5 | 7.1 | 6.6 | 6.1 | 5.7 | 5.2 | 4.8 |
6.4 | 12.2 | 11.7 | 11.1 | 10.6 | 10.1 | 9.5 | 9.0 | 8.4 | 7.9 | 7.3 | 6.8 | 6.2 | 5.7 |
6.5 | 12.7 | 12.1 | 11.5 | 11.0 | 10.4 | 9.8 | 9.2 | 8.7 | 8.1 | 7.5 | 7.0 | 6.4 | 5.8 |
6.8 | 14.1 | 13.5 | 12.8 | 12.2 | 11.6 | 10.9 | 10.3 | 9.7 | 9.0 | 8.4 | 7.8 | 7.1 | 6.5 |
7.0 | 15.1 | 14.5 | 13.8 | 13.1 | 12.4 | 11.7 | 11.1 | 10.4 | 9.7 | 9.0 | 8.4 | 7.7 | 7.0 |
Target soil pH: | -------------------- Tons 100% ENM Lime per Acre** -------------------- | ||||||||||||
6.0 | 8250 | 7900 | 7500 | 7150 | 6800 | 6400 | 6050 | 5650 | 5300 | 4950 | 4550 | 4200 | 3850 |
6.4 | 9750 | 9350 | 8900 | 8450 | 8000 | 7600 | 7150 | 6700 | 6250 | 5850 | 5400 | 4950 | 4500 |
6.5 | 10150 | 9700 | 9250 | 8750 | 8300 | 7850 | 7400 | 6950 | 6500 | 6050 | 5600 | 5150 | 4700 |
6.8 | 11300 | 10800 | 10300 | 9750 | 9250 | 8750 | 8250 | 7750 | 7250 | 6750 | 6200 | 5700 | 5200 |
7.0 | 12100 | 11550 | 11000 | 10450 | 9950 | 9400 | 8850 | 8300 | 7750 | 7200 | 6700 | 6150 | 5600 |
*ECC (Effective Calcium Carbonate); designation for limestone quality:
The following terms can be directly substituted for "ECC", depending on the location:
• ECCE, Effective Calcium Carbonate Equivalent
• NI, Neutralizing Index
• RNV, Relative Neutralizing Value
• ENP, Effective Neutralizing Power • ELM, Effective Liming Material
**ENM (Effective Neutralizing Material); quality designation for limestone sold in Missouri. (See Crop File 2.03.013, Lime Quality Calculations & Conversions)
LRq = LR / (LQ / 100)
where:
LRq = quality‐adjusted lime rate recommendation
LR = calculated lime rate recommendation
LQ = quality of lime source as percent (e.g., "% ECC", "lb ENM/ton", "% ECCE", "% CCE", etc.)
Example: 2.0 tons recommended / (60% ECC lime / 100) = 2.0 / 0.60 = 3.3 tons adjusted rate
Example: 2.0 tons recommended / (90% ECC lime / 100) = 2.0 / 0.90 = 2.2 tons adjusted rate
LRd = LR x (SD / 8)
where:
LRd = depth‐adjusted lime rate recommendation
LR = recommended lime rate for 8‐inch soil depth SD = soil sample depth, inches
Example: 2.0 tons recommended x (6‐inch depth / 8) = 2.0 x 6/8 = 2.0 x 0.75 = 1.5 tons adjusted rate
Example: 2.0 tons recommended x (9‐inch depth / 8) = 2.0 x 9/8 = 2.0 x 1.125 = 2.25 tons adjusted rate
where:
BpH = Sikora‐1 buffer pH value
LR_ECC = tons 100% ECC lime per acre
LR_ENM = pounds 100% ENM lime per acre
¶ Table 3. |
|
Target soil pH* | Tons 100% ECC/acre** |
6.0 | LR_ECC = 32.0 ‐ (BpH * 4.61) |
6.2 | LR_ECC = 35.0 ‐ (BpH * 5.04) |
6.4 | LR_ECC = 37.9 ‐ (BpH * 5.47) |
6.5 | LR_ECC = 39.4 ‐ (BpH * 5.69) |
6.8 | LR_ECC = 43.9 ‐ (BpH * 6.34) |
7.0 | LR_ECC = 46.9 ‐ (BpH * 6.77) |
¶ Table 4. |
|
Target soil pH* | Pounds 100% ENM/acre*** |
6.0 | LR_ENM = 25,595 ‐ (BpH * 3690) |
6.2 | LR_ENM = 27,975 ‐ (BpH * 4035)) |
6.4 | LR_ENM = 30,360 ‐ (BpH * 4380) |
6.5 | LR_ENM = 31,550 ‐ (BpH * 4550) |
6.8 | LR_ENM = 35,125 ‐ (BpH * 5070) |
7.0 | LR_ENM = 37,505 ‐ (BpH * 5415) |
*Lime recommendations for buffer pH values of 6.9 to 7.2, for target soil pH of 6.2, 6.4, and 6.8 are extrapolated from data provided in the reference below.
**ECC (Effective Calcium Carbonate); designation for limestone quality.
The following terms can be directly substituted for "ECC", depending on the location:
• ECCE, Effective Calcium Carbonate Equivalent
• NI, Neutralizing Index
• RNV, Relative Neutralizing Value
• ENP, Effective Neutralizing Power
• ELM, Effective Liming Material
***ENM (Effective Neutralizing Material); quality designation for limestone sold in Missouri