Spreading Lime?

Muckit

Hi lads

Looking at results of soil samples. I'm happy that PK levels are good. However, I've alot of lime to spread. Some needs around 2tonne/st. acre, another field (peaty soil) needs 3.4tonne/st. acre

So should I get cracking organising to get it spread, or should I wait til back end?

Does anyone have contacts for suppliers of ground lime?
Contractor to spread? I'm in east Galway area (Galway/Roscommon border)

Thanks

funny man

Muckit wrote: »

Hi lads

Looking at results of soil samples. I'm happy that PK levels are good. However, I've alot of lime to spread. Some needs around 2tonne/st. acre, another field (peaty soil) needs 3.4tonne/st. acre

So should I get cracking organising to get it spread, or should I wait til back end?

Does anyone have contacts for suppliers of ground lime?
Contractor to spread? I'm in east Galway area (Galway/Roscommon border)

Thanks

Lime can be safely applied to grassland at any time of the year. It is important to ensure that lime is well washed off grass before stock graze it, as it can cause scouring. Lime should not be applied to silage fields in the Spring prior to cutting or between cuts as any traces of lime in the pit would have a very negative impact on preservation.

moy83

I was told to wait till the back end to spread the lime but if i wanted to get a headstart to put out a bag of the granulated stuff to the acre now and that would help .

Muckit

Thanks for that funnyman. Will keep off silage ground so. Do those figures sound like alot? Should/could I spread some this year and more next year?

funny man

Muckit wrote: »

Thanks for that funnyman. Will keep off silage ground so. Do those figures sound like alot? Should/could I spread some this year and more next year?

No i'd put it out in one application.

TUBBY

muckit,

hanly bros up in north roscommon (elphin)will deliver it. it round 16-17 euro a ton. they dump it off same as a load of sand.
bout another 6 to get spread.

bob charles

Muckit wrote: »

Hi lads

Looking at results of soil samples. I'm happy that PK levels are good. However, I've alot of lime to spread. Some needs around 2tonne/st. acre, another field (peaty soil) needs 3.4tonne/st. acre

So should I get cracking organising to get it spread, or should I wait til back end?

Does anyone have contacts for suppliers of ground lime?
Contractor to spread? I'm in east Galway area (Galway/Roscommon border)

Thanks

well Lads and Lassies,

May I ask if you are spreading lime due to low Ph or low calcium levels. These are two very different problems. Low Ph doesn't necessary mean a shortage of lime, Have you an advisor that has looked at the test results in detail and this is their recommendation or is it just what the lab put down on the result sheet


2 tons an acre is the absolute max rate of lime applied in one hit, spread at anytime of the year on grassland, you dont even have to remove the animals

funny man

bob charles wrote: »

well Lads and Lassies,

May I ask if you are spreading lime due to low Ph or low calcium levels. These are two very different problems. Low Ph doesn't necessary mean a shortage of lime, Have you an advisor that has looked at the test results in detail and this is their recommendation or is it just what the lab put down on the result sheet


2 tons an acre is the absolute max rate of lime applied in one hit, spread at anytime of the year on grassland, you dont even have to remove the animals

While i agree with your first point, all lime calculations are based on neutralizing the acidity in the top six inches of soil and to my mind this is where the reccomendations come from.

Where do you get the 2 tons max, i would be of the opinion that 2 tons would be the ideal amount and that around 3 ton would be max, where reseeding is concerned i'd be using the 4 ton max mark. on the animal not havn't to be removed, i think this is theoretically correct but i have first hand experience that it's practically wrong, as cattle can scour for days if the lime has not been washed off the grass.

bob charles

funny man wrote: »

While i agree with your first point, all lime calculations are based on neutralizing the acidity in the top six inches of soil and to my mind this is where the reccomendations come from.

Where do you get the 2 tons max, i would be of the opinion that 2 tons would be the ideal amount and that around 3 ton would be max, where reseeding is concerned i'd be using the 4 ton max mark. on the animal not havn't to be removed, i think this is theoretically correct but i have first hand experience that it's practically wrong, as cattle can scour for days if the lime has not been washed off the grass.

Large applications of lime with make crap of the soil biology. any contractor wont mind spreading at 1.5 tons per acre, and repeat after a year or so. It will be easier on your pocket aswell. Damage soil biology and it takes years to sort it out. I would err on the side of caution when taking Ph reading from a lab test as soil is not in it natural state.

OP, What are your calcium,magnesium levels and the Ph?

babybrian

we got back results which showed we need a lot of lime too but our advisor said that were are in a high molybdenum area so it basically halves the requirment...glad I asked him about it now cause lime isnt cheap!! Oh and please dont ask me what molybdenum is!:D

Nobbies

too quote a old man.AFIELD WITHOUT LIME IS LIKE BREAD WITHOUT BUTTER.

ihatetractors

funny man wrote: »

Where do you get the 2 tons max, i would be of the opinion that 2 tons would be the ideal amount and that around 3 ton would be max, where reseeding is concerned i'd be using the 4 ton max mark. on the animal not havn't to be removed, i think this is theoretically correct but i have first hand experience that it's practically wrong, as cattle can scour for days if the lime has not been washed off the grass.

I might be wrong but doesnt too much lime close off trace elements? Always thaught the approach was little and often ie. ton or so every 4-5 year?

funny man

ihatetractors wrote: »

I might be wrong but doesnt too much lime close off trace elements? Always thaught the approach was little and often ie. ton or so every 4-5 year?

Yes too much lime can lock in minerals in the soil, but on the flip side a low PH or acidic soil will also deprive the soil from taking up basic nutrients, so your approach of little and often is ok, but the time span of 4-5years isn't if your starting from a lower base.

johngalway

How soon can one do a soil test after fertilizing (done today). I'm considering my options on liming this year, don't know if it'd need it or whether slag (or something else) may be better, but I do feel the land is missing something.

moy83

johngalway wrote: »

How soon can one do a soil test after fertilizing (done today). I'm considering my options on liming this year, don't know if it'd need it or whether slag (or something else) may be better, but I do feel the land is missing something.

I could be wrong but i think its three months

funny man

johngalway wrote: »

How soon can one do a soil test after fertilizing (done today). I'm considering my options on liming this year, don't know if it'd need it or whether slag (or something else) may be better, but I do feel the land is missing something.

It is now recommended on intensive farms to sample every three years and every 5 years on extensive farms. It is also recommended that a soil test shouldn't be taken until 4 - 6 months after the last application of P and K. This may not always be practical in which case the emphasis should be placed on sampling in the same month every year samples are taken.