Yields Increase With Lime

Managing soil pH could increase crop production.

- Raylene Nickel

If your soil's pH levels are not within the ideal range your crops - require, you could be losing production. For overly acidic soils, applying lime to raise the pH level could prove a cost-effective management practice.

Liming of acidic soils can increase corn and soybean yields, says Antonio Mallarino, agronomist and Extension soil fertility specialist at Iowa State University (ISU). Numerous ISU research trials at multiple sites since 2007 showed liming increased corn or soybean yields up to about 25 bushels per acre over the yields of the control plots, Mallarino says. He did note that potential yield increases lessen when lime is applied to soils with higher initial pH levels.

The ISU trials compared pure calcium carbonate, calcitic aglime, dolomitic aglime, and pelleted lime applied to soils with pH of 4.9 to 7 or higher. All lime sources effectively increased soil pH, and there were no yield differences between the sources when applied based on the products' effective calcium carbonate equivalent (ECCE).

Liming increased corn and soybean grain yield in most fields with pH less than 5.9 to 6, and in several fields with pH from 6 to 6.5, Mallarino says. He noted maximized yields of both crops resulted from applied rates of about 1 to 3 tons ECCE per acre. Higher rates may be needed in other conditions.

Incorporating Lime Applications

Crop producers frequentCloverlook applying lime to manage soil pH, Mallarino says.