Grassland Management: Let’s talk lime

𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗦𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 & 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗙𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 -

𝕎𝕙𝕪 𝕕𝕠 𝕨𝕖 𝕟𝕖𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕠 𝕒𝕡𝕡𝕝𝕪 𝕝𝕚𝕞𝕖?

Lime is an essential part of striking the right balance for your soil pH for optimum performance. Ideally, aim for a soil pH of 6.3-7.0 on grassland. Before trying to correct any other soil elements such as P or K, lime should be addressed first. The availability of nutrients in soil is difficult to correct where soil pH is low. A poor soil pH will result in a poor soil function and have a negative knock-on effect on the release of nutrients from the soil. By correcting the soil pH, fertiliser efficiency is increased and leads to reductions in wasted fertiliser in future applications.

By ensuring your soil pH is optimal, you will increase the effectiveness of your fertiliser by reducing time and money on fertiliser that will be otherwise inefficient.

𝔸𝕡𝕡𝕝𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕖?

The suggested application rate for lime on grassland is 2tonne/acre – this is so the lime is well washed in to the grass from the leaf of the grass.

Remember, lime doesn’t work immediately. However, ground lime will work quicker because of the faster breakdown in the soil. The ideal conditions for liming paddocks are when they are fully grazed and rain is forecasted (current conditions!).

ℍ𝕠𝕨 𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝕀 𝕙𝕖𝕝𝕡 𝕪𝕠𝕦?

Lime is a cheap and worthwhile investment for your soil and a soil test can be used to identify the soil pH levels. A soil test can be used to determine the application rates required.

To book your soil test to correct your soil pH and get the maximum efficiency from your fertiliser applications, get in contact!

Call: 0858391019

Email: atempleagriconsultancy@gmail.com