Comparison of Pelletized and Agricultural Lime for Effect on Soil pH and Forage Yield
1
Abstract Cost and application are major considerations when applying agricultural limestone to increase soil pH in pastures and hay fields. Pelletized limestone is being marketed with claims of increased effectiveness and longer pH response with lower application rates compared to agricultural lime. However, data are unavailable for effect of pelletized lime on forages. This demonstration project was conducted in Baxter County, Arkansas to determine the effectiveness of pelletized lime compared to agricultural lime when surface applied to bermuda pasture. On May 25, 2007 pelletized lime was applied at 500 and 1000 lbs/acre and agricultural lime was applied at 0, 1000, 2000, 4000, and 6000 lbs/acre. From the soil test pH values at six months and twelve months since applying lime, the pelletized lime at low or medium rates was not better than agricultural lime. Comparison of Pelletized and Agricultural Lime for Effect on Soil pH and Forage Yield Keaton, *M.D.¹, Ballantyne, P.², Espinoza, L. ³ , Jennings, J.A. ³ , Simon, K.J. ² ¹ Extension Agent, Arkansas Cooperative Extension, Baxter County, Mountain Home, AR 72653 ² Extension Program Associate, Arkansas Cooperative Extension, State Office, Little Rock, AR 72203 ³ Extension Specialist, Arkansas Cooperative Extension, State Office, Little Rock, AR 72203 This demonstration project was conducted in Baxter County, Arkansas to determine the effectiveness of pelletized lime compared to agricultural lime when surface applied to bermuda pasture. Summary From the soil test pH values at twenty-four months since applying lime, the pelletized lime at low or medium rates was not as good as the agricultural lime applied at 2000, 4000 or 6000 lbs. per acre. Only the agricultural lime rates of 4000 and 6000 lbs. per acre were statistically different from the control for soil pH. There was no statistical difference among treatments for yield. Procedure Plot size was 5’x25’ and each treatment was replicated three times. Fertilizer was applied according to University of Arkansas soil test recommendations. First application of fertilizer for the season was applied in May and then reapplied after each harvest. The rate of fertilizer applied was 68 lbs. of nitrogen and 75 lbs. of potassium. Pelletized lime was applied on May 25, 2007 at 500 and 1,000 pounds per acre rate and agricultural lime was applied at 0, 1000, 2000, 4000 and 6000 pounds per acre rate. Agricultural lime used had an effective calcium carbonate equivalent (ECCE) (CCE x fineness factor) of 960-1080 lb/ton and the ECCE of the pelletized lime of 1,700 lb/ton. Average dry matter yield for 2008 is from two harvest yields and 2009 is from three harvest yields. Soil series was a Healing- Razort-Britwater: Deep, level to Control PL - 500 PL - 1000 AL - 1000 AL - 2000 AL - 4000 AL - 6000 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 2008 Average Dry Matter Yield Treatment Control PL - 500 PL - 1000 AL - 1000 AL - 2000 AL - 4000 AL - 6000 3200 3400 3600 3800 4000 4200 4400 2008-09 Average Dry Matter Yield Treatment Dry Matter Yield (lb/ac) Control PL - 500 PL - 1000 AL - 1000 AL - 2000 AL - 4000 AL - 6000 4.6 4.8 5.0 5.2 5.4 5.6 5.8 24 Month pH Level pH Control PL - 500 PL - 1000 AL - 1000 AL - 2000 AL - 4000 AL - 6000 2700 2800 2900 3000 3100 3200 3300 3400 3500 3600 2009 Average Dry Matter Yield Treatment Dry Matter Yield (lb/ac) YELL BENTON CARROLL BOONE MARION LAFAYETTE INDEPENDENCE BAXTER FULTON RANDOLPH CLAY GREENE CRAIGHEAD MISSISSIPPI POINSETT CROSS CRITTENDEN ST. FRANCIS LEE PHILLIPS DESHA CHICOT ASHLEY DREW LINCOLN ARKANSAS JEFFERSON CLEVELAND BRADLEY CALHOUN UNION COLUMBIA MILLER LITTLE RIVER SEVIER HOWARD HEMPSTEAD NEVADA PIKE CLARK DALLAS HOT SPRING GRANT OUACHITA POLK MONTGOMERY GARLAND SALINE SCOTT PERRY PULASKI LONOKE PRAIRIE MONROE WHITE WOODRUFF CLEBURNE VAN BUREN POPE FAULKNER CONWAY LOGAN JOHNSON SEBASTIAN CRAWFORD WASHINGTON FRANKLIN MADISON NEWTON SEARCY STONE IZARD SHARP LAWRENCE JACKSON Results Objective Treatment Dry Matter Yield (lb/ac)
Transcript of Comparison of Pelletized and Agricultural Lime for Effect on Soil pH and Forage Yield
Abstract
Cost and application are major considerations
when applying agricultural limestone to increase
soil pH in pastures and hay fields. Pelletized
limestone is being marketed with claims of
increased effectiveness and longer pH response
with lower application rates compared to
agricultural lime. However, data are unavailable
for effect of pelletized lime on forages. This
demonstration project was conducted in Baxter
County, Arkansas to determine the effectiveness
of pelletized lime compared to agricultural lime
when surface applied to bermuda pasture. On
May 25, 2007 pelletized lime was applied at 500
and 1000 lbs/acre and agricultural lime was
applied at 0, 1000, 2000, 4000, and 6000
lbs/acre. From the soil test pH values at six
months and twelve months since applying lime,
the pelletized lime at low or medium rates was
not better than agricultural lime.
Comparison of Pelletized and Agricultural Lime for Effect on Soil pH and Forage Yield
Keaton, *M.D.¹, Ballantyne, P.², Espinoza, L.³, Jennings, J.A.³, Simon, K.J.²
¹ Extension Agent, Arkansas Cooperative Extension, Baxter County, Mountain Home, AR 72653² Extension Program Associate, Arkansas Cooperative Extension, State Office, Little Rock, AR 72203
³ Extension Specialist, Arkansas Cooperative Extension, State Office, Little Rock, AR 72203
This demonstration project was conducted in Baxter County, Arkansas to determine the effectiveness of pelletized lime compared to agricultural lime when surface applied to bermuda pasture.
Summary
From the soil test pH values at twenty-four months since applying lime, the pelletized lime at low or medium rates was not as good as the agricultural lime applied at 2000, 4000 or 6000 lbs. per acre.
Only the agricultural lime rates of 4000 and 6000 lbs. per acre were statistically different from the control for soil pH.
There was no statistical difference among treatments for yield.
Procedure
Plot size was 5’x25’ and each treatment was replicated three times.
Fertilizer was applied according to University of Arkansas soil test recommendations.
First application of fertilizer for the season was applied in May and then reapplied after each harvest.
The rate of fertilizer applied was 68 lbs. of nitrogen and 75 lbs. of potassium.
Pelletized lime was applied on May 25, 2007 at 500 and 1,000 pounds per acre rate and agricultural lime was applied at 0, 1000, 2000, 4000 and 6000 pounds per acre rate.
Agricultural lime used had an effective calcium carbonate equivalent (ECCE) (CCE x fineness factor) of 960-1080 lb/ton and the ECCE of the pelletized lime of 1,700 lb/ton.
Average dry matter yield for 2008 is from two harvest yields and 2009 is from three harvest yields.
Soil series was a Healing-Razort-Britwater: Deep, level to gently sloping, well drained, loamy soils that formed in alluvium.
Control PL - 500 PL - 1000 AL - 1000 AL - 2000 AL - 4000 AL - 60000
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
2008 Average Dry Matter Yield
Treatment
Control PL - 500 PL - 1000 AL - 1000 AL - 2000 AL - 4000 AL - 60003200
3400
3600
3800
4000
4200
4400
2008-09 Average Dry Matter Yield
Treatment
Dry
Mat
ter
Yie
ld (
lb/a
c)
Control PL - 500 PL - 1000 AL - 1000 AL - 2000 AL - 4000 AL - 60004.6
4.8
5.0
5.2
5.4
5.6
5.8
24 Month pH Level
pH
Control PL - 500 PL - 1000 AL - 1000 AL - 2000 AL - 4000 AL - 60002700
2800
2900
3000
3100
3200
3300
3400
3500
3600
2009 Average Dry Matter Yield
Treatment
Dry
Mat
ter
Yie
ld (
lb/a
c)
YELL
BENTON CARROLL BOONE
MARION
LAFAYETTE
INDEPENDENCE
BAXTER FULTON RANDOLPH CLAY
GREENE
CRAIGHEAD MISSISSIPPI
POINSETT
CROSS
CRITTENDEN
ST. FRANCIS
LEE
PHILLIPS
DESHA
CHICOT
ASHLEY
DREW
LINCOLN
ARKANSASJEFFERSON
CLEVELAND
BRADLEY
CALHOUN
UNIONCOLUMBIA
MILLER
LITTLE RIVER
SEVIER
HOWARD
HEMPSTEADNEVADA
PIKECLARK
DALLAS
HOT SPRING GRANT
OUACHITA
POLK MONTGOMERYGARLAND SALINE
SCOTT
PERRY
PULASKI LONOKE PRAIRIE
MONROE
WHITEWOODRUFF
CLEBURNEVAN BUREN
POPE
FAULKNER
CONWAY
LOGAN
JOHNSON
SEBASTIAN
CRAWFORD
WASHINGTON
FRANKLIN
MADISONNEWTON SEARCY
STONE
IZARD SHARPLAWRENCE
JACKSON
ResultsObjective
Treatment
Dry
Mat
ter
Yie
ld (
lb/a
c)
