Liming Acid Soils

Many Kansas soils require regular lime application for optimum crop production. Summer and fall are the ideal time to apply lime to your fields since it is generally dryer and so the lime piles don’t freeze come the winter season. Having the proper pH in your soil reduces the harmful or even potentially toxic conditions of acid soils which is primarily caused by the application of nitrogen fertilizers. Most of the crops grown in Kansas prefer slightly acidic soil, but once the pH falls below 6.0, nutrient availability becomes hindered and yield reduction starts taking place. (See Percent Yield Chart below from KSU). Herbicide weed control also starts to break down faster. Soil pH levels vary across the field, ranging from 0-5 tons/ac on average, so we highly recommend grid soil sampling your field before application. This will ensure that you are applying the correct amount of lime to every acre with a variable rate prescription and avoid over-liming an area. The price of lime application varies, mostly by distance from field to lime source. An average rate of lime VRT applied is $36.50/ton, so it doesn’t take much variability to pay for the grid soil test.

I am often asked how a wheat field with a 5.0 or less pH can still raise 80bu wheat in a good year. When we get great moisture, nutrients are absorbed easier than normal. However, the biggest difference I see in the yield data is the customers who make the investment in lime tend to harvest 10-20bu/ac more in a marginal year, according to data from the past 2026 wheat crop season. It’s during these sub-optimal years where the investment in lime pays dividends because conditions and root uptake are limiting factors. This year, I have seen some fields really struggle, while others that were limited in recent years look substantially better. I To learn more about the benefits of liming your soils, please read this K-State eUpdate. Agronomy eUpdate August 1st, 2024 : Issue 1014

We still have a good supply of High ECC Water Treatment lime coming from Salina, so this is likely the best opportunity to lime if you are within about 50 miles of Salina. However, I understand current economics is making everything a challenge too. The last chart below highlights the savings from the Salina WT lime by comparing an average rate (3.2 tons/ac) of a typical 50% ECC Ag lime application to the equivalent rate (2 tons/ac) of the 80% ECC WT lime. The range of savings for most fields in that area is $15-$50/ac! Even though the WT lime typical costs more/ton, the higher ECC analysis makes it much cheaper per pound of ECC because you need less lime purchased, hauled and applied. It’s comparable to nitrogen prices between NH3 and Urea.

MKC is your local grid soil sampling and liming experts so please reach out to your nearest location, your Strategic Account Manager or email us agtech@mkcoop.com to set your fields up for success or get an exact lime application quote.




Article provided by Ross Benisch, Ag Technology Manager.