#SUPERCAL LIME FACT SHEET HOW TO#
#SUPERCAL LIME FACT SHEET PROFESSIONAL#

Water is required for the chemical process to begin. If you apply dry calcitic lime on a dry field, you will need to wait for rain for the treatment to work. Typical calcitic lime treatments require some patience. Although waiting for the treatment to become fully effective requires some patience, if you plant your fields every year, calcitic lime will likely be the only treatment you’ll need to balance the pH level.Ĭalcitic lime also works more quickly than dolomite lime: Calcium carbonate is better at balancing pHs than magnesium carbonate, and calcitic lime contains much higher levels of calcium carbonate than dolomite lime. With the combination of helpful micro-organisms and pH balanced soil, plants and crops will thrive.Ĭalcitic lime works effectively, even with one treatment. In addition to neutralizing pH, lime also encourages the growth of micro-organisms that contribute to plant health. By adding a lime treatment, you can undo the damage caused by nitrogen treatments without counteracting the benefits. Acidification is the natural result of nitrogen heavy fertilizing practices. It counteracts the acidification of field soil. The main “ingredient” in calcitic lime is calcium carbonate, which is why many people ask if calcium carbonate is the same as limestone.

A thorough application of pulverized limestone tilled into the soil raises the pH to a neutral level, increasing crop yields and improving overall soil health. What You Need to Know About Calcitic Lime Versus Dolomitic Lime What are The Benefits of Calcitic Lime?Ĭalcitic lime has long been the preferred treatment for acidic soil. The wrong product can become a much bigger problem than merely a waste of money. More importantly, some products can do more harm than good, because oversaturating your soil with certain minerals can be toxic to crops.īefore you begin ordering products for your fields, make sure you are confident about what your fields need. But it’s important to gather this information first, as the wrong product may be ineffective.

#SUPERCAL LIME FACT SHEET HOW TO#

Once you have gathered the necessary information, you can begin to explore how to make the necessary corrections. Finally, sandy soil is much more prone to mineral loss because drainage can leach the soil. Loam soil also retains magnesium well, but under certain conditions, it can become magnesium depleted. Clay and clay loam soil tends to retain magnesium well because it drains poorly. And while you want to confirm your soil’s mineral content, the soil type can usually point you in the right direction.

#SUPERCAL LIME FACT SHEET PROFESSIONAL#

You can use a home testing kit or you can have a professional come and perform a test for you.īut you will also want to determine if your soil is lacking other essential minerals.

If you determine that your soil is acidic, meaning it has a pH below 7, a lime treatment is probably necessary to adjust the pH level. Request A Quote On Our Lime Options! Determining Your Soil Needsīefore you begin exploring the best lime treatment option for you, you need to determine your soil needs.įirst and foremost, you need to determine your soil pH. You can also find and contact your local Baker Lime dealer to speak with a sales representative who will answer your questions directly. In it, we’ve spelled out the benefits and drawbacks of each type of lime application so you can make an informed decision.

In order to make choosing the best liming product a little easier, we’ve prepared a quick comparison of calcitic lime and dolomite lime. To keep a proper balance of magnesium in your soil, you need to be careful when selecting the proper lime for your fields. And if soil needs magnesium, wouldn’t it be best to just use dolomite lime all the time, just in case? Not if too much magnesium can also be a problem. Magnesium is an important mineral for plant health. The primary difference lies in the use of magnesium: Dolomite lime contains large amounts of magnesium along with calcium carbonate while calcitic lime only contains calcium carbonate. These similar products actually have a strikingly different influence on your soil. So what exactly is the difference between dolomitic and calcitic limestone? They are both made from pulverized limestone and both are effective at raising the pH in acidic soils. On the surface, Calcitic lime and dolomite lime seem like very similar products.

Need Help Choosing The Best Liming Products?Īuthor/Reviewed By: Josh Miller, Sales Manager: Baker Lime & North America Minerals.

Supercal lime fact sheet