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Limestone (Calcium Carbonate CaCO3) is a naturally
occurring mineral used in agriculture to change some physical and chemical
aspects of the soil, making it more productive.
WHY USE AGLIME?
Farmers use Aglime to improve productivity because
Aglime:
- Supplies needed Calcium (Ca) and
- Corrects soil acidity.
TEN BENEFITS OF AGLIME:
1. AGLIME IS A MAJOR SOURCE OF CALCIUM - AN
ESSENTIAL NUTRIENT.
- Calcium is an important constituent of cell
wall material, adding strength and stability to the plant. Calcium is
also involved within the enzyme system in the manufacture of protein.
- Calcium deficiency causes stunted growth, restricted
leaf development and paleness at leaf margins.
2. AGLIME CORRECTS ACIDIFICATION.
Part of Australia's land degradation problem includes soil acidification,
which alone is estimated to be costing the nation more than $300 million
in lost production annually (Dr Smiles, CSIRO July 1989).
Aglime reduces soil acidity, neutralising acid
soils. This allows the farmer to adjust soil pH to the level desired by
the plants and crops he is growing.
Acidification symptoms include:
- A reduction in the amount of clover based pasture.
- An increase in plant species (such as sorrel)
which have a greater acid tolerance.
- Yellowing of crops and pastures and bare patches
in the crop paddocks.
- A poor response, if any, to fertiliser application.
3. AGLIME REDUCES ALUMINIUM AND MANGANESE TOXICITIES.
THESE TOXICITIES OCCUR OFTEN AT LOW pH (as shown below):
Amounts of useful nutrient at various pH levels. The thicker the bar,
the more nutrient available.
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Interlocking bars mean that those chemicals
combine with Phosphates to form insoluble compounds (Crops &
Soils Magazine, January 1980).
Aluminium (Al), Manganese (Mn) and Iron (Fe)
are suppressed only when the pH range is between 6 and 7.
4. AGLIME IMPROVES FERTILISER EFFICIENCY:
Diagram 1 shows that when Aglime is added to acid soils, the uptake
of N, P, K, S, Ca, Mg, B, Cu, Zn and Mo is increased.
The diagram below looks at some actual quantitative
results for N, P, K at different pH levels.
Nutrient availability / effectiveness at
various soil pH levels.
Fertiliser efficiency increases as soil acidity
decreases.
For a given quantity of either Nitrogen, phosphorus or Potassium
which shows 100% availability at pH of 7, this availability has
almost halved for phosphorus with a pH drop to 6, and for a Nitrogen
and Potassium with a pH drop to 5. At pH of 5 only one third of
the phosphorus fully available at pH 7 is being released. Aglime
increases fertiliser efficiency.
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5. AGLIME INFLUENCES SOIL MICRO-ORGANISMS.
Generally, fungi dominate in the root zone of acid soils whilst bacteria
are more dominant in higher pH soils. Several bacteria species, which
are involved in nitrification of Ammonium Ions, prefer neutral soil
conditions and so depend on soil pH to produce more Nitrogen. Aglime
may improve soil micro-organism activity in acid soils. |
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6. AGLIME IMPROVED LEGUME NITROGEN FIXATION.
Many legumes prefer neutral soil conditions and the fixation of Nitrogen
from the air by free living organisms is favoured by neutral pH.
The same goes for many symbiotic Rhizobium species.
Aglime helps these legumes by controlling pH (as well as supplying needed
calcium) in acid soils.
7. AGLIME ASSISTS IN BALANCING NUTRIENTS.
Calcium and Magnesium largely comprise what is known as the Effective
Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC). Aglime assists in maintaining the desirable
balance of cations.
The range is:
- Calcium (Ca) 65-80%
- Magnesium (mg) 10-15%
- Potassium (K) 2-5%
- Sodium (Na) <1%
- Aluminium (Al) Nil
The exchange sites of soil particles are responsible
for holding and keeping nutrients for future use. Aglime is used to keep
the desirable balance of nutrients at these exchange sites.
8. AGLIME IMPROVES SOIL STRUCTURE AND PROMOTES
WORM ACTIVITY.
Soils with unbalanced nutrients are often poorly structured. Clay soils
with poor structure often have high concentrations of Sodium (Na) with
respect to their cation exchange capacity. The Calcium from Aglime is
able to replace Sodium and Hydrogen, making the soil more friable. Aglime
tends to prevent heavy clays, clay loams and silt loams from running together
when wet, so reducing crusting and clodding. This can result in the soil
having a higher moisture holding capacity, better water penetration and
improved aeration, which gives the plant a deeper root system and so reduces
erosion.
9. AGLIME PROMOTES ORGANIC MATTER DECAY.
With increased micro-organism activity, a well balanced nutrient content
and a better structured soil, the rate of organic matter decomposition
is significantly improved. This contributes even more to effective soil
composition.
The result is an easier, more effective and less
costly tillage. A more friable and drought resistant seedbed can result
from the use of Aglime.
10. AGLIME IMPROVES LIVESTOCK HEALTH.
All animals must have adequate supplies of Calcium in their diet for bone,
teeth and milk formation. Relationships between pasture and animal nutrition
can often be complex, however, a healthy growing pasture is related to
healthy growing stock.
Calcium deficiencies do occur, for example, drought
affected sheep fed on wheat alone should be supplemented with Calcium,
since wheat grain contains only 0.04% Calcium. This can be corrected by
adding Aglime to the feed.
Remember, intensive cropping programmes, long term and/or heavy use of
acidifying fertilisers, poor soil structure or high rainfall, all point
to a likely need for Aglime.
Aglime will store indefinitely without deterioration
and carries no caustic properties. It can be the difference between success
and failure of your crop or pasture.
Reduce the risk - have a soil test done by a recommended
soil laboratory.
SUITABLE pH RANGES FOR VARIOUS
CROPS
AGRICULTURE CROPS & GRASSES
| Barley 6.0-8.0 |
Phalaris 6.0-7.0 |
| Bermuda Grass 6.0-7.0 |
Rape 6.0-7.0 |
| Blue Grass 5.5-7.5 |
Red Top 6.0-7.5 |
| Brome Grass 6.0-8.0 |
Rice 5.0-6.0 |
| Clovers 5.5-7.0 |
Rye 5.0-6.5 |
| Cotton 6.0-8.0 |
Rye Grass 5.5-7.0 |
| Cowpeas 5.5-7.0 |
Serradella 5.5-7.0 |
| Fescue 5.0-7.0 |
Sorghum 5.5-7.5 |
| Flax 5.0-7.0 |
Soya Bean 6.0-7.0 |
| Lespedeza 4.5-6.5 |
Sugar Cane 5.5-8.0 |
| Lucerne 6.0-8.0 |
Sunflower 6.0-7.5 |
| Lupins 5.0-6.0 |
Timothy 5.5-8.0 |
| Maize 5.5-7.5 |
Tobacco 5.5-7.5 |
| Meadow Foxtail 5.5-7.5 |
Vetches 5.5-7.0 |
| Millet 5.0-6.5 |
Wheat 5.5-7.5 |
| Orchard Grass 5.5-7.5 |
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VEGETABLES
| Artichoke 6.5-7.5 |
Mushrooms 6.5-7.5 |
| Asparagus 6.5-7.0 |
Onion 6.0-7.0 |
| Bean 5.5-7.5 |
Parsley 6.5-7.5 |
| Beetroot 7.0-8.0 |
Parsnip 6.5-7.5 |
| Broccoli 6.5-7.5 |
Peas 6.0-7.5 |
| Brussel Sprouts 6.5-7.5 |
Potato 4.5-6.0 |
| Cabbage 6.0-7.0
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Pumpkin 5.5-7.0 |
| Carrot 6.5-7.5 |
Radish 6.5-7.5 |
| Cauliflower 6.0-7.0 |
Sage 6.0-7.0 |
| Celery 6.0-7.0 |
Shallot 6.0-7.0 |
| Chevril 7.0-8.0 |
Spinach 7.0-8.0 |
| Chive 6.0-7.0 |
Squash 5.5-6.5 |
| Cucumber 5.5-7.0 |
Swede 6.0-7.5 |
| Endive 6.5-7.5 |
Sweetcorn 5.5-7.5 |
| Horseradish 6.5-7.5 |
Thyme 6.0-7.0 |
| Leek 7.0-8.0 |
Tomato 6.0-7.0 |
| Lettuce 6.7-7.5 |
Turnip 5.5-7.0 |
| Marjoram 6.0-8.0 |
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FRUIT
| Almond 6.0-7.0 |
Melon 7.0-8.0 |
| Apple 6.0-7.0 |
Nectarine 5.5-7.0 |
| Apricot 5.5-8.0 |
Passionfruit 6.0-8.0 |
| Avocado 4.5-5.5 |
Peach 6.0-7.5 |
| Banana 6.5-7.0 |
Pear 6.5-7.5 |
| Cherry 6.5-7.5 |
Pineapple 4.5-5.5 |
| Citrus 6.0-7.5 |
Plum 6.5-7.5 |
| Currants 6.0-7.5 |
Raspberry 6.0-6.5 |
| Fig 6.0-7.0 |
Rhubarb 5.5-7.0 |
| Kiwifruit 6.5-7.5 |
Rockmelon 6.0-6.5 |
| Grape 5.5-6.5 |
Strawberry 6.5-7.5 |
| Macadamia 5.0-6.5 |
Walnut 6.0-8.0 |
| Mango 5.5-7.0 |
Watermelon 5.5-7.0 |
BOWLING GREENS & GOLF COURSES 6.0-6.5
The above soil pH values indicate the ideal
pH for various crops under most conditions. It does not imply that a crop
will not grow outside the indicated pH ranges. Aglime applications should
be made early to ensure maximum effectiveness and the greatest benefit.
(pH-testing methods can vary between NSW and QLD).
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