Pelletized Lime Q & A
**Q. Can I apply Hi-Cal Pellet Lime in the fall?
A: Our pelletized products can be applied any time that conventional dry fertilizer is applied. Fall applications will have adequate time to react with the soil before spring planting and spring applications work equally as well. This is due to the micro-ground fineness of grind that our pelletized products possess and the short length of time it takes the products to fully dissolve and react with the soil.
**Q: How much Pellet Lime equals a ton of ag lime?
A: Neutralizing acidic soil is only one benefit of Pellet Lime. Equally important is the super-fast acting nutritional calcium and/or magnesium that our products provide. With this in mind, our products are proven to be effective for maintaining existing soil water pH levels for the long-term and depending upon the farming practice, soil type and depth of tillage, can be used for small pH adjustments economically. Application rates for maintenance range from 200-400 pounds per acre. For plant food uptake of calcium, particularly with legume crops, see Average Nutrients Table located in the "Tools" section of the website for more information on rates to apply in order to feed the crop grown.
**Q. Can I use Pellet Lime in a row-starter blend?
A: Yes; The granule is sized closely to typical dry fertilizer. Rates normally range from 50-150 lbs/a and can be blended with other starter products including commonly used phosphate fertilizers. Starter applications are an effective method for encouraging the "drafting effect" of calcium pulling other essential elements into plant roots.
**Q. Which product should I choose: Calcitic or Dolomitic?
A: Depending on the manufacturing location, calcitic Pellet Lime contains 30-38% calcium and 0-4% magnesium. Dolomitic Pellet Lime is consistently 21-22% calcium and 11-12% magnesium. Look closely at your calcium and magnesium base saturation levels on your soil test. If both elements are close to being on target then use the less expensive product of the two. Should soil tests indicate a magnesium deficiency exists, apply dolomitic Pellet Lime.
**Q: Why is calcium so important?
A: Calcium has many functions in plants.
* Essential component in the formation of cell walls
* Aids in Nitrogen uptake and utilization
* Improves root development and movement of carbohydrates within the plant
* Critical role in symbiotic N fixation (nodulation formation)
Magnesium is directly involved with the photosynthesis process.
**Q How fast does Pellet Lime go to work?
A: Moisture (rain and even a heavy dew) will quickly dissolve the pellet at which time it only takes a few weeks for the micro ground lime to become available with adequate soil moisture and soil temperatures favorable for crop growth.
**Q: When should Pelletized Gypsum be used?
A: Pelletized Gypsum is a pH neutral product. That means it will neither raise nor lower soil pH levels. Therefore, whether existing soil pH levels are alkaline, neutral or acidic, gypsum will not have any affect on soil pH and will meet the crop needs for calcium and sulfur. Potato growers especially prefer Pelletized Gypsum because it will not affect the acid soil environment the crop is grown in and it provides the essential elements, calcium and sulfur. Pelletized Gypsum is also an effective soil conditioner on soils with high sodium content
**Q Can I apply Pellet Lime by itself?
A: Pellet Lime can be applied by itself. However, greater efficiencies will be achieved when combined with dry fertilizer as illustrated in our research results.
**Q What applications will give me the biggest return on investment?
A: Pellet Lime applied on cash rented ground with known low soil pH levels produces great results. Other key areas are applications on alfalfa, soybeans, corn, wheat and vegetables. For a closer look, check out our research section and see first-hand where we find the greatest return on investment.
**Q What are typical applications rates for various Midwest crops?
A: Application rates will vary by soil test results and crop grown. The typical application rate of Pellet Lime will vary from 600 pounds per acre plus on vegetables to 200-300 pounds per acre broadcast on soybeans and corn to 100-150 pounds per acre in row starters. For alfalfa, rates are based primarily on calcium removal.
**Q Should I incorporate the product after application?
A: A shallow incorporation ensures adequate soil to fertilizer contact. Surface applications in no-till or reduced till operations work well due to the micro grinding of our products. The fine particles follow the cracks in the soil and as water from rain or irrigation percolates down into the soil, it carries the lime along with it.
**Q Is it cost effective to use Pellet Lime to maintain soil pH?
A: Yes, research proves it. More and more agronomists are recommending it. Once a grower starts this program, he increases its use. Nitrogen applications are the key contributor to acidifying soils. It requires approximately 2 pounds of Pellet Lime to counteract the acidity caused by each pound of ammonia nitrogen applied. If a grower applies 150 pounds of ammonia nitrogen, 300 pounds of Pellet Lime will effectively neutralize the acidity caused by the nitrogen. For the best return on investment, combine the Pellet Lime with 100 pounds of potash and apply ahead of soybeans and watch your yields increase significantly.
**Q Do we have field trials to support our position?
A: Yes. Trials have been ongoing since 1994 at Arise Research near Casey, Illinois and with Gary Tuxhorn in Eldora, Iowa plus Dr. Randy Simonson in Catlin, Illinois along with several individual farm trials. Most of this research can be found in this site's "Research" section.
**Q What are the benefits of liming the soil?
A: * Improves the soil physical, chemical and biological properties
A: * Improves symbiotic nitrogen (N) fixation by legumes
A: * Influences the availability of plant nutrients – see the "Tools and Charts" section under Effect of Change in pH on the Availability of Plant Nutrients
A: * Reduces heavy metal toxicities such as aluminum (Al), manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe) that can occur in acid soils
A: * Improves the effectiveness of certain herbicides
A: * Supplies calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and other minerals |
**Q What should I expect out of a Pellet Lime program?
A: Pellet Lime is not only a great tool for soil pH management it also serves to supply crops with the essential elements, calcium and magnesium. Combined, Pellet Lime is an important component for any fertility program.
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WHY USE PELLET LIME?
Pellet Lime works fast to provide an immediate benefit for cash rented ground.
Pellet Lime blended with potash increases soybean growers' profits... see our Research Page about Soybean fertilizer.
Pellet Lime provides calcium and increases protein content in alfalfa hay and improves stand establishment... see our Research Page.
Use Pellet Lime to maintain soil pH levels and prevent the roller coaster effect from robbing N, P, K nutrient availability... see Tools and Charts - Soil-Nutrients-pH-Change.
Pellet Lime provides elemental calcium and if dolomitic is used, both calcium and magnesium are provided - two essential plant nutrients.
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