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N.P. Anderson, J.M. Hart, D.M. Sullivan, N.W. Christensen, D.A. Horneck, and G.J. Pirelli
S
oil acidification, or a decrease in soil pH, is Table 1.—Minimum soil pH values recommended for crops
a natural process that is accelerated by crop grown in western Oregon.a
production practices, primarily the use of Minimum
nitrogen (N) fertilizers such as urea, ammonium sul- Crop pH
fate, or other fertilizers containing ammonium-N. Alfalfa 6.5
As soil acidification occurs, soil chemical and Beans and cucurbits 5.8
Blueberries, rhododendrons, and azaleas 4.5
biological properties change. One chemical change
Cereals or small grainsb 5.5–5.8
is increased solubility of aluminum (Al) and man- Christmas trees 5.0
ganese (Mn), both of which can be toxic to plants. Corn
Plants vary in their tolerance of Al and Mn, creating Grain or silage 5.5
crop-specific soil pH requirements. Adding lime Sweet corn 5.8
(Figure 1) increases soil pH (reduces acidity), adds Forage and seed legumes
calcium (Ca) and/or magnesium (Mg), and reduces Crimson/subterranean clovers, vetchb 5.5–6.0
the solubility of Al and Mn in the soil. Red clover for forage or seed 6.0
White clover for forage or seed 5.8
Soil pH management Garlic 6.5
Hops 5.7
The first step is to determine the soil pH required
Pasture, seed, and turf grassb 5.5–5.8
for your crop. The pH at which yield is diminished Peppermint 5.6–6.0
varies among crops. Table 1 provides minimum soil Shade, ornamental, fruit, and nut treesb, c 5.5–5.8
pH recommendations for western Oregon crops. Vegetables, brassica (broccoli, etc.) 6.3
Crop-specific guidance is provided in Oregon State Vegetables, assorted for small acreage 6.5d
University (OSU) and Pacific Northwest (PNW) a
When soil pH is below the minimum value, crop yields may be reduced.
Extension nutrient management guides. Other pub- b
Range is given, as specific minimum pH values vary among crop species.
lications in this series (Soil Acidity in Oregon and c
Soil pH for red maple should not exceed 6.0.
continues on page 3
d
Use this value when a small area with a variety of vegetables is produced,
especially when growing garlic, onions, spinach, radish, brassicas, and greens
such as lettuce and arugula.
OSU Marion County Extension office
Publication summary
This publication describes how to estimate By-product lime products can be a cost-
lime application rate and lists criteria for choos- effective substitute for traditional aglime. Their
ing liming materials (source), lime application characteristics should be evaluated carefully. For
method (placement), and how often to apply lime certified organic crops, use only lime approved by
(frequency). your certification agency.
Lime application rate is determined using the Lime application method (placement) takes
lime requirement test (SMP buffer method). For two forms. Lime is either applied and left on the
established perennial or no-till crops, a top-dress soil surface or incorporated. In the absence of till-
lime application (1 to 2 t/a) may be benefi- age, soil pH increases only in the top inch or 2 of
cial. When very different soils are present within soil since lime’s limited solubility means that the
a field, variable-rate lime application is usually liming material must contact acidic soil before it
advantageous. will react and change soil pH.
Liming materials vary in effectiveness. The Frequency of lime application is determined
carbonate in traditional aglime (calcium or mag- primarily by cation exchange capacity (CEC) and
nesium carbonate) reacts with soil acidity to crop management practices, especially N fertil-
neutralize it. izer rate. Soil pH declines faster in sandy (low
Liming materials have very limited move- CEC) soils than in soil with moderate to high
ment into the soil without incorporation. Tillage clay content. The typical rate of pH decline is
increases effectiveness of all lime materials by approximately 0.1 pH unit per year when 100 lb
mixing them into the rooting zone. ammonium N/a is applied.
Evaluate liming materials based on effective- For annual crop rotations, apply lime about a
ness (lime score) and cost. Calculate product cost year before planting the crop that is most sensitive
per ton of 100-score lime. to soil acidity. For perennial crops, soil test and
apply lime prior to tillage for crop establishment.
Related publications
This publication is the first in a three-part series. We recom-
mend you use them in combination.
Soil Acidity in Oregon, EM 9061 (in press)
• Discusses why soil pH management is critical to long-term
soil productivity.
• Explains the mechanisms whereby acidity injures crops.
• Gives historical perspective of what is known about soil
Gale Gingrich
Figure 3.—Soil acidity reacts with lime to form water and carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide gas is lost to the
atmosphere. This chemical reaction continues until all of the lime has reacted. Figure by Dan Sullivan.
3
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Why the name? perfect, and because soil sampling techniques add
The SMP buffer test is named after Shoemaker, variability, we recommend that you use SMP as
McLean, and Pratt, the soil scientists who pub- a guide for lime requirement. Measuring soil pH
lished the method in 1961. after lime application verifies the adequacy of the
lime application rate. “Lime to apply” recommen-
Use dations given in Figure 5 and Table 3 (page 6) are
Lime reacts with H; therefore, the amount of usually accurate to ± 0.5 ton lime.
both soluble and exchangeable H must be mea- Future of the SMP
sured or estimated to determine lime rate. When
soil is mixed with water to measure soil pH in a Since some of the chemicals used to make the
laboratory, very little H is in soil solution. Most SMP test are hazardous (chromium and para-
of the H is exchangeable, or electrostatically nitrophenol), substitute lime requirement tests
attracted to the soil particles. The SMP buffer have been developed. One method, the Sikora
measures H attracted to the soil particles as well Buffer, has recently been developed by Frank
as the soluble H. Sikora at the University of Kentucky.
Information about the SMP buffer and western Soil test data using the Sikora Buffer have been
Oregon soil formed from volcanic ash, such as the evaluated via the North American Proficiency
Sifton series, is found in Appendix C (page 20). Testing (NAPT) program for several years. In
NAPT evaluations to date, lime requirement
Accuracy determined by Sikora and SMP buffer tests have
The accuracy of lime requirements estimated approximately a 1:1 correlation. This result shows
by the SMP test was assessed with incubation the two methods provide the same or very simi-
studies of western Oregon soils. The correlation lar results. The Sikora Buffer may be suitable for
between lime requirement measured by SMP Oregon soils, but it has not been extensively eval-
and lime requirement found by adding lime to uated. Refer to the references by Sikora listed at
soil was acceptable. Because the SMP test is not the end of this publication for more information
about the Sikora Buffer.
4
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1.5
not be used to make lime rate recommendations. It is intended only to
illustrate lime rate differences related to different organic matter and clay
content (CEC) of various soil types. Table by John Hart. Data from Peterson,
1
1971.
Bashaw
0.5
Newberg When soils in the same field differ greatly in
texture and/or organic matter, they will have dif-
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 ferent liming requirements. Soil sampling in zones
Lime rate (t/a) within the field can be used to develop a plan for
Figure 4.—Differences in soil resistance to pH change variable-rate liming.
(soil pH buffering capacity) are associated with Methods and tools for estimating soil textural
differences in soil cation exchange capacity (CEC). The class and sampling by zones include Natural
Bashaw clay soil (CEC = 35) requires about twice as
Resources Conservation Service soil maps, grid
much lime as the Newberg fine sandy loam soil
(CEC = 15) to increase pH by 1 unit. The lime sampling, and soil electrical conductivity map-
requirement test (SMP test) can be used to provide ping. Soil sampling methods that can be adapted
lime recommendations for soils with different CEC. for variable-rate liming are discussed in publica-
Figure by John Hart. Data from Peterson, 1971. tion PNW 570, Monitoring Soil Nutrients Using a
Management Unit Approach.
5
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The first step in using either Table 3 or Figure 5 is Table 3.—Lime requirement test (SMP) interpretation.
to decide the soil pH best for your cropping system Desired soil pH
(see Table 1, page 1). This pH is your “desired” or pH 5.6 pH 6.0 pH 6.4
“target” soil pH. Figure 5 can be used only if your
Lime to apply
target soil pH is 6.4. Table 3 lists lime application Lime requirement to attain desired soil pHa
rates needed to reach a target or desired soil pH of test value (SMP) (t/a)
5.6, 6.0, or 6.4. For acid-loving plants such as blue- 6.7 0 0 0
berry, azalea, or red maple, apply a single application 6.6 0 0 1.0
of no more than 2 t lime/a, even if the SMP test indi- 6.5 0 1.0 1.7
cates a greater lime need. 6.4 0 1.1 2.2
6.3 0 1.5 2.7
Using Table 3 to interpret the SMP test 6.2 1.0 2.0 3.2
Table 3 gives a recommendation for lime appli- 6.1 1.4 2.4 3.7
cation (t/a) based on the soil test value you obtain 6.0 1.7 2.9 4.2
5.9 2.1 3.3 4.7
from an analytical laboratory. This table is valid only
5.8 2.5 3.7 5.3
when the laboratory uses the SMP lime requirement
5.7 2.8 4.2 5.8
test. Other lime requirement tests have different 5.6 3.2 4.6 6.3
calibration and use a different interpretive table. An 5.5 3.6 5.1 6.8
example of how to use Table 3 follows. 5.4 3.9 5.5 7.3
Situation: A soil sample is collected from the 5.3 4.3 6.0 7.8
0- to 6-inch depth. The current soil pH (measured in 5.2 4.7 6.4 8.3
5.1 5.0 6.9 8.9
water) is 5.0. You want to increase soil pH from 5.0
5.0 5.4 7.3 9.4
(current value) to 5.6 (desired or target value). 4.9 5.8 7.7 9.9
Step 1. The lab analyzes the soil sample. It reports 4.8 6.2 8.3 10.4
a lime requirement test (SMP) value of 6.0. a
“Lime to apply” values are based on application of 100-score lime and 6-inch
soil sampling depth. For example, lime to apply = 1.7 t/a when desired soil
Step 2. Find the SMP test value in the left column pH is 5.6 and the lime requirement test (SMP) value is 6.0.
(blue text). For this example, find “6.0.”
Step 3. Find the appropriate column for “Desired
soil pH.” In this example, the “pH 5.6” column repre-
sents the desired or target pH for your field.
Step 4. Read “Lime to apply” (t/a) from the appro-
priate row and column in the table. In this example,
“Lime to apply” equals 1.7 ton of 100-score lime per
acre. An explanation of lime score and its use is pro-
vided on pages 9–10.
Adjusting lime recommendations
to account for tillage depth
Rates of lime recommended in Table 3 are based
on a 6-inch depth of lime incorporation with tillage.
Figure 5.—Lime requirement test (SMP) interpretation.
If you plan shallow or no incorporation, such as in Use this figure to determine the amount of lime to apply
perennial pastures or other situations with no tillage, to reach a target soil pH of 6.4. Step 1. Find your SMP test
apply 1 to 2 t lime/a when the soil pH is below the value on the x-axis. Step 2. Read the recommended liming
desired level or the recommended pH for the crop. rate (100-score aglime) from either y-axis. The left y-axis
Rates higher than 2 t/a are not warranted for top- gives lime need in units of t/a. The right y-axis gives lime
dress application because the applied lime will affect need in units of lb/a. An explanation of lime score and its
use is provided on pages 9–10 of this publication. If your
pH only in the top 1 to 2 inches of soil. target or desired soil pH is not 6.4, use Table 3 to interpret
your SMP test results. Figure by Dan Sullivan.
6
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Liming materials
After selecting a lime rate, the next decision is to
choose a lime material (Table 4). For most situations,
choose a product that gives the most liming value
(determined by lime score) per dollar (see page 10).
Other factors to consider include product availabil-
ity, need for Mg fertilization, desired speed of acid
Gale Gingrich
neutralization, and ease of application.
Liming materials are available as a powdery
ground material, granule or prill, or fluid. Figure 6.—Pelleted lime.
Traditional agricultural lime (aglime, lime, ground
limestone, or calcitic lime) is a finely ground mate- or bentonite clay, materials that slake or allow the
rial that passes through a 40-mesh sieve. It is prill to fall apart in water (soil moisture, rain, or
primarily calcium carbonate. irrigation). This material is more expensive than
traditional powdered lime but provides relatively
Another mined and ground material is dolomite
dust-free application. It is commonly used for turf
(dolomitic lime). In addition to calcium carbonate, it
and landscapes. Soil pH change may be slower for
also contains magnesium carbonate. It is a common
pelleted material compared to powdered lime of the
liming material for acidic soil deficient in Mg.
same score until slaking and mixing occur.
Calcium hydroxides and oxides (quick lime and
Fluid lime, sometimes called “liquid lime,” is a
burnt lime) are manufactured from carbonate lime.
suspension of very fine particles, 100-mesh or finer,
They react with acidity more rapidly than lime-
mixed with water. This material has very limited
stone, changing soil pH in days rather than weeks.
solubility; for the most part, it is simply suspended
Drawbacks of these products include cost and diffi-
in water (see page 8 for more information).
culty in handling and application due to their caustic
nature. Their rapid reaction time also creates the By-product lime in Oregon usually is carbon-
potential to raise pH above the maximum value for ate lime with impurities. By-product lime sources
the crop. include paper mills, sugar beet processors, and
seafood processors. Coastal areas with fisheries
Granular, prilled, or pelleted lime (Figure 6)
sometimes supply shells from shrimp and crab as
is finely ground lime “glued” with lignosulfonate
liming materials (see Appendix A, page 16).
continues on page 9
Table 4.—Typical characteristics of liming materials available in Oregon (dry weight basis).
Calcium carbonate equivalent (CCE) Lime Ca Mg
Material (%) score (%) (%)
Common mined products
Limestone (CaCO3) 90–100 90–100 32–39 below 1
Dolomite (CaCO3 + MgCO3) 95–110 95–110 18–23 8–12
Specialty oxides and hydroxides
Hydrated lime [Ca(OH)2] 120–135 120–135 54 below 0.5
Burnt lime or calcium oxide (CaO) 150–175 150–175 71 0
By-products
Sugar beet lime 70–75 40–50 25 below 0.5
Paper mill lime 10–100 0–70 10–40 below 0.5
Cement plant flue dust 110–120 105–115 — 1–2
Shrimp and crab wastea 30–40 — 15–20 —
CA lime (controlled atmosphere storage) 100 50–75 — —
Wood ash 2–30 2–20 1–9 below 1
a
Shrimp and crab waste CCE is expressed on a dry weight basis. Typical “as-is” moisture is 65 to 75 percent. Application rate of these by-products is limited by N.
A dry ton of shrimp or crab by-product contains about 90 lb N.
7
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8
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6
100 Mesh your organic certification agency to con-
40 to 50 Mesh firm National Organic Program (NOP)
5.5
8 to 20 Mesh compliance. Mined agricultural lime-
5 No Lime Added stone, dolomitic lime, oyster shell lime,
4.5 and other nonsynthetic liming materi-
0 5 10 15 20 als generally are allowed under NOP
Months certification. To be an effective liming
Figure 7.—The finer the aglime, the faster it neutralizes soil acidity. material, oyster shells must be ground to
This figure illustrates soil pH resulting from very fine lime (passing the same size as traditional mined cal-
100-mesh screen), fine lime (40- to 50-mesh), and coarse lime (8- to
citic or dolomitic limestone.
20-mesh). Lime was incorporated into soil with pH 5.0 at Month 0.
The time scale on this graph (months) doesn’t allow illustration Hydrated lime or slaked lime is con-
of pH increase during the first few weeks after incorporation. This sidered a “synthetic” liming material and
figure illustrates a general concept; it is not based on a particular is prohibited under NOP certification.
dataset. Figure by John Hart.
9
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rate does not increase greatly for particle sizes smaller Application cost for products can be compared
than 100-mesh. Many particles present in aglime are using lime score.
about 40- to 50-mesh. These particles require about a Example: An application rate of 1 t/a of 100-score
year for complete reaction, but a measurable change lime is needed. We use the per-ton cost and the
in soil pH usually occurs within a few months of application rate to compare the per-acre cost of two
application. Coarse particles (8- to 20-mesh) react materials: 100-score aglime (at a cost of $65/t) and a
very slowly. 70-score by-product material (at a cost of $40/t).
A mix of particle size is desirable in liming mate- Cost of material for 100-score lime (1 t/a):
rials. While fine particles are useful for rapidly
increasing soil pH, coarser particles react for a year or = rate × cost/t
more to maintain soil pH. = 1 t/a of 100-score lime × $65/t
Calculating lime score = $65/a
Lime score is calculated by multiplying these three Cost of material for 70-score lime (to supply equiva-
factors as shown below. lent of 1 t/a of 100-score lime):
Lime score = CCE × mf × ff = rate × cost/t
where: = 1.4 t/a of 70-score lime × $40/t
CCE = calcium carbonate equivalent (pure = $56/a
calcium carbonate = 100)
mf = moisture factor (0 to 1; dry lime = 1) Method of lime application
ff = particle size fineness factor (0 to 1; based Regardless of whether it is powdered, prilled, or
on screening lime to determine particle fluid, lime is usually applied to the soil surface and
size distribution) either left on the surface or incorporated. In the
absence of tillage, soil pH increases only in the top
Example: A liming material has the following
inch or 2 of soil since the limited solubility of lime
analysis:
means that the liming material must contact acidic
Calcium carbonate equivalent (CCE) = 92 soil before it will react and change soil pH.
Moisture factor (mf) = 0.85
Top-dressing
Fineness factor (ff) = 0.88
Several studies from western Oregon have illus-
This material has a lime score of 69, calculated as: trated the lack of soil pH change beyond the soil
Lime score = CCE × mf × ff = 92 × 0.85 × 0.88= 69 surface when lime is top-dressed (Figure 8). Figure 9
(page 11) shows the average pH change when 1 to
Using lime score to adjust 1.5 t lime/a was applied to the surface of seven
application rates and compare costs western Oregon perennial grass seed fields. Fifteen
The lime score of a liming material is used to months after lime was applied, the soil was sampled
determine application rate, given a target application
rate of 100-score lime.
Example: A paper mill lime product has lime score of
70. To deliver the equivalent of 1 t/a of 100-score lime,
1.4 t/a of paper mill lime is needed, as shown below:
Liming product rate needed:
= (Desired rate of 100-score lime) × 100 ÷
Mark Mellbye
10
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Mark Mellbye
tional agricultural lime (Figure 14, page 13). While
granular lime is 4 to 5 times more expensive than
agricultural lime, the product is used at a rate of 100
Figure 10.—Lime incorporation.
to 150 lb/a and therefore costs 10 to 15 percent of a
conventional 2 to 3 t/a agricultural lime application.
Table 6.—Soil pH with depth from the application of
A low rate of banded granular lime, such as 6.5 t lime/a to a Nekia soil.a
150 lb/a, is insufficient to increase soil pH or soil Ca Incorporation method
levels throughout the root zone. Granular lime is
Disk Rototill
placed with the seed at planting to neutralize acidity Soil depth
in the germination zone, improve seedling growth (inches) Soil pH
and establishment, and ultimately help maintain 0–2 6.6 6.1
seed yields on low-pH soils. Limited OSU field 2–4 5.6 6.3
research shows that this practice improves yield and 4–6 5.3 5.9
is a management option for field crops. See publi-
a
Initial soil pH was 5.3, and SMP buffer pH was 5.6. Lime was
incorporated by disking or rototilling. Table by John Hart. Adapted
cation EM 8854, Annual Ryegrass Grown for Seed
from Doerge and Gardner, 1985a.
(Western Oregon) Nutrient Management Guide, for
more information.
continues on page 13
11
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(lb/a)
investment when suitable forage species are pres-
ent (Figure 11). Species such as tall fescue, 2,000
orchardgrass, perennial ryegrass, and clover ben-
0
efit from a top-dress lime application. Pastures 0 1 2
that consist primarily of bentgrass, velvetgrass, Top-dress lime rate (t/a)
and similar less productive species will not Figure 12.—Annual pasture dry matter yield the
increase forage yield or quality after top-dressing second year after top-dress lime application to an
orchardgrass–bentgrass pasture in Tillamook County
with lime.
with a soil pH of 5.2 (0- to 2-inch depth). Figure by
Unlike fertilizer, especially N, lime is applied John Hart. Data from Rogers, 1995.
to maintain adequate soil pH and optimal yield
rather than to increase yield. Even so, increased Yield increase can be substantial when the
forage yields from top-dressed lime applications forage contains a legume and suitable grass
have been measured in western Oregon when the species. For example, a nonirrigated orchard-
soil pH is below the crop threshold. grass–clover pasture in Lane County received
top-dress lime applications of 0, 1, and 2 t/a in the
For example, a nonirrigated orchardgrass– fall. Similar to the pasture in Tillamook County,
bentgrass pasture in Tillamook County received no yield increase was measured the following
top-dress lime applications at rates of 0, 1, and 2 spring. However, the second spring after top-
t/a in the fall. The surface soil pH was 5.2, and the dressing, annual forage yield increased 3,000 lb/a
recommended minimum soil pH for an orchard- where 2 t lime/a was top-dressed compared to the
grass pasture is 5.8. No yield increase was treatment receiving no lime (Figure 13).
measured the first spring after application.
However, the second spring after lime was top- 10,000
Forage yield, 1995
12
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Mark Mellbye
0
5
Figure 14.—Pelleted lime being loaded into drill box for
13
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In sandy soils with a low CEC, such as the Madras Doerge, T., P. Bottomley, and E. Gardner. 1985.
series from central Oregon, the rate of soil pH Molybdenum limitations to alfalfa growth and
decline is about double that for surface soil from nitrogen content on a moderately acid, high-
western Oregon—0.2 unit/100 lb N/a. (See “Soil phosphorus soil. Agron. J. 77(6):895–901.
CEC and liming,” page 5.) Doerge, T. and E. Gardner. 1985a. Reacidification of
For annual crop rotations, apply lime about a year three limed soils in central and western Oregon. In:
before planting the crop that is most sensitive to soil Proceedings of the 1985 Western Oregon Fertilizer
acidity. Evaluate lime need regularly, especially when Dealers’ Conference, February 7, 1985, Albany, OR.
a rotation includes crops that are tolerant of acidic http://hdl.handle.net/1957/38003
soil (wheat and grass seed) followed by crops that are Doerge, T. and E. Gardner. 1985b. Reacidification of
more sensitive to soil acidity (cauliflower, spinach, two lime amended soils in western Oregon. Soil Sci.
red clover, and garlic). Soc. Am. J. 49(3):680–685.
Doerge, T. and E. Gardner. 1988. Comparison of four
For more information methods for interpreting the Shoemaker-McLean-
The following OSU Extension publications are Pratt (SMP) lime requirement test. Soil Sci. Soc.
available online at: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/ Am. J. 52(4):1054–1059.
catalog/ Fitzgerald, M., M. Mellbye, and D. Sullivan. 1997.
Annual Ryegrass Grown for Seed (Western Oregon) Liming with recycled paper residue (RPR). In:
Nutrient Management Guide, EM 8854 W.C. Young III (ed.). 1997 Seed Production Research
at Oregon State University, USDA-ARS Cooperating.
Christmas Tree Nutrient Management Guide, Western
Ext/CrS 111. Oregon State University Department
Oregon and Washington, EM 8856 of Crop and Soil Science.
Eastern Oregon Liming Guide, EM 9060 Hart, J. and M. Mellbye. 2010. Annual ryegrass seed
Evaluating Soil Nutrients and pH by Depth in production in acidic soil. In: W.C. Young III (ed.).
Situations of Limited or No Tillage in Western 2009 Seed Production Research at Oregon State
Oregon, EM 9014 University, USDA-ARS Cooperating. Ext/CrS 129.
Oregon State University Department of Crop and
Monitoring Soil Nutrients Using a Management Unit
Soil Science.
Approach, PNW 570
Horneck, D. 1994. Nutrient management and cycling
Soft White Winter Wheat (Western Oregon) Nutrient in grass seed crops. Ph.D. thesis, Oregon State
Management Guide, EM 8963 University. Chapter 5 and appendix. http://hdl.
Soil Acidity in Oregon: Understanding and Using handle.net/1957/22239
Concepts for Crop Production, EM 9061 (in press) Jackson, T., H. Rampton, and J. McDermid. 1964.
The Effect of Lime and Phosphorus on the Yield
References
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Baron, L. and E. Gardner. 1975. Liming for Filbert Oregon. TB 83. Oregon State University Agricultural
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Costa, R. Jr. 1978. The fertilizer value of shrimp and Oregon Vegetable Digest 23:(2)1–2.
crab processing wastes. M.S. thesis, Oregon State
Kauffman, M. 1977. The effect of soil acidity and lime
University. http://hdl.handle.net/1957/35806
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Doerge, T. 1985. Evaluation of long term reacidifica- wheat and alfalfa. Ph.D. dissertation, Oregon State
tion and growth of alfalfa on selected limed soils in University.
western Oregon. Ph.D. dissertation, Oregon State
Kauffman, M. and E. Gardner. 1978. Segmental liming
University.
of soil and its effect on the growth of wheat. Agron.
J. 70:331–336.
14
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Mellbye, M. 1988. The effect of surface liming on soil Sikora, F. 2007. Replacing SMP Buffer with Sikora
pH and calcium. Handout, Soil Acidity and Liming Buffer for Determining Lime Requirement of Soil.
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Mellbye, M. 1992. Surface limed soil—six years later. group). http://soils.rs.uky.edu/sikora_smptechreport.
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No. 9, p. 6. http://hdl.handle.net/1957/38002 Stevens, G., D. Dunn, and B. Phipps. 2001. How
Mellbye, M. 1996. Effect of recycled paper residue to diagnose soil acidity and alkalinity problems
soil amendment (RPR) on ryegrass seed yields. In: in crops: A comparison of soil pH test kits. J. of
W.C. Young III (ed.). 1996 Seed Production Research Extension. http://www.joe.org/joe/2001august/tt3.
at Oregon State University, USDA-ARS Cooperating. php
Ext/CrS 110. Oregon State University Department Stevens, G., A. Wrather, H. Wilson, and D. Dunn. 2002.
of Crop and Soil Science. Soil sampling fields with four types of probes. Crop
Myer, R. 1999. Agricultural Use of Wood Ash in Management. doi:10.1094/CM-2002-1025-01-RS
California. Publication 21573. University of Young, W. III, M. Mellbye, G. Gingrich, T. Silberstein,
California. T. Chastain, and J. Hart. 2000. Defining optimum
Peterson, P. 1971. Liming requirement of selected nitrogen fertilization practices for grass seed
Willamette Valley soils. M.S. thesis, Oregon State production systems in the Willamette Valley. In:
University. http://hdl.handle.net/1957/35805 W.C. Young III (ed.). 2000 Seed Production Research
at Oregon State University, USDA-ARS Cooperating.
Rogers, J. 1995. The effect of top-dressed lime upon Ext/CrS 115. Oregon State University Department
pasture production and quality. M.S. thesis, Oregon of Crop and Soil Science.
State University. http://hdl.handle.net/1957/18986
Sikora, F. 2006. A buffer that mimics the SMP buffer
for determining lime requirement of soil. Soil Sci.
Soc. Am. J. 70:474–486.
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Appendix A. By-product Liming Materials: Are They a Good Fit to Your Needs?
What are by-products?
By-product lime products are derived from
industrial processes such as paper manufacturing,
refining sugar beets, or processing shrimp and crab.
By-product lime products may be sold and applied
by agrichemical (fertilizer) dealers, or they may be
managed by a third party land application contractor
who works for the by-product generator (factory or
mill).
Mark Mellbye
Compared to other lime products, particle size
in by-product lime may not be as important in
determining effectiveness as a liming material. Figure 16.—Delivery and piling of by-product lime.
Most by-products are chemical precipitates from
industrial processes (Figure 16). They are not rock lime score analyses within a season and between
(limestone). Large by-product particles usually by-product “batches” is strongly recommended.
“melt” rapidly in soil after application. By-product ODA registration or DEQ approval of a
lime occasionally reacts with soil acidity faster than y-product lime material typically does not require
b
traditional aglime. analysis for other elements that may have agronomic
By-products can vary in quality, even among a value, such as potassium (K), N, or constituents that
class of materials (e.g., wood ash). Calcium carbon- may be important to crop/soil management, such
ate equivalent (CCE) for by-products can vary from as boron (B), organic matter (OM), carbon (C), or
near 10 to near 100 percent. Each by-product is a carbon-to-nitrogen (C:N) ratio. By-product vendors
“package” with a unique set of chemical and physi- should provide these analyses upon request.
cal characteristics. Most, if not all, by-product lime
What do I need to know
products are not eligible for use on fields certified
about by-product lime?
as compliant with the USDA National Organic
Program. Ask the following questions about any
by-product lime material.
How are they regulated?
Liming value
By-products are sold to farmers as a lime material
registered by the Oregon Department of Agriculture • What is the cost of the by-product lime in
(ODA), or they can be distributed directly by terms of CCE or lime score equivalence?
a factory or mill under Oregon Department of Product quality
Environmental Quality (DEQ) land application
permit. • Does the by-product contain other plant nutri-
ents that might provide benefit to your soils
By-product lime registered by ODA is subject (e.g., K) or might be injurious at high rates
to the same ODA regulations for lime score as any (e.g., B)?
other lime product. ODA registration ensures a
minimum lime score, and trace element concentra- • Has the by-product been used successfully
tions in the product must not exceed ODA standards locally on the kind of cropland (soil, crop rota-
for arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), lead tion) that you have? Are there any reports of
(Pb), and nickel (Ni). crop injury resulting from by-product use?
By-products applied under a DEQ land applica- • What product characteristic limits the desired
tion permit require environmental testing (total application rate? Maximum desired soil pH?
metals and other contaminants), but a minimum N deficiency (high C:N paper solids)? K? B?
lime score is not guaranteed. Obtaining frequent Herbicide inactivation (wood ash)?
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• What is the minimum application rate for the Because of the nonuniformity and unpredict-
by-product, using available equipment, and ability of ash characteristics, caution is warranted
how much 100-score lime is supplied at the when using wood ash. We recommend that you
minimum application rate? obtain a complete analysis, consult with those having
experience with the ash, and evaluate product perfor-
• What additional management practices might mance on limited acreage before using it for routine
be necessary after application? application.
Lime by-products in Oregon Paper clarifier solids, sometimes called “paper
Not all by-products are created equal. The most sludge,” are a mixture of wood fiber, carbonates
common lime by-products used in Oregon can be derived from quick lime, and inert materials. It is col-
grouped into three general categories: lected in settling basins (clarifiers) at mills producing
cardboard or other paper products. The more wood
• High-CCE products derived from quick lime fiber present, the lower the lime score. CCE is usually
(calcium hydroxide) 10 to 20 percent. The organic matter content in paper
• Wood ash solids (cellulose) is similar to that found in straw, and
• Paper clarifier solids paper fiber has a high C:N ratio (greater than 100:1).
Herbicide sorption (from added organic matter) has
High-CCE products derived from “quick lime” not been reported following paper solids application.
(calcium hydroxide) are the most useful liming
by-products. They have CCE greater than 40 percent. The major management problem related to paper
Examples include sugar beet lime and other materi- solids application is providing sufficient and properly
als derived from precipitated quick lime. Quick lime timed N for the first crop after application. As paper
is used in industrial processes such as paper making fiber decomposes in soil, the microbes performing
and sugar refining to achieve a high pH (12). The decomposition compete with the crop for N. During
recovered lime from these factory processes con- the first growing season after paper solids application,
sists mainly of carbonates (same active ingredient as extra N fertilizer is needed to compensate for N con-
aglime). sumed by the decomposition process.
Beet lime and other high-value by-products are Because paper fiber degrades slowly, extra N
usually purchased from the factory by fertilizer fertilizer application is usually required in both fall
dealerships and then custom applied to farm fields. and spring when growing fall-seeded winter annual
These products are a reliable lime source. No signifi- crops such as annual ryegrass (for seed). Even with
cant product quality issues have been reported. supplemental N fertilizer application, a reduction in
first-year seed yield can occur because the timing of
Wood ash (from hog fuel boilers or biomass- N availability to the grass seed crop is altered by the
to-energy facilities) is available across the state. decomposing paper solids.
This product has a lime score of 2 to 20. Wood ash
can vary considerably in composition and utility. Microbial activity differs between fields and crop
Although called wood ash, it can contain residues of years; therefore, the decomposition rate of paper clar-
other materials that are burned together with forest ifier solids varies. Furthermore, each factory source
by-products. of paper solids is unique in its rate of decomposition
and its need for supplemental N fertilizer.
Some ash acts like low-grade activated charcoal,
binding soil-active herbicides and making them inef- University field research to support appropriate
fective in killing weeds. Burn temperature affects this N fertilizer recommendations following paper clari-
property, known as herbicide sorption. fier solids application is generally lacking. In most
cases, N fertilizer rate and timing are based on grower
Chemical composition of ash varies depending experience. A single-year trial on Woodburn soil,
on the origin of the ash within a facility. The highest with oats, determined that 1 to 3 lb N (from fertilizer)
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was needed per dry ton of paper solids to compen- water table is at the surface for extended periods in
sate for N immobilization (Fasth and Karow, 1994, winter and spring.
unpublished). In the second growing season after Meadowfoam seems to be especially susceptible
application, a paper solids application had no effect to stand loss in this situation. Some portions of
on grass seed crop N uptake (Fitzgerald et al., 1997). annual ryegrass fields also had little or no seedling
High rates of paper solids application can be det- emergence, sometimes accompanied by a red slime
rimental to crop establishment on poorly drained on the soil surface. Red slime was an iron-reducing
soils because the paper solids increase the water- bacteria that flourished in anaerobic soil (without
holding capacity of soil. This problem has been most oxygen) containing large quantities of organic matter
evident in fields without drainage tile where the (from the paper solids).
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Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) For questions about lime product regulation in
The ODA Fertilizer Program inspects and Oregon, please contact:
registers lime products distributed in Oregon. Oregon Department of Agriculture Fertilizer
Lime products must be registered with ODA before Program
they can be distributed in Oregon. Lime products 635 Capitol Street NE
are monitored and regulated to provide: Salem, OR 97301-2532
• Uniform and accurate product labeling Phone: 503-986-4635
Fax: 503-986-4735
• Assurance, through sampling and analysis, that http://www.oregon.gov/ODA/PEST/Pages/fertilizer.
products provide the nutrients and other ben- aspx
efits claimed
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
• Protection for Oregon’s environment and (DEQ)
natural resources from heavy metals and other
contaminants In addition to ODA, lime by-products derived
from industrial manufacturing processes may be
regulated by either the DEQ Solid Waste Division or
the DEQ Water Quality Division. Lime by-products
derived from an industry’s wastewater treatment
system (e.g., clarifier solids) are regulated by the
Water Quality Division. Lime by-products derived
from other industrial processes (e.g., wood ash
resulting from combustion of wood chips in a boiler)
are regulated by the Solid Waste Division.
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© 2013 Oregon State University. Extension work is a cooperative program of Oregon State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Oregon coun-
ties. Oregon State University Extension Service offers educational programs, activities, and materials without discrimination based on age, color, disability,
gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran’s status. Oregon State
University Extension Service is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Published May 2013. This publication replaces OSU Extension publication FG 52, Fertilizer and Lime Materials Fertilizer Guide.
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