Soils become acidic in a number of ways:
- Leaching of land caused by high rainfall levels
- Minerals loss over time caused by crop removal
- Application of modern chemical fertilizers, which are the major contributors of acidified soil
Soil with pH below 5.5 and below 70% of saturation requires liming. The best time is when plowing stubble, when there are no crops in the field. Effect of liming takes on average 6-7 years.
Agricultural lime have good effects on soil:
- Increases the pH of acidic soil
- Provides a source of calcium and magnesium for plants
- Permits improved water penetration for acidic soils
- Improves the uptake of major plant nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) of plants growing on acid soils
Most of farming crops require neutral soil, with pH around 6-7, but there are also cultures that need expressly acidic or alkaline soil. To know the exact amount of lime and required soil pH for every crop you grow, AGRIVI farm management software gives you its best practice farming processes with advices when and how to treat your land. Want to increase soil fertility and yield? Start using AGRIVI now!
