Information
Lime your soil for better crops
Agricultural Limestone is a soil additive made from pulverized limestone. Chemically known as calcium carbonate, CaCO3 it varies in colour from white to grey. The primary active component is calcium carbonate.
Agricultural limestone and dolomite are high-quality, natural minerals used to condition and enrich crop soil. Alaska Dolomite products are milled to a fine consistency under strict quality control standards. There are two important considerations for choosing agricultural limestone products:
Considerations for choosing agricultural limestone products
- Geological Source: Determines the agricultural value of the limestone by the amount of calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate in a ton of limestone. The amount of these two carbonates determines the total acid-neutralizing value, (TNV) of the limestone. Alaska Dolomite quarried limestone is high-grade, naturally occurring rock deposit.
- Limestone Processing: Quarried and crushed to a fine consistency adhering to agriculture standards. The fineness of the particles in the finished product impacts the speed in which the limestone neutralizes soil acidity and increases the pH levels. The crushed particles can easily be spread over the field and dissolve readily into the soil.
Lime your soil for better crops
Agricultural Limestone (also known as aglime or ag lime) is important for soil health by neutralizing the acidity, raising the pH level, and improving the availability and absorption of soil nutrients. Agricultural limestone also improves plant health by improving its cell-wall structure and increasing its resistance to disease and insects. Limestone is an important amendment to clay soils, which are subject to compaction, crack and crust over easily, and have reduced water penetration.
NOTE: Agricultural Dolomite (dolomitic limestone) is another form of agricultural limestone that contains more magnesium. Dolomitic lime is a preferable soil additive for sandy soils, which have large particles and are unable to hold magnesium or calcium minerals, and do not retain water.
- Raises pH/neutralizes acidity: pH is the "acidity" of the soil and is measured by the number of hydrogen ions present in the soil. When the pH is too "acidic" (low pH), nutrients present in the soil become locked up or unavailable, killing good bacteria and other beneficial micro-organisms. Increasing soil pH improves the availability and absorption of essential nutrients for the plant. Agricultural limestone revitalizes the soil by neutralizing acidity and increasing calcium levels. It also lowers toxic levels of aluminum and manganese.
- Growth of beneficial soil micro-organisms: Limestone improves the growth environment of soil bacteria, allowing for microbial decomposition activity that breaks the soil content down into available nutrients for the plant. The increased availability and absorption of essential plant nutrients is beneficial to healthy bacterial activity.
- Augments fertilizer treatments: Limestone can be applied the same time with fertilizer. Expensive fertilizers are not effective if the soil is acidic. Liming will neutralize this acidity by raising the pH level (number of hydrogen ions) of the soil. Liming the soil is a basic requirement for soil fertility.
- Improves soil efficiency: Limestone improves the exchange capacity of organic and inorganic soil colloids. The plants are able to use water, CO2, nitrogen and mineral nutrients with greater efficiency and absorbency.
- Improves soil texture: Limestone makes phosphorus and micronutrients more available through the soil. A balanced soil equilibrium will regulate and manage the quality and availability of all mineral elements needed by growing plants. Calcium molecules help separate the layers of silicon clay (flocculation). Limestone increases calcium levels, permitting improved water penetration and absorption for acidic soils.
- Carbon dioxide availability: Limestone helps increase the availability of carbon dioxide, which is more important for high crop yields than nitrogen or any mineral element. The supply in the atmosphere depends on the soil decay system to replenish its supply. Without the beneficial effects of calcium in the soil system and its effect on soil structure and tilth, the processes are inefficient.
Agricultural Limestone improves plant health:
- Plant Development: The calcium found in agricultural limestone is important for plant protein development and root system nourishment. Agricultural limestone also allows for healthy cell wall development. It helps plants form better root systems, stems, and leaves, allowing for better absorption of water, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, minerals and trace elements.
- Photosynthesis: The calcium in agricultural limestone allows for more efficient use of sunlight energy and maximum use of heat-degree days. Liming the soil helps create and maintain root and stem capacities for optimal use of thermal efficiency by the leaves and plant.
- Disease Suppression: Agricultural limestone helps create a healthy and normal functioning plant that can maintain an adequate hormone and enzyme system. This is vital to insect and disease resistance, such as blossom end rot of tomatoes, stone fruits, and the club root of cole crops.
- Insect Repellant: Agricultural limestone can be used as an insect repellant, without causing harm to the pest or plant.