Uncle Al - Sounds like a tough field - I agree with Pat the soil test sounds right - I' d guess the field is heavy clay/silt with a high buffer (like our land is in NY). Its sad to say - but my numbers were very similar, only a little bit better than yours.

On the bright side - Red clover, and Most White clovers grow pretty well on soils 5.5-6.0 Ph (though better at 6.5) - You can still have a really good plot at 6.0 - just keep applying lime - do not remove the clippings from mowing, and soil test ever three years.


The standing water is likely due to a heavy clay content and/or bedrock not far below the surface (or a low spot - though I didn' t get that impression). The standing water will KILL almost all clover if it stands 2 weeks or more - I have some sections of field like this - I plant them anyhow - but usually lose the clover or rye or corn that goes there.

The hardest part of the soil test for me to understand was the " BUFFER" or " Ex Acidity" on my soil test. Also sometimes referred to as ACIDITY IN RESERVE.

But this is the reason why you are being told to put down 9-12 tons of lime/acre - someone with sandy soil and the same PH might only have to put down 3 ton/acre. The difference is soil type. Its my understanding that heavier soils (loam, clay) will require more lime to adjust the Ph one point because of its ability to buffer the effects of lime. The Buffer (Ex acidity), is an indication of the amount of lime required to have ANY EFFECT on soil Ph. In other words - if you put down say 3 tons of lime per acre - you will first have to erase the buffer before the Ph will change at all- and you may still end up with a Ph of 5.3. Any lime applied once the buffer is 0, will have a direct effect on the Ph of the soil.

To get a better handle on the amount exactly to erase the buffer - you should talk to your Ag Rep. -

If someone on this board can explain this better than I Did - please do - I' d like to better understand it myself.

Good luck, and keep your eyes open for a drier spot, even if some trees have to be removed - It might be worth the effort in the long run.