Dan, great analysis my friend!

This exchange should demonstrate why a soil test is far preferable to a " testor" . A Testor cannot be calibrated nor can it against a known sample. There are pH testors that come with an need a buffering solution. Those that have just a probe are junk.

Also, adding lime is never an annual thing. You add lime to a test then monitor it once a year for a couple years to allow the lime to do its job.

Third you made the point on availability. Im not sure people understand the plants do not take up lime. The pH is an expresion of acid or base. That level determines how much p205 for example is available in the soil solution for plants to use.

ahhhh to go back to Soils 101 again

Oh...and for the record....soil is what we grow things in. Dirt is stuff in your carpet and under your fingernails.