How important is lime and why?
 

I have been plating food plots for about 4 years now and have never limed. I know its already too late to put out lime for this year. Tell me from first hand experience what lime has done for you?

RE: How important is lime and why?
 

Depending on the PH of you're soil. It esentially balances it, taking out the acid.

RE: How important is lime and why?
 

If you're planting in fertile, well-balanced pH soil.......... lime isn't all that important.

However, if you're planting in soil that's at all acidic- Lime is critical to the plot's success. Liquid Lime can effectively adjust pH levels (upwards) in 30 days or less! I know- I've done it. In the middle of the woods, with soil whose pH levels initially tested at 4.7, I Liquid Lime 'd the piss out of a 17 yard (in diameter) plot- in ONE month, we re-tested the soil........... it was at 6.0. This was good enough to put down Whitetail Institute Extreme and Wintergreens. Now I have a perennial planting that I can build on next year. Clover & Alfalfa need 6.5 pH levels in the soil. If you really want to do it, you can. You just have to spend the time & money.



Rob

RE: How important is lime and why?
 

I think killadoe's question is; what are the benefits of raising the soil Ph. An improper Ph locks up nutrients that should be available to your plants. Here's a better explanation than I can provide:
http://www.whitetailstewards.com/articlesonsite/deerhabitatmanagement/soilphandwhyitisimportant.htm

RE: How important is lime and why?
 

the correct ph level allows the plant to take in the nutrients that it needs to grow well, the only way to know the ph level is to have a soil test done, your county extension agency will do this for free. most of the time your ph will be to the acidic side of the scale and you need to add lime to correct this. the test will tell you how much lime to add and the correct amount of fertlizer that needs to be added. to your question what will it do for you, it will make the food plot be the best it can be if it gets the right amount of rain.