Liming Acidic Soils

Many Kansas soils require regular applications of lime for optimum crop production, and fall is the ideal time to apply lime to your fields, with it generally being dryer and before the lime piles start freezing up in the heart of winter. Having the proper pH in your soil reduces the harmful or potentially toxic conditions of acidic soils, primarily caused by applying nitrogen fertilizers. Most crops grown in Kansas prefer slightly acidic soil, but once the pH falls below 6.0, nutrient availability becomes hindered and yield reduction occurs. (See Percent Yield Chart Below). Also, your herbicide weed control starts to get broken down faster. Soil pH levels vary a fair amount across the field, so we highly recommend grid soil sampling your field first before applying, as the rates can range anywhere from 0-5 tons/ac on average. This process ensures that you apply the correct amount of lime to every acre with a variable rate prescription and avoid over-liming an area, which can also have negative effects. The price of lime application varies mainly on how far away the field is from the lime source, but the average rate of lime vrt applied is $35.00/ton, so it doesn't take much variability to pay for the grid soil test. 



MKC is your local grid soil sampling and liming experts. Don't hesitate to contact your nearest MKC location, your Strategic Account Manager, or email us agtech@mkcoop.com to set your fields up for success for 2024. To learn more about liming your soils, please read this K-State eUpdate.