Over time, soil becomes less productive as its acidity increases.  Using fertilizer on soil contributes to the further increase of soil’s acidity.  However, agricultural lime, more commonly referred to as “aglime”, is a finely-ground limestone or dolomite that helps to neutralize the acid found in soil.  This improves the soil’s structure and helps to maximize nutrients available to plants creating an ideal natural environment in which all forms of vegetation can thrive. 

 Ultimately, using aglime on soil not only neutralizes soil acidity but it also increases the effectiveness of fertilizer.  In addition, using dolomitic lime for agricultural purposes also provides important nutrients to plants, including Ca (calcium) and Mg (magnesium), while making other vital elements more available.  It also prevents harmful elements such as Mn (manganese) and Al (aluminum) from affecting plant growth.  Aglime is the key to achieving and maintaining proper soil pH.

 An acidic soil can cause an unnecessary waste of fertilizer, as shown below:

Furthermore, the pH level can have a dramatic effect on the availability of plant nutrients as depicted below:

Calculating the amount of actual liming material needed can be a daunting task.  The chart below serves as a reference guide:

*CCE is the abbreviation for Calcium Carbonate Equivalent.