Lancaster farming. (Lancaster, Pa., etc.) 1955-current, February 04, 1989, Image 210
E3O-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 4,1989 BY ROBERT E. LEIBY AND DAVID L. DUNBAR Lehigh County Agents Liming is an important part of soil management. Alkaline ions, such as calcium and magnesium, are leached from the soil as a result of rainfall, including acidic rainfall. In time, most soils will become acidic if not treated with lime. Even though soils will turn acidic naturally, you should not apply lime without the benefit of a soil lest. Too much lime can be as harmful as too little. Excess lime raises the pH above crop toler ances and affects availability and growth of beneficial microorgan isms in the soil. Information on sod testing is available in all coun ty cooperative extension offices and many lawn and« garden cen ters. The soil test tells when and when not to add lime and nutrients to the soil. A test could actually save you money if you have always treated your soil each season. Liming the soil to the proper pH is important to crop growth. Not all plants grow at the same pH level. Blueberries do best at pH between 4.5 and 5.5 Most field crops need some lime to keep the soil pH between 6.5 and 7.0. Soil pH is measured on a scale of 0 to 14, with pH 7 being neutral, neith er acid nor alkaline. Values below 7 arc listed as acidic and those above 7 are alkaline or basic. -<rl STRIKE IT RICH! SEll rr WITH A LANCASTER FARMING CLASSIFIED Understanding Lime’s Function In Soil When you apply lime to the soil, spread it uniformly. Lime is insoluble and stays where you put it, either on the soil surface or at the depth which you till the soil. On turfgrass, especially, over lapped areas are as bad as skipped areas, so get uniform coverage at the suggested application rale. For best coverage, try applying one half the recommended amount in one direction and the remainder at a right angle. Most liming mater ials arc light-colored and easy to sec on the soil. Since lime has no direct effect on growth, it can be applied almost any lime. Fall applications let the lime break down over the winter from the next season’s growth. However, if a spring soil test indicates a need for lime, app ly the material then. Lime begins to react with the soil as soon as it is applied. A single application should be cllcc tivc for three to four years. A soil test within this period will help you track the progress of the lime in altering or maintaining the soil pH. Fertilizer applied with the lime will also alter the soil pH. Most nitrogen fertilizers used on garden or turf areas have an acidic reac tion on the soil. Heavy applica tions of fertilizer can speed the loss of lime in the soil and lower the pH faster. Liming materials come in a var iety of forms, each with its own WE GIVE FREE ESTIMATES AND DISCOUNT PRICES ON ALL NEW EQUIPMENT • Used Barn Cleaner Units • Feed Carts • Simplex Water Bowls OVERSIZED DRIVE SPROCKETS AVAILABLE FOR USED PATZ CHAINS I .1 H iIH < ~r»r~v ■ UILOS IVIRYTHINO f | i fit U A fob iARNt Custom Built Gates \&u\*U FARMWAY & |, ’ ree Stalls Barn Equipment Ifpi nflCTpl j f V I ” lJl ’l® atle, l, Installed VnLIIIC InkJ & Feed Handling Equip. FULL LINE BARN 'EQUIP. SALES & SERVICE FISHER & SONS 1820 Millcreck Road, York, PA 17404 (717) 292-6668 or 764-0494 MULCH LAYER INT PLASTIC LAYER ILER MODEL AVAILABLE Optional Equipment- Fquipped vv/Di ip li Shown Frame Slide Compacts And Prepares Soil FEATURES: iliusuble 3 lo 4 Ft iljusublc Angle Press Wheels penmg Slides In From And ivenng Disks In Rear ——- Dealers For Mulch Layer Only, Call T.J. WHEARY MAO SAMENS MARKET FARM & SON PRODUCE IMPLEMENT Paradise, PA Balh, NY Frcidcns, PA (717) 687-0102 Rich (607) 766-7095 $l4) 443-1931 Hugh (716) 669-2773 • All • All • Op Cd BARTVILLE WELDING SHOP 12 12 N. il .k Kd ('liiisiuii.i, l’\ IV-'D'M.h M.umlk'i lor Information And Heh\t r\ < kill \ci non lit-ilt r \l (717) 442-4221 or (215) 593 2728 value, potential use and applica tion problems. Lime is available in calcitic, dolomitic, burned, hydrated and pelletized forms. Select the one that best meets your needs as well as those of the soil. Calcitic lime is mined from natural limestone bedrock depo sits. After the rock is crushed and pulverized, it is run through screens to meet certain specifica tions. This is generally labeled as either ground or pulverized limes tone. Depending on the quality of the bedrock, the material has an 85 to 100 percent neutralizing value. In addition to raising the soil pH, the material also supplies calcium, an element essential for growth. Dolomitic lime is mined and prepared the same as calcitic lime HARRISBURG Soil conser vation practices applied in 1988 reduced soil erosion by more than 2.3 million tons reports Richard Duncan, slate conservationist for the USDA Soil Conservation Ser vice. This is a marked increase over the 1.7 million ton reduction in 1987. Duncan credited U.S. Depart- ment of Agriculture programs for the increased soil savings. He also predicted that there will be a marked increase for the next five or six years for the same reason. The Conservation Reserve Program which pays farmers an Hook NEW CHAInN \ i£n AS LOW AS $7.00 PER FT. • Drip Irrigation Applicator • Liquid Fertilizer Applicator Equipped u!\ iquid Fertilizer iDi ip Pennsylvania’s Soil Losses Cut This Little Piggy Went To Market, G\ This Little Piggy Stayed Home, ; This Little Piggy Had... | H K IIL ROASTED SOYBEANS and has about the same neutraliz ing value. It supplies both calcium and magnesium for plant growth. It is often used to meet magnesium needs. Burned lime or calcium oxide (often sold as quicklime or unslaked lime) is prepared by healing crushed lime in a furnace to force off carbon dioxide. It has the highest neutralizing value, between 150 and 175 percent, but is very caustic. It is difficult to handle because it absorbs mois ture quickly. When applied to soil, it must be incorporated immedi ately to prevent the formation of granules or flakes that arc diflicull to break down. Hydrated lime (sold as builder’s or slaked lime) is produced by annual rental for ten years if they convert highly erodible cropland to grass and trees was credited with saving 1.25 million tons of soil during the past year. Soil con servation practices such as ter races, strip cropping, conservation tillage and grassed waterways saved another 1.1 million tons of soil. Duncan based his prediction of increased soil savings in the future on the conservation compliance requirement of the 1985 Farm Bill. This bill requires farmers with highly erodible cropland to have a conservation plan by the SOYBEAN ROASTING ON YOUR FARM Don’t Waste It - Roast It! ALLEN SUMMERS 703 E Christine Rd Nottingham, Pa 19362 215-932-4761 NOW IS THE TIME IGATION __ Call for free price catalog John W. Zimmerman Irrigation Center Church Rd. r#l East Earl, Pa. 17519 On Drip Orders Paid Before phone (215) 445-6976 Feb. 15, 1989. Additional 10% on 2 Skid Orders. ' adding water to burned lime. Its neutralizing value is between 120 and 135 percent. Hydrated lime is also quite caustic and difficult to handle. Like burned lime, it should never be applied to turf grass or other plants that arc estab lished because it will burn the foliage. All applications of hydrated lime should be incorpor ated into soil immediately. Pelletized lime is finely ground agricultural lime to which a cementing agent has been added. While more expensive than regu lar ground limestone, it is easier to spread and eliminates dust. The pellets dissolve with a soaking rain or irrigations and release lime to the soil. Uniform distribution is still important. end of 1989 or lose other USDA program benefits. They have until the end of 1994 to install the soil saving measures in the plan to maintain their USDA benefits. “Pennsylvania farmers planned erosion control for more than 860,000 acres of highly credible cropland last year” stated Duncan. Duncan added that this is exact ly what Congress wanted to hap pen when the law was passed. “By treating the highly credible acres, the greatest soil savings will be made,” said Duncan. igher Profits From All Grains, g Improves TON, Destroys Mold. Toxins & Removes Moisture. CUSTOM GRAIN ROASTING DONE IN PA. & SIIRBQUNDINO STATES DALE L. SCHNUPP RD 6, Lebanon, Pa. 17042 PH; 717-865-6611 DAVID N. GROFF RD 1 Box 506 C Lewisburg, Pa 17837 717 966-3593 Shop with us for your supplies. 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