C2-Lancatt«r Farming,’Saturday, June 24, 1995 NORCROSS, Ga. Liming is the process by which farmers con trol soil acidity. Agricultural lim ing materials contain calcium and magnesium compounds in various combinations which react in the soil to neutralize unwanted soil acidity. Agricultural limestone (aglime) is the major liming material used today. Aglime is composed pri marily of calcite (Calcium carbon ate) or dolomite (calcium-mag nesium carbonate) or a mixture of the two. It reacts with soil acidity, neutralizing that acidity and in creasing soil pH. As acidity de clines, soil* pH increases. The soil’s pH value alone does not de termine the amount of aglime needed. The amount of aglime re quired to neutralize soil acidity is determined by measuring its pH and its resistance to change; that is. its buffering capacity. Buffer ing capacity is directly related to the amount and kind of clay and organic matter in the soil. Quality and value of aglime sources are dependent upon three factors: • Particle size • Chemical reactivity • Moisture content. The speed of the reaction be tween aglime and soil acidity is dependent upon contact of the liming material with the soil. The smaller the particle size, the faster the rate of reaction. It is generally best to use an aglime that will re act completely with the soil acidi ty within two to three years. Since the rate of reaction is related to fineness of grind, the finer the lime is pulverized, the more con tact it has with the soil, and the more rapid the rate of reaction or neutralization of soil acidity. Aglimcs have a range of reac tive particle sizes ranging from KEN CLUGSTON (717) 665-6775 CRAFT-BILT CONSTRUCTION INC. FARM-HOME BUILDING 1242 Breneman Road MANHEIM, PA 17545 PH: (717) 665-4372 BUILDING & REMODELING FOR— DAIRY RESIDENTIAL SWINE POLE BUILDINGS BEEF STORAGE BALE WRAPPERS Gray's Patented inline bale wrappers put the film on the bale where it does the most good. Fast operation up to 70 bales per hours Self-powered * Low operating cost * Plastic cost; $ 1.50 a bale * Tighter wrap * Proven by 6 years of use FOR DETAILS CALL GLENN BEIDLER Freeburg, PA 17827 PH (717) SS9-999S What Makes Good Liming Material? very fine, passing a 100 mesh sieve (100 mesh to the inch) to lar ger particles which pass a 60 mesh sieve. Particles of these sizes pro duce a rapid and an extended reac tion with soil acidity. The chemical effectiveness of a liming material is measured by its calcium carbonate equivalent. This is defined as the acid neutra lizing capacity of the material ex pressed as weight percent of cal cium carbonate or calcium car bonate equivalent (CCE). Aglimes ST. LOUIS, Mo. Com may have been planted late this year in most growing areas due to con stant wet weather, but the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) encourages fanners not to let that stop them from entering the National Com Yield Contest (NCYC). “Due to later planting, potential for lower yields exists, but that puis most U.S. com fanners on a level playing field,** said Richard Peterson, NCYC chairman and a farmer from Mountain Lake, Minn. “The opportunities to learn from using new or different pro duction methods and earn rewards remain the same in this year’s con test as in a year of record yields like 1994. In addition, the contest helps farmers compare their own proven com production capabili ties with other farmers in their state and across the country.” containing primarily calcium car bonate usually have a CCE of 80 to 90 percent. Pure dolomite (cal cium-magnesium carbonate) has a CCE of 108 percent Aglime con taining a mixture of calcium car bonate and calcium-magnesium carbonate (dolomitic lime) usually has a CCE greater than that con taining only calcium carbonate (calcitic). Moisture content is important because water replaces an equiva lent weight of liming material. Even With Late Planting, There Are Awards In National Corn Yield Contest Though yield remains the focal point of the contest, the major role of the contest has always been to educate farmers on alternative methods of production that in crease profitability and address environmental concerns. ‘The NCYC encourages farm ers to try new resourceful produc tion methods, such as no-till or new techniques of nutrient man agement, on a contest plot before adopting them on a large scale,” said Peterson. Not only will entrants gain knowledge on which production techniques that work best on their farm, but they will also be reward- The more water in the aglime, the lower the content of reactive ma terials per ton of product ' Combining the CCE with reac tivity factors based on particle size determines the effective calcium carbonate equivalent (ECCE) of aglime sources. Be sure the aglime that you pur chase meets specifications spelled out in state or provincial law that governs aglime quality. This en sures that the liming material you purchase has a high ECCE. ed for their efforts. Entrants can look forward to winning trophies and recognition from the NCGA, along with up to $lO,OOO in cash, a new car, free trips, or free seed from participating seed and crop protection companies. Although all entries postmark ed by the final deadline of August IS, 1995 will be included in the contest, a reduced entry fee is available for those entering by July 1, 1995. Entry and harvest forms can be obtained by contact ing the NCGA at (314) 275-9915 or your local seed company repre sentatives. Winners in the contest will be announced January 15, 1996 and Remember, control of soil acid ity through liming is the founda tion of profitable crop production. Remember, too, that soil testing is the only means of determining the need for liming and the capital im provement investment it repre sents. For more information, contact Dr. W.R. Thompson, Midsouth Director, Potash and Phosphate Institute, 621 Sherwood Road, Starkville, MS 39759, (601) 323-8543. recognized at the Commodity Classic, the first combined con vention and trade show of NCGA and American Soybean Associa tion, on February 25-27, 1996 in Phoenix, Ariz. Trophies will be awarded to the top three winners in each class by state and on the national level. Last year, 471 trophies were awarded in nine contest classes, including dryland and irrigated acres in conventional or mulch till, no-till and ridge-till produc tion programs. Because farmers only compete with those in similar growing regions, the prospect of winning is just an entry form away.
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