A 5-year soil testing summary by the Extension Soil Testing Laboratory at Mississippi State University found about 25 percent of the soil samples for soybeans tested low or very low in available phosphorous and potassium. In addition, less than optimum control of soil acidity limits production. The past economic status of soybeans, the large amount of rented acreage, and the fact many growers fail to recognize lime's importance contribute to reduced yields for Mississippi soybean producers. Yes, if they need it. The most economical thing available to soybean producers is a soil test.
Lime Needs Many Mississippi soils require lime to control soil acidity for soybean production.
Lime requirements vary, and there is no way to guess the needs. Since lime is important and relatively expensive, a soil test accurately determines where and how much lime to apply. Although almost half of the soil samples tested in the last 5 years indicate a need for lime, many producers failed to lime because of the high initial cost. Lime application, however, is an investment in the productivity of the land and lasts about three growing seasons. The CCE indicates relative purity of a liming material.