Lime is the cornerstone of profitable crop production. It helps you get the most from your fertilizer. The availability of nitrogen, potassium, phosphorous and other plant nutrients is effected by pH. If your soil has a pH of 5.5 and should have 6.5 to 7.0, one-half of your phosphorous fertilizer is wasted. It takes about two pounds of lime to neutralize the acidity from each pound of nitrogen supplied by these fertilizers. It takes about five pounds of lime to neutralize the acidity caused by one pound of nitrogen supplied by ammonium sulfate.
Lime is slow acting.
It should be applied six months to a year ahead of the crop to effectively do its job. The best pH for your soil varies with the crop. When sending in a soil sample, make sure you have it tested for lime requirements. MSU says not to apply any more than six tons of lime per acre in any one growing season. Also, you should not apply more than four tons per acre at any one time.