Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1900-09-20
HOW LIME ACTS.
Bunne Of It's Good ReauIts-It II No

suzne Of It's Good Reau1ts-It II No
Substitute, However, For Manure.
One Of the most important chemical
changes brought about In soil through
the action OF lime is the decomposition
OF minerals, particularly the disinte-
grafton Of refractory silicates. Such
action as this would generally be pro-
duced more easily by caustic, or quick,
lime than by any other form. Limo
materially aids In the formation OF
double silicates Of alumina, which have
an important influence on the fertility
of the land. Double silicates Of alu-
nina may be described as silicates Of
alumina in which part of the alumina
is replaced by lime, soda. potash or
ammonia.
Most farmers ara aware that ammo
MIA is more valuable than potash, while
potash is more valuable than soda, and
soda is more valuable than lime. The
double stlicates of alumina, when once
formed, seem to recognize this and ex-
ercise q similar order OF preference.
If a double silicate OF alumina and
lime exist in the soil and should be
brought in contact with soda, some Of
the lime will be given up, and SOFIA will
replace it, resulting in a silicate Of
alumina and soda. The presence of
lime will not enable it to replace the
soda, as the silicate of alumina prefers
the soda to the lime. If, however, pot
ash is added, the soda is given up and
potash taken into the combination, be-
cause the silicate of aluminia prefers
potash. But if ammonia comes within
the influence of this compound II will
replace either the lime soda or potash.
and silicate of alumlna and ammonia
will be formed. These double silicates
are in such shape as to be lost from
the soil by leashing, yet are in read
fly available condition for plants.
To the foregoing explanation of the
mode In which lime acts Director Pat
terson of the Maryland station adds
the following:
Lime and Potash.-Lime has not only
the effect of aiding in the formation Of
unions of potash which will be held in
the soil. but it also has the ability to
liberate potash from combinations
which are locked up and unavailable
to plants. This is particularly marked
when lime is applied to land containing
fragments of feldspar. Gypsum is par
ticularly useful in rendering potash
available, and the sulphate Of lime in
dissolved phosphates often has an in
direct value In this way Lime also
favors the production of nitrate OF
potash in the soil. This is particularly
true when lime is used on soils receiv-
ing considerable stable manure.
Lime and Organic Compounds.-Lime
hastens the decomposition of organic
matter and inert nitrogen compounds
Of humus in the soil, and promotes the
formation Of ammonia and nitrate COM
pounds from the same. 1t also, as has
been seen above, aids in the formation
Of compounds not easily wrested from
the soil. Lime promotes nitrifying fer
ments and makes possible their exist
ence in many cases that would be i'm
possible without its presence.
Lime produces particularly good re-
suits If applied after using green ma
nuring, as it acts chemically and unites
with some parts of the organic matter
and leaves the remainder in disorgan-
lied condition, which rapidly decom-
poses. 1t is, perhaps, this tendency to
destroy organic matter that makes the
frequent use OF lime perniclous. All
evidence teaches us that lime is no
substitute for manure, but only a re-
enforcement Of 1t. No doubt much land
has been reduced to the verge OF steril-
ity by applying lime continually until
all the organic matter has been used
up. Such procedure is probably re-
sponsible for the old proverb, "Ihme
enriches the father, but beggars the
SON"
Lime and Phosphoric Acid.-If n soil
contains much phosphoric acid COM
bined with iron and alumina which Is
relatively inert, an application Of lime
will change it into form available to
plants. Lime applied to soils which
have received or will receive applica-
tions of dissolved phosphates will not
produce any harmful results or cause
a loss Of the phosphoric acid. 1t may
hasten the reversion Of the soluble
phosphoric acid. but the phosphorlc
acid will still be In an available condi-
ton. In the average soil this reversion
takes place in any case within "a hours
after applying the phosphate.