Middletown transcript., 1912-01-27
WHAT LIME DOES IN A SOIL
A Simple Statement Of the Effects
Of Lime on the Soil

Lime performs several very important
functions in the soil. Although it is one
of the ten elements necessary to plant
/ growth, aud hence is direct fertilizer,
this is not its chief function, for lime is
4 usually present in the soil in sufficient a.
mounts to satisfy this need of plants,
which is very SMALL to s. OF l per
cent. Calcium supplies rigidity and bardi-
ness to plants. The effect of lime on the
soil is both chemical and physical. The
| direct chen.ic ical action of lime as a fertili-
zer is not important, but its indirect
chemical action is highly important. 1t
is the agent by which insoluble potash is
changed to a form available as plant
food. The lime simply changes places
with the potash in its combination with
the soil acids, thus nDeratIng the potash
Tor the use OF plants and fxIDg the nme
This method OF getting the potash, how.
ever, will SOON exhaust the supply Ia the
soil, unless there is a very liberal supply,
OF potash fertilizer Is applied to the sOII;
consequently, care should be used to con.
serve the supply OF potash. Lime acts III
the same way, only TO much less degree
on phosphate fertilizers, such as dissolved
bone black, dissolved phosphate rock ana
double phoSpnates-I. e., lime Will uSua.-
iy fix some of the soluble sulphuric aclu
OF the fertilizer, thus hberatIng the phos
phurlc acid for plant nse. Lime will also
take tie place O1 other bases, as iron ana |
aluminium, with which phosphates often |
tend to unite in the SOIL, snd in which |
they are much less available.
Another very important chemical action |
of lime on soils is the correction of acidIty,
When large amounts of vegetable matter |
decay to form humus, humIc acid if FORM |
ed, and the soil becomes ''sour," as We /
say. The addition OF lime corrects this |
condition aud sweetens the soil. This may
be overdone, though, and some of the
humus burned up by too much lime Here
1t is best to use less Caustic lorms of lime,
as gypsum. Acldity is by no means COLI
fined to humus soils, but is a common con
on many Of our soils, where the
available lime has been used up. Such |
conditions are indicated by small growth
Of clover or of its failure to grow at all,
and by such sour land weeds as sorrel.
Lime may also neutraize the poisonous
Effects OF certain co oDpounds OF iron in
the soil.
Sill another important effect of lime is
1
growth of certain bacterial organisms The
most important of these bacteria are those
v Which c. auge the ammonia and nitrogen
If the soil into nitrates available for
plant use, and those upon leguminous | .
plants which assimulate nitrogen from the
Iir. The growth aud work of all these
bacteria are promoted by the use of lime.
rhe growth of few Injurious bacteria is
lso promoted by the use of lime, notably
hose producing potato scab. Consequent s
y, lime should never be applied TO land q
where potatoes are 10 be grown immed.
ately. Upon the bacteria producing club
oot in cabbage, however, lime seems to I
ave harmful effect.
All the foregoing benefits of lime have
cen due directly OF indirectly to chemi-
al action. But lime has another very i'm U
Ortant function in soils-its physical | =
fleet upon them. Clay soils are proba.
ly most benefited. The addition of lime
, heavy clays make them more porous.
he fine clay particles are cemented to. 1.
ether, and the soil is thus opened, so
nat better drainage and better circulation o
air through the soil is secured. Lining u
,nds to prevent leaking" on heavy
ays and the formation OF crusts upon the
eavier loans when driving out. It is an d
fective means of preventing surface a
ashing. On The other hands, lime also .
as a beneficial effect upon the lighter =
Id sandy soils by rendering them more p
impact. Thus their water holding ca. n
lcity and their capilarity are consider d.
)ly increased. On these soils, however,
e csustic forms of lime should be avoid
in order to prevent the burning out of eC
lmus, which should be especially con "
rved here. Hence, such forms as ground n
l estone mari or gypsum are better,
ven these should be used in connection pl
IT'D manures and green crops. In brief.
en-, the physical effect of lime on -
'avy soils is to tighten them and make "
em more open, and on light soils to o'
impact them and render them less open. ri