When and why liming the soil: instructions for summer residents

The quality of the soil affects the yield, the health of plants, and even the beauty of the garden as a whole. That's why it's so important to take steps to keep it in good condition.

One of the most important agrotechnical measures to improve the properties of the soil is liming. The Green  Manor publication told us more about it.

Often, beginners in gardening underestimate the importance of liming or carry it out incorrectly, which can lead to lower yields and other problems.

Why is soil liming done?

Soil liming has several key goals that make it an indispensable measure to maintain soil health and fertility.

Normalization of soil acidity

One of the main reasons for liming is to reduce soil acidity. Most crops grow better on soils with a neutral or slightly acidic environment.

Improving soil structure

Liming improves soil structure, making it looser and more permeable and better able to retain moisture in the upper layers.

Increase nutrient supply

Acidic soils with a potassium deficiency often do not allow plants to consume nutrients efficiently. Liming solves this problem.

In addition, lime itself is a high-quality fertilizer that saturates the soil with the elements necessary for plants.

Beneficial organisms

Liming also promotes the presence of beneficial organisms in the soil, such as earthworms, which convert organic residues into humus.

What types of lime are there?

There is lime on the market from different manufacturers, which can vary in composition. There is, for example, lime flour, which often consists of almost 100% calcium carbonate.

Dolomite flour also contains magnesium carbonate. This makes it more useful for garden crops.

There is also slaked lime. It contains calcium hydroxide. It is believed to work faster than lime flour, but the beneficial effect levels off over time.

How and when to liming the soil

Lime is usually applied to the soil no more than once every 1-3 years. To be sure that your beds need this procedure, it is better to purchase a ph meter that will allow you to regularly monitor their acidity and select the optimal type and amount of fertilizer. For slightly acidic soils, the norm ranges from 0.5 to 1 kg per 10 square meters, and for strongly and moderately acidic soils - from 2 to 8 kg per 10 square meters.

The best time to liming the soil is in late fall, as this allows the fertilizer to completely dissolve in the ground and prepare the beds for planting. It is also worth choosing a calm day so that the powder does not scatter all over the garden.

To carry out the liming procedure, it is enough to sprinkle the soil with lime and dig it to a depth of 15-20 cm.

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