Limestone recommendations are made based on the pH goal and the amount of exchangeable acidity measured by the Mehlich Buffer soil test.

If the soil pH is already at or above the pH goal, no limestone is recommended. If the soil pH is below the pH goal for the crop, look in the left hand column and find the acidity as reported on the bottom of the soil test report then go across to the appropriate "pH Goal" column to determine the limestone recommendation. The recommendations are given as pounds of calcium carbonate equivalent (CCE) per acre. If the limestone to be used is significantly different from 100% CCE, the recommendation must be adjusted for this difference. ST-13 "Liming Material Conversion Table for Commercial Fruits" explains how to make this adjustment.

Table 1. Lime Recommendation (lb CCE/1000 square feet)
Acidity
(meq/100 g)
pH Goal 6.5
2.0 3,000
2.6 3,000
3.3 3,000
3.9 4,000
4.6 4,000
5.2 5,000
5.8 5,000
6.2 6,000
7.1 6,000
7.8 7,000
8.4 7,000
9.0 8,000
9.7 9,000
10.3 9,000
11.0 10,000
11.6 10,000
12.3 11,000
12.9 12,000
13.5 12,000
14.2 13,000
14.8 13,000
15.5 14,000
16.1 15,000
16.8 15,000
17.4 16,000
18.0 16,000
18.7 17,000
19.3 18,000
20.0 18,000
20.6 19,000
21.2 19,000
21.9 21,000
22.5 21,000
23.2 21,000
23.8 22,000
24.5 22,000
25.1 23,000
25.7 24,000

Ag Analytical Services Lab

Address

111 Ag Analytical Srvcs Lab
University Park, PA 16802
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Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Ag Analytical Services Lab

Address

111 Ag Analytical Srvcs Lab
University Park, PA 16802
Directions

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM