Food Plots Can you over lime?

[DntBrnDPig]

I'm working two small plots. One I got to spray a week ahead and the other I didn't but I got access to a tractor and disc'd them up as best as I could then I went back over it and spread several bags of lime. Tractor Supply had them for $3/bag so between the two I broadcasted 15 bags of lime.

Each plot is really only 1/4 acre (or a little more).

Can you over do the lime?

 

[PickettSFHunter]

Not at that rate you cant. Thats just 600 pounds assuming 40 pound bags. Which would equate to 1200 pounds per acre since you did 1/2 acre. Most of my new plots come back with a soil test reccommendation of 2 tons or 4,000 pounds per acre.

 

[southernhunter]

Yes but u didn't . We farm 3,000 acres a year in green beans before my dad retired . We would sometimes get co-op to dump 50,000 tons in the field , the spot where they dumped it would t grow a thing . It locks the soil up in very high rates but that's nothing food plotters have to worry about .

 

[Boone 58]

You will read of needing lime..........I have never read where someone "overlimed".............

 

[woodswise]

short answer is yes you could but not likely. The lime is affecting the ph of the soil it is applied to and you could add too much to accomplish the required optimum ph for the target plant. It takes a LOT of lime the change the ph a little. Be aware there is no immediate change of value in the application the lime will have to break down for some time before the effect will become apparent, usually months. The reccommended procedure is spring application for fall planting or reverse fall for spring planting. Beware also of gimmick liquid or rapid break down products they won't work. The ph really will control the soils ability to release the nutrients to the target plant. All the fertilizer in the world won't be very effective if the ph is out of whack. Good food plots need PALATIBILTY not necessarily meaning good growth, in other words tasty plants produced by proper soil balance and available nutrients.

 

[MossyOakLandman]

short answer is yes you could but not likely. The lime is affecting the ph of the soil it is applied to and you could add too much to accomplish the required optimum ph for the target plant. It takes a LOT of lime the change the ph a little. Be aware there is no immediate change of value in the application the lime will have to break down for some time before the effect will become apparent, usually months. The reccommended procedure is spring application for fall planting or reverse fall for spring planting. Beware also of gimmick liquid or rapid break down products they won't work. The ph really will control the soils ability to release the nutrients to the target plant. All the fertilizer in the world won't be very effective if the ph is out of whack. Good food plots need PALATIBILTY not necessarily meaning good growth, in other words tasty plants produced by proper soil balance and available nutrients.

Well said, I always felt like it was like adding sugar to ice tea. The soil is only going to utilize what it can. Unless you dump 50,000 pounds in one spot.