Work out soil ph correction (lime) instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.
Lime requirement scales with the pH rise wanted and with the soil's buffering capacity: a sandy soil needs roughly 1.2 t/ha of agricultural lime per pH unit, a loam 2.2 and a clay or high-organic-matter soil 3.5. Where more than about 4 t/ha is indicated, split it across two seasons and re-test rather than applying it all at once.
Lime requirement
Lime (t/ha) = (target pH - current pH) x buffering factor (sand 1.2, loam 2.2, clay 3.5)
Finely ground lime incorporated into moist soil shifts pH measurably in 3-6 months and reaches full effect in 12-18 months. Surface-applied lime on no-till land is much slower.
Dolomite supplies magnesium as well as calcium and is the better choice where a soil test shows low magnesium. On soils already high in magnesium, use calcitic lime to avoid imbalance.