Lime is applied primarily to reduce soil acidity. This raises the pH of the soil and has shown the following benefits:

1. Increases nutrient availability to the plants such as phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium
2. Increases nitrogen fixation for legumes
3. Alfalfa, Clovers and other legumes are easier to establish
4. Reduction of aluminum and manganese toxicity on certain strongly acid sands

There are several sources of lime including but not limited to:

• Ground limestone (most commonly used)
• Pelletized lime
• Burned or hydrated lime (requires special equipment)
• Liquid lime

Each of these types of lime will raise the pH of the soil at different rates (liquid lime the fastest and ground limestone the slowest). Typically the liquid lime is most expensive and will be need to be applied more frequently than the ground limestone which is the least expensive.

Lime should NOT be applied at the same time as seed even if you are using a faster activating lime. Soil takes time to adjust and the seed after it germinates will not be as productive as it could be if you decide to skip a step.