Hi-Cal Lime vs Dolomite lime?

[Xtensity]

I was looking to see what my grow store had in terms of Dolomite lime and all they have is Hi-Cal Lime.

http://stores.intuitwebsites.com/Fi...22/Hi-dsh-Cal-Lime-dsh--pulverized/Detail.bok

This product raises soil pH and increases the release of phosphorus and potassium from their insoluble compounds, making them available for plants. Use with gypsum on soils where magnesium is high. Hi-Cal lime also loosens clay soil (a necessity in the NC piedmont) but also binds the loose particles of sandy soil together. For immediate use and a gradual breakdown, use the product in pulverized form. Comtains less than 5% magnesium oxide. Due to shipping costs, this product is available for IN STORE purchase only.

Is this the stuff stuff as Dolomite lime, or similar at least?

 

[Xtensity]

No one knows :S?

 

[Zendo]

looks similar..You would have to call them and directly ask.

They are both pulverized, but 'hi cal' seems to have a higher cal to mag ratio than the two or three different brands of dolomite lime that I have purchased..

Those had/have a 2:1 Cal mag..current is %21 -%10

The product you are asking about, says to use in soils where mag is already high, and that the mag level is lower at %5 and it doesn't say there what the cal level is.

Does any of this matter though..

 

[guest2012y]

I was at a place today that offers this. The guy said it has a higher concentration of calcium for soils that are lacking calcium. Dolomite has more Mag. Not really what I'm after since I'm using gypsum,oyster shell,and dolomite. I can't see that it would hurt anything to try it out since it does have some mag. Looks safe.

 

[grapeman]

Not the same imo. Look for dolomite Lime or a Lime soil sweetener at a nursery.

 

[treefrog]

I've used that lime before. It's usually called 'Agricultural Lime'.
It works fine for adjusting PH and adding calcium, obviously, but I had to supplement all water with magnesium (k-mag or epsom salts) when I used it. I use rain-water and have to add mag anyways, even when using dolomite in the mix, so...

If you eventually find some dolomite lime, you could put together Steve Solomon's mix, like Capt.Cheeze1. One part of each.

 

[Scrogerman]

Ive just topped dressed my soil with a Wests garden Lime(Pellets/Balls), it has a 3:1 ratio of Cal to mag so i aint sure if its a Dol Lime as that is more like a 2:1, but its close? On the instructions it says for vegtables to Top dress at 10grams per square Yard, i think thats 3 square feet, so i worked out and weighed the correct amount and gently worked into the top 1" of soil at just under the recommended dose. Before i added the Lime, i watered with a PH 6.5 seaweed and zyme solution & the run-off came out at 6.0, a little low for my liking so i thought id do the top dress with the wests garden lime. It dawned on me that it might be possible to add dolomite lime to water and stand pots in solution for a while and let the DL soak in, would that work or help unammended soils??

Before adding the lime i ran the same solution through my reduced peat compost/soil with humas & perlite(60/20/20) at PH 7.5 & the run-off came back at 6.2, a little closer to where i feel comfortable in the 6.3-6.5 range. I'll keep watching the run off, but is it a good idea to adjust the water ph a little higher to compensate for the soil running Acid in unammended soils?