Lime question

[Scrappy4]

The last couple of grows I have been using piqua limestone for my lime. The bag says it is 34% cal and 4% mag. Is this calcium carbonate? I can't find powdered dolomite lime around here, I can find dolomite lime pellets.

Anyway after mixing my normal mix (minus EWC, I add before using, so I can store it dry outside) , it tested at 7.22 PH from a dry mix wetted with rain water (5.75PH) for an hour . So obviously I have to adjust my mix when using this lime.

For now the plan is to adjust my already mixed soil by mixing in more peat to hopefully get my ph to around 6.5. Unless there is a better way.

Is this a good lime source? Should I use less next time or switch to something else?
thanks....... scrappy

 

[Clackamas Coot]

The last couple of grows I have been using piqua limestone for my lime. The bag says it is 34% cal and 4% mag. Is this calcium carbonate? I can't find powdered dolomite lime around here, I can find dolomite lime pellets.

Anyway after mixing my normal mix (minus EWC, I add before using, so I can store it dry outside) , it tested at 7.22 PH from a dry mix wetted with rain water (5.75PH) for an hour . So obviously I have to adjust my mix when using this lime.

For now the plan is to adjust my already mixed soil by mixing in more peat to hopefully get my ph to around 6.5. Unless there is a better way.

Is this a good lime source? Should I use less next time or switch to something else?
thanks....... scrappy

Scrappy4

Limestone is Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3) and the elemental Calcium (Ca) is about 38% of the total Calcium Carbonate which is usually between 90% - 96% so your product falls into that.

HomeDepot carries 2 liming agents - Soil Sweet which is dolomite lime and Super Sweet which is calcium carbonate.

From a technical standpoint, there is a difference between 'pelletized' and 'prilled' amendments. Both involve the amendment being coated with a clay - the prilled version is released from the clay coating within minutes once it's hydrated. Pelletized take much longer to be released from the clay coating (due to type of clay used as well as the thickness of the coating) and is used for long term application to production fields.

If you bought this at a DIY store or garden nursery then in all probability you have a prilled product. Pelletized is not the usual version for consumer/retail customers.

While almost everyone will disagree with me, I'd go with limestone over dolomite lime but I'm in the minority so go with the popular mandate.

HTH

CC

 

[redneck shogun]

If I am going with calcium carbonate I would make sure I also use langbeinite (sul-po-mag, k-mag, etc). The experts can correct me if I am wrong since this is just a hypothetical scenario to me since I use neither at the moment. If I didn't have so much powdered dolo I wouldn't use it either because I like the idea of variety being the spice of life.

 

[Scrappy4]

To be clear this piqua brand limestone is pulverized, so it is a fine powder, the dolomite lime around here that I have seen is pellets. I bought the piqua brand (50lb) at a farm supply store. I take it my 3 cups limestone per 3.8cf bale of promix is too much when using the limestone/calcium carbonate. Hence CC's reference to "super sweet" discribing limestone. My mix also has epsom salt added to beef up the mag.....scrappy

 

[Clackamas Coot]

If I am going with calcium carbonate I would make sure I also use langbeinite (sul-po-mag, k-mag, etc). The experts can correct me if I am wrong since this is just a hypothetical scenario to me since I use neither at the moment. If I didn't have so much powdered dolo I wouldn't use it either because I like the idea of variety being the spice of life.

That's what I do as well - oyster shell powder (96% Calcium Carbonate) and K-MAG (organic form).

Works for me.

CC

 

[Scrappy4]

Thanks guys, I hope this straightens things up for me. Thanks to Tactical Farmer too, after reading his posts I decided to finally get and use a meter.....gasp....and now I have a much better handle on what I'm dealing with, I should have done it sooner........scrappy

 

[Frankinsensi]

That's what I do as well - oyster shell powder (96% Calcium Carbonate) and K-MAG (organic form).

Works for me.

CC

Hey Coot, how much of that K-mag are you using per gallon of soil?

Thanks..

 

[Scrappy4]

I checked at the local farm supply store and they have 0-0-60 but no K-mag or sul-po-mag (0-0-20). Is this simular? scrappy

 

[Clackamas Coot]

Hey Coot, how much of that K-mag are you using per gallon of soil?

Thanks..

About 3/4 cup to 1 c.f. of potting soil.

HTH

CC

 

[Clackamas Coot]

I checked at the local farm supply store and they have 0-0-60 but no K-mag or sul-po-mag (0-0-20). Is this simular? scrappy

Are they calling it 'langbeinite' or 'sulphate of potash' or something else?

CC

 

[Scrappy4]

Are they calling it 'langbeinite' or 'sulphate of potash' or something else?

CC

I was afraid to ask too many questions from the feed store guy, he was missing some teeth, chewing some tobbacy, and spraying all around him. But no, he only said 0-0-60.

On a related note, I mixed up some new soil using pro mix last week. I wetted it and added a little fish emulsion,5-1-1. My friend has a soil/moisture meter (compost wizard ph8). He tested it at 7.3, the next day I get my hanna duel ph/tds meter and test the run off from this soil at 7.24, so today I buy some peat to lower the ph and barrow his meter, when I open the tote the soil has grown a nice white fungus
on it, and it tested at 6.2-6.6 depending on where I stick the probe. So now it's like WTF? Scrappy

 

[Treetroit City]

Yeah, I get the white webby fungus too. I assume it's a good thing. At least I hope so.