Liming (soil)

Under liming or liming is defined as a measure to increase the pH of a soil through the distribution of ground limestone or lime. Calcifications are carried out in order to counteract the ground Versauerungen and to obtain the soil fertility.

To mitigate damage to forests, more and more Bodenschutzkalkungen be performed. As a rule, a superficial liming is carried out. Helicopters and airplanes spread agricultural lime large area of ​​the forest. For the various sites must be given to whether a liming should be done or not.

Agricultural lime

Lime fertilizer such as Carbonate of lime, quicklime, hydrated lime, Konvertkalk, carbonated lime or other Rückstandskalke only serve to increase the pH value also to improve soil structure and to supply the plant with calcium and sometimes magnesium. They are often referred to as agricultural lime.

Naturkalke (Ca - carbonates ) are mined from natural deposits and ground. Limestone (eg chalk, calcareous marl, marl, dolomite) are widely used and are used to improve soil fertility in agriculture for centuries. In addition to the Naturkalken there Industriekalke and lime nitrogen fertilizer ( calcium ammonium nitrate, calcium cyanamide, calcium nitrate ) and phosphate fertilizers ( superphosphate ) that contain calcium.

The correct dosage of lime application requires a soil analysis and a target size for the aspired soil reaction ( soil pH ). On lighter soils a slightly lower pH ( 5.0 to 6.0 ) is desired, as in heavy soil ( 5.5 to 7.0 ). Some plants are so closely adapted to certain areas of acid that they can serve as indicators of the currently existing pH.

After application the Gesundungskalkung to cover backlog and the Erhaltungskalkung be distinguished. Depending on the buffer capacity of the soil fast acting Kalkformen as quicklime CaO or hydrated lime Ca ( OH) 2 are preferred for heavy soils, while being used on lighter soils Mischkalk, carbonate of lime or converter lime to achieve a sustainable liming.

When setting a floor- specific optimal pH range, the direct effects of H ions are less decisive, as the availability of nutrients to the crop and the structural properties of the soil at the respective pH. In strongly acidic soils adjacent to the calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus and molybdenum by leaching ( depletion ) or setting are significantly less available to plants. At a pH value <3.5 the H to act - and Al ions toxic effect on root growth and on many microorganisms in the soil.

In a Überkalkung at pH values ​​above 8.0, however, iron, manganese and boron are determined. From a value of pH> 9, a OH - toxicity occur as a primary damage.