Lime has many benefits for nursery crops
Lime or ground limestone provides many essential benefits for nursery crops, mostly involving plant nutrition.
In addition to neutralizing soil acidity (1) and supplying calcium (2) and magnesium (3) (essential plant nutrients), lime promotes microbial activity (4) required for converting some nutrients to forms that can be utilized by plants. Example: micro-organisms convert ammonium to nitrate-M, sulfur to sulfates, and enhances the breakdown of certain types of slow-release fertilizers.
Micro-organisms also enhance decomposition of organic matter (5), which provides essential nutrients for plant growth. On nursery field soils, lime improves the soil tilth, which improves air(6), water(7) and root movement throughout the soil profile (8). No other amendment can influence the chemical, physical and microbiological properties of the soil/media as much as lime. For the cost, no other product can provide such an array of benefits.
Although certain plants, such as azaleas, require an acid environment (low pH), they still need some calcium and magnesium for optimum growth. Lime supplies these essential nutrients.
Since most container medias are organic with little or no mineral matter, a pH of 5.0 to 6.0 is adequate for plant growth in containers. Native pine bark has a pH around 4.0 and requires lime to raise the pH to 5.5. For field grown trees and shrubs, the target pH to start a multiple year crop is 6.0 to 7.0, depending on the plant species.
In middle Tennessee, we can choose either calcitic or dolomitic limestone. Calcitic lime is composed of calcium carbonate and contains little or no magnesium.
Dolomitic lime is composed of a mixture of calcium and magnesium carbonates. Dolomitic lime can be used for any crop, but future hemlock blocks should receive dolomitic rather than calcitic.
When lime is applied to acid soils, it reduces amounts of soluble aluminum (9) and manganese (10) in acid soils to non-toxic levels. When the soil pH drops to near 5.0 or below, manganese toxicity becomes a major problem in crops such as corn, soybeans and tobacco.
Lime increases fertilizer efficiency and soil nutrient availability.(11) The efficiency of applied phosphate and potash may be more than doubled when soil pH is increased from 5.0 to 6.1 because of less fixation or tie-up in the soil. Also, the availability of Secondary and micronutrients is about optimum in the pH range of 6.1 to 6.5.
Lime improves the effectiveness of triazine herbicides such as Simazine or Princep. (12)
When needed, the correct amount of lime can increase plant growth, yields and profits. Too much lime can be applied, causing a multitude of problems, such as nutrient toxicity and unavailability.
Although lime can be applied whenever soil, weather, crop and labor conditions permit, fall is an excellent time for spreading. Lime should be spread uniformly. Uneven distribution may present problems for several growing seasons since lime is not applied every year.
Soil test every 4-7 years, before replanting. Develop a numbering system for all of the nursery blocks in a field to facilitate record keeping. A basic UT soil test cost $6. The turn around time is about a week. I write the recommendations, not the lab; so let me know the species that are expected to be planted in each block. Call me at 473-8484 if you have any questions.
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QuickBooks Premier 2007
Workshops on the new QuickBooks Premier that offers the ability to track inventory for the first time will be held at the Nursery Research Center in McMinnville on July 24-26 and at the Grundy Extension Office in Coalmont on August 6-8. The time will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Workshops will cover topics such as basic bookkeeping practices, payroll preparation, inventory management, invoicing and accounts receivable, accounts payable, and marketing information management.
The cost of the workshop will be $175 per company (for one representative) and an additional $90 for a second company participant. For further information about the Warren County workshop or reservations contact the Warren County Extension Service at 931-473-8484 and Grundy County 931-592-3971.