OBJECTIVE FORESTRY

Detailed explanation-1: -Lime is a soil conditioner and controls the soil acidity by neutralising the effects of acids from nitrogen (N) fertiliser, slurry and high rainfall. Other benefits include an increase in earthworm activity, improvement in soil structure and grass is more palatable to livestock.

Detailed explanation-2: -Organic matter in the form of composted manure, chopped up leaves, green manures, or vermi-compost will also improve the texture and water-holding capacity of your soil. Work in 3 to 4 inches of organic matter to your soil. Mulch around your plants with leaves, wood chips, bark, hay or straw.

Detailed explanation-3: -Adding lime (Figure 1) increases soil pH (reduces acidity), adds calcium (Ca) and/or magnesium (Mg), and reduces the solubility of Al and Mn in the soil. aWhen soil pH is below the minimum value, crop yields may be reduced.

Detailed explanation-4: -This hardening is caused by the clay’s molecular make up which consists of extremely small particles that naturally tend to bind or stick together. Adding lime to the soil effectively breaks those molecular bonds, making the soil more suitable to gardening.

Detailed explanation-5: -Liming showed a positive significant difference on pH-H2O, pH-buffer, cation exchange capacity (CEC) and exchangeable bases but it had an inverse and significant effect on exchangeable acidity (EA). However, it didn’t show any significant difference on soil C and N.