Circular No. 20. Februarv, 1909 



MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 



AMHERST. 



THE USE OF LIME IN MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 

 By William P. Brooks, Director. 



In most parts of Massachusetts lime is present in the soil in too 

 small proportion for the highest productivity. Various types of soil 

 are found which need liming. What the peculiarities of such soils 

 are will be made apparent by a statement of the more . common 

 effects following the application of lime. 



The results produced by an application of lime 

 Possible effects must of course vary with soil conditions ; but the 

 of liming. principal effects which are likely to follow may be 

 stated as follows : 



1. Free acid if present is neutralized: "a sour soil is 

 sweetened.'" 



2. Some of the less soluble potash compounds of the soil are 

 rendered available and the need of potash manures will be lessened, 

 at least for a time. Liming will not permanently take the place of 

 potash manuring. 



3. Phosphatic fertilizers are often rendered more effective. 

 This is especially true of the less soluble materials. 



4. Organic matter decomposes more rapidly and the plant food 

 it contains becomes more promptly available. This action is most 

 important in its relation to nitrogen. It is especially valuable in 

 heavy soils in which organic matter naturally decays slowly. Its 

 effect is also often important after turning under a green crop. 



5. Ammonia and its compounds change into nitric acid more 

 quickly ; in other words, ammonia nitrogen becomes more promptly 

 available. Sulfate of ammonia when used as a fertilizer gives poor 

 results in many soils unless these are first heavily limed. 



6. Injurious compounds of iron, and perhaps other injurious 

 compounds are rendered harmless. 



