20 X- H. EXPERIMENT STATION [Bulletin 320 



since the fertilizer dollar in all cases broug^ht in more than one dol- 

 lar's worth of feed and in most instances two dollars' worth or more. 



Lime Results 



The pH value of Livingston pasture without lime varies from 5.6 

 to 6.0 and it has not been felt that lime would be particularly benefi- 

 cial there, hence none has been used. 



In Seavey pasture, however, which had a pH of about 5.2, lime was 

 used at the outset at the rate of one ton, top-dressed on one-half of 

 each plot except those that were to receive basic slag and cyanamid. 

 It has not been possible, at any time, to detect with the eye the area 

 on which this lime was spread, so imperceptible have been the re- 

 sults each year. 



Over a period of eight years, however, the limed portions have 

 slightly outyielded the unlimed sections and on the basis of the in- 

 crease lime has more than paid its cost. In actual increase based 

 on protein, the net return per acre each year has been $1.27 or $10.16 

 for the eight-year period. The fact that clover has not been as 

 prominent in the vegetation as it is on many heavier pasture soils is 

 lielieved to account in large measure for the rather low response for 

 liming. 



From time to time soil samples from the Seavey and Livingston 

 plots have been tested for acidity as well as for available nutrients. 

 Since lime was not introduced into the Livingston trials, acidity 

 changes are due mainly to residual effects of fertilizers. 



On Seavey pasture lime was used on one half of each plot with ex- 

 ceptions as stated. The lime was applied in the spring of 1932 and 

 in November, \9?>4. soil samples were taken by two-inch levels to a 

 depth of six inches on the halves of each plot. The tests for acidit\ 

 arc interesting since they indicate the ]iH changes in the soils due tu 

 lime and to the various fertilizers not only in the surface but in the 

 second and third two-inch levels. 



Tests for certain <>\ these jilnts arc arranged in Table 20: 



'rvi'.i.i: 20. — >''"7 /(// values, Seavey plots 



These tests show a considerable rise in pll \alue on llic limed sec- 

 tions in the surface two inches, and a certain effect through the four 

 and six-inch layers. This may be contrary to current opinion Avhicli 

 would lead us to believe that the effect of lime, top-dressed, is gen 

 erally confined to the first two or three inches. In the data listed. 

 the four and six-inch layer has a higher jiH in all comparisons except 

 Plot 11 and out of 15 available comiKirisons the pll value is as high 

 or higher for thirteen on the limed than on the tmlimed sections. 



