IMPORTANCE OF LIME.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 140, 12 June 1908, Page 7

IMPORTANCE OF LIME.

Lime may be said to be the leavening : or enlivening element in the soil, for if this constituent is lacking, no crops can be successfully grown, no matter what care may be taken in tilling the land, no matter what other fertilising constituents may be applied. Ihe effect ot lime is three-fold—nourishing, chemical, and physical. 1. Its Nourishing Effect.—Lime is absolutely essential for the growth of plants; without it no crop caji prosper, although the requirements of the different crops are very different. Leguminous plants of all kinds are especially exigent for a liberal supply. By an application of lime soils unable to support a crop of clover may be brought into a condition to grow a plentiful one. Potatoes, roots, and fruit t: 3 also require a soil well stocked with *„; indeed nearly all plants exhibit a strong, healthy growth in soil where lime is present in a plentiful supply, assuming the other plant foods to be also in abundance. Under its influence the plants develop more powerful root growth, more solid structure and greater capacity to withstand disease. Fodder crops produced in lime-rich soils contain better nourishing qualities than crops grown in lime-poor soils. 2. The Chemical Effect of Lime.—The soil is sweetened by application of lime. The mineral food constituents in the soil, such as potash and phosphatic acid, are rendered more quickly available by its action, and it causes a more rapid decomposition of the organic substances by encouraging the activity of bacteria. Soils that, in consequence of sourness, are unable to grow satisfactory crops, are soon changed by the action of lime into a healthy condition. 3. The Physical Effect of Lime.—The physical and mechanical condition of soils is improved by applications of lime ; it makes the soil looser, warmer, and more friable, more easily tilled, and not so liable to crust on the surface.. Cold stiff clay 3 are wonderfully improved by its action. As supplementary to these remarks on the advantages of applications of lime, it must be aaded that, when applying lime it is necessary to be careful that the soil is not deficient in the other essential plant foods, nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash. Lime is a constituent which acts partly as nourishment, but still more in rendering the other plant foods more easily available, and its advantage is lost to a great extent, unless the other constituents are also present in a. sufficient supply.: , ; ■■_ — -