LIME IN THE SOIL.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 197, 24 September 1914, Page 3

LIME IN THE SOIL.

THE ANNTJAL LOSS. There'is a continual loss of lime every year from the soil, arising from several causes: (1) It naturally sinks —-perhaps more slowly in arable land than in pastures or meadows, because in arable land the plough is continually bringing a portion to the surface again —but even then it gets at last beyond the reach of the plough, so that either a new dose must be given to the upper soil, or, a deeper ploughing to bring it up again to the surface. (2) Then the crops annually carry away a portion from the soil. According to Professor Johnston, the following crops, including grain and straw or tops and bulbs carry off respectively: Lime. 25 bushels wheat, about' . . 131b 40 bushels barley . . . . 171b 50 bushels oats .. .. 221b 20 tons turnips . . .. .. 1181b 8 tons potatoes . . . . 40lb 2 tons red clover .. .. 771b , 2 tons ryegrass . . . . 301b