Pelletized Lime

I have always thought the quick acting lime was a scam. They sell 30lb bags for $15 or sell a 50lb bag of ag lime for $3 or $7 can't remember but either way it half as much for twice the price. Plus the ag is so fine it's gonna react faster. Best I have heard is the palletizing include little specs of gold based on sale price. Ha.

To be fair without the right tools ag lime is impossible to spread.

Crazy thing is last year I got a couple tons of bulk dolomite lime for something like $ 60 a ton.

How Fast Will Pelletized Lime React?

The speed of reaction (rate at which the lime will change the soil pH) is mainly a function of surface area of the lime particles and their contact with the soil. The finer the grind of lime, the more the surface area, and the faster the reaction. Since pelletized lime is pelleted from finely ground lime, it is easy to assume that it will be faster reacting than bulk spread ag lime which has some larger, non-reactive particles as a part of its composition. However, this is not true. Based on research from several states, it appears that the pelletized lime reacts no faster to raise the soil pH than good quality ag lime applied at recommended rates. In fact, incubation studies at Michigan State University found the pelletized lime to have a slower rate of reaction. Field research from other states indicate the rate of reaction is about equal to ag lime.

The slower than expected reaction of pelletized lime is probably due to two things: 1) the lignosulfonate binding, and 2) the distribution pattern. The lignosulfonate binding must break down by solubilization or microbial action before the lime is released to neutralize the soil acidity, which would delay the speed of reaction. When the pelletized lime is spread, it is distributed on the soil in pellets and results in small concentrated zones (spots) of lime after the binder dissolves. The fine, reactive particles of ag lime, in contrast, are spread as more of a dust so that the lime is better distributed and not in concentrated spots. The bulk spreading method will allow the ag lime to contact a larger amount of the soil.

From Ed Spinnazola, Ultimate Deer Food Plots:

Fertilizer is a salt and will turn your soil acid if enough is added.

He limed 2 years in a row, 2 ½ tons per acre, applied 400# of potassium and 100# of phosphorous 2 years in a row.

First 5.2, then 5.6 two years in a row.

He suggests adding 400# of pellitized lime with the fertilizer.

Supposedly, 1# of nitrogen is neutralized by 3-5# of lime.

I guess that I should add additional lime when I fertilize.

One last thing, did you work the ground after you spread the lime? Discing after spreading helps to incorporate instead of just being left on the surface.

Thanks for you question, you probably helped me out.