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Publication Date

1-2009

Series Number

4760

Abstract

As a service to WA wheatbelt farmers, to assist with cost effective management of soil acidity, a survey of agricultural lime availability and quality was conducted by the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia.

The quality of agricultural lime surveyed varied widely between pits. High quality lime is available from limes and, limestone and dolomite sources. Twice as much of the lowest neutralising value lime surveyed would need to be applied compared to the highest to achieve the same increase in soil pH. Limes also varied in the distribution of particle sizes. Selecting limes with a high proportion of finer particles would be necessary if rapid amelioration of acidity is important.

The west coast from Perth to Geraldton has abundant high quality lime sources. The number of sources diminishes moving south of Perth and east across the South Coast to Esperance. Limited numbers of inland sources of varying quality are also available.

The survey was well received and if repeated has potential to be a valuable source of communication with the industry and would provide valuable information to farmers and government.

Number of Pages

91

ISSN

1833-7236

Keywords

Soil acidity, Sampling, Chemical analysis, Surveys, Western Australia

Disciplines

Agriculture | Agronomy and Crop Sciences | Soil Science

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Survey of Western Australian agricultural lime sources

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