Calculate lime requirement for acidic soils or sulfur requirement for alkaline soils based on pH target and texture.
Calculate lime requirement for acidic soils or sulfur requirement for alkaline soils. Input current pH, target pH, field area, soil texture (sand/loam/clay), and incorporation depth. Get amendment amount per hectare and total, plus recommended material type. Optimal pH unlocks nutrient availability.
Your tomato plants had purple leaves and stunted growth — classic phosphorus deficiency. You applied 200 kg/ha of superphosphate, but the symptoms persisted. A soil test revealed pH 4.8 — at that pH, phosphorus is locked up as insoluble iron and aluminum phosphates. No amount of fertilizer would help until you raised pH. You applied 5 tons/ha of lime, waited 3 months, and the next crop was healthy. The $200 fertilizer was wasted; $150 lime would have solved the problem. Always check pH before fertilizing.
Enter your current soil pH, target pH, soil texture (sand, loam, clay), and tillage depth in centimeters. Click calculate to see pH change needed, lime or sulfur required in tons per hectare, and amount per 100 square meters for garden-scale application.
The soil pH amendment calculator determines how much agricultural lime or sulfur is needed to adjust soil pH to the optimal range for your crop. Proper pH ensures nutrient availability, soil microbial activity, and crop performance. Most crops prefer pH 6.0-7.0, but some (blueberries, potatoes) prefer more acidic soil.
A: It depends on soil texture and organic matter: sandy soils need 1.5-2 tons/ha, loams 2.5-3.5 tons/ha, clays 3.5-5 tons/ha (for 0-20cm depth). Higher organic matter increases buffering capacity, requiring more lime. Always base rates on a soil test, not estimates.
A: Agricultural lime takes 3-6 months to fully react with soil, depending on particle size and moisture. Finer lime (powdered) reacts faster than coarse lime. Apply lime 3-6 months before planting for best results. Incorporate into the top 15-20cm of soil.
A: Use sulfur to lower pH (make soil more acidic) for acid-loving crops like blueberries (pH 4.5-5.5), azaleas, rhododendrons, and some potato varieties. Use lime to raise pH for most vegetables, grains, and legumes (pH 6.0-7.0). Never apply lime and sulfur at the same time — they neutralize each other.