lime

[Strutter]

Had a guy tell me that if a field had a lot of broom sage grass in it then it needed lime. Anything to this?

Strutter

[GSP]

True. Lime will wipe out broom sage.

[mossyhorns]

That's right. Sage grass likes acid soil which is typical over most of KY. Farmers have to lime regularly to ballance the ph. Legumes like clover and soybeans don't like acid soils and need lime (lime is not a nutrient, but more like a rolaid for the soil).

On the other hand, I have yet to see any species of wildlife, especially deer, rabbits, and quail, that didn't absolutely love a good thick sage grass field.

[Shrike]

It also can be a sign of low phosphorus, which is common in acidic soils. If it's an old pasture, low pH is not always the problem. I got fooled by this a while back. It turned out the problem was a combination of shallow soils and low phosphorus, two conditions in which broomsedge are able to tolerate and end up being the only plant around (sericea lespedeza is another one). Cattle had previously eaten most of everything else. Your best bet would be to get a soil test to find out all the factors involved. And I agree with Mossyhorns, wildlife seem to like these areas.

[Strutter]

Ok guys, will this work. I have had a soil sample and it says I needed lime. Was just checking about the broomsage. Kinda interesting. On half of that particular ridge I have clover and the other half the broomsage. Can I spread pelletized lime on the clover
without harming it? Also, I was planning on spreading some 0-18-18 on the clover as well as oversowing the plot again with more clover seed. Will this be OK to do this? I figured I'd leave the broomsage for the animals because like you guys, I see a lot of animals messing around in it.

Thanks,
Strutter

[Shrike]

The only way I know of to hurt your planting by applying lime is if you're spreading dolomitic lime, which has magnesium in it. Too much magnesium is not good, although I don't know all the reasons why. Calcitic lime is best, unless your soil test indicated low magnesium levels. Whether top dressing lime into existing clover plots actually helps is the question. Pelletized lime breaks down quickly and reacts with the surface to increase pH, but whether it gets down to the root zone (where it's needed) depends on several factors. If you get lots of surface runoff of rain, much of your lime is heading with it. General recommendations for lime call for incorporating it into the soil several months prior to planting for best results. If your clover patch is in poor shape, you may consider a replanting (and disking lime in), especially if pH is much lower than 6.0. If it is only getting a little sparse, applying lime and reseeding is probably the way I would go. You can also get clover seed coated with lime, although it's expensive and not readily available.

As long as you don't put down nitrogen, fertilizer should help. Your soil test should tell what "numbers" to apply.

[Multidigits]

Strut - You might consider having your local co-op put your lime down for you. The co-op in Grayson Co. has pellitized lime for sale at about $75.00 a ton (bulk), where they can deliver Ag lime much cheaper. For example, I had 14 tons delivered and spread for less than $100. The driver put the lime on 3 different plots and only needs enough room to turn the truck. It will have to be dry enough for him not to rut up the patch though. Ag lime takes longer to change the ph but will last longer than the pellitized stuff. If your near Leitchfield or Caneyville call Otis Byrant's @ 270 879-3221.

I don't believe you can put too much lime down. If you decide to use the co-op to spread your lime, they can also mix in your fertilizer and spread it at the same time.

[INKYHUNTER]

Generally speaking how much lime do you spread per acre.

[Valley Station]

I took my soil samples to C.E.S office and had it tested.
For clover, mine needed 3 to 4 tons of AG lime per acre. Contact the nearest rock quarry, they have drivers who spread lime in your fields.
Don't think because you have limestone rocky ground that it doesn't need lime.