Lime Time!

I know I am a little late getting my lime out but it has been one thing after another this spring/summer. I decided to try to do things the "right way" this year and hopefully will see improvements in our food plots.
I took soil samples using Whitetail Institute's soil sample kit. After collecting the samples one weekend I UPS'd them to W.I. and had my results back in about a week. I had no idea my soil was so bad lol. The main stand I like to hunt had a 5.0 ph. Yeah so for a 1/4 acre food plot I'm looking at a little over 1,700 lbs of lime. Thank God lime is cheap! So the pic below is before discing and spreading the lime. It was dark by the time we finished so no pic (sorry).
Will be going back next weekend and I'll try to take some pics and hopefully continue this post with updates.

Where did you come up with the figure of 1,700 pounds for 1/4 acre?

If your soil is that acidic I am sure you will see a benefit to adding the lime, not sure how much you will see this year but next year should show improvements, this fall and winter might see some benefit. Lime takes a while to do its thing for your PH level in a way plants can use it.

Here you go Dave.... This is from my soil sample kit from Whitetail Institute..

Thanks; I'm from West Texas and we have higher pH levels so no need to lime soils or ponds prior to fertilizing. You are adding 6.4 pounds of lime per sq ft. I had no idea it took that much.

right on about next year

Adding lime is real important in a large part of our State. When the soil samples indicate that you need a large amount, like the first time you test, check with the local farmer's cooperative about putting it out. They should have the trucks to do it and in the bulk, it will save you quite a bit of money.

Whether you use Whitetail Institute seeds are not, their soil test kit is worth the purchase because of the bulk recommendations at the bottom. Here, there are two local sources of tests but they just provide the raw data of elements making up the soil.

Great job Shafer!

Unfortunately for us we could not get a commercial truck nor a commercial hopper to our hunting locations. So its one 40lb bag at a time lol. Its not been that bad. We can get tractors there so using the big hopper has been great. And our local coop made us a heck of a deal on bagged lime as long as we bought it by the ton. And as you can see from the earlier post.... we don't have that problem lol.

That seems like a whole lot of lime for just 1/4 acre. I have had soil samples tested on my food plots and for soil of 5.5 pH I was told 1-1/4 tons per acre. I forget how many square feet there are in an acre (I have to look it up every time) but I figured the square footage of each of my food plots so I could figure out how much lime they needed since most of my food plots were less than an acre.

Add about half of what it needs now give it time to get down into the soil and add the rest right after deer season

Well got everything disc'd up and lime spread..... hopefully all of this hard work and sweat will pay off lol.

Believe your calculation may be off.

Agree about the time. I was always taught the effect of liming depended primarily on three things, amount of water/rainfall, high/low CCE, courseness of the lime. Plus the OP does not have too far to raise the ph to see a benefit.

How far is that from you stand? Looks like 200 yards in the last pic

.16lb per sq foot not 6.4lbs that would be over 64,000 lbs of lime

Its about 150 yards to the feeder.

Just wanted to give everyone an update. I planted Whitetail Institute Pure Attraction in this particular food plot on September 17th. This pic was taken this past weekend (Oct. 2) and I'm starting to see a little action even with the lack of rain. Looks like some oats and brassicas is starting to come up!