How Does Lime Mud Affect Soil pH and Plant Growth?
Soils in Georgia naturally have a low pH that can decrease crop production. Regular soil testing can determine the amount of lime needed to raise the soil pH to the desired level. For most crops in Georgia, this pH is 6.0 to 6.5. Several studies have shown lime mud to be very effective in raising soil pH to desired levels. Lime mud applied on the surface of an Alabama pasture increased the soil pH more quickly than agricultural lime, and it was more effective that agricultural lime in raising the pH to the desired level of 6.5. Another study in the Georgia Piedmont found lime mud incorporated into the soil was as effective as agricultural lime in raising soil pH. Yields of corn, wheat, soybeans and pearl millet on test plots in Tifton and in Athens were the same or better from the lime mud plots than the agricultural limestone plots (Figure 1).
