Why do the soils of North Carolina need lime?
North Carolina soils become quite acid because the warm, humid climate leaches basic cations from the soil. Acid rainfall can also cause soils to become acidic. The basic cations—calcium (Ca++), potassium (K+) and magnesium (Mg++)—are leached from the soil profile and replaced with acidic components (H+ and Al+++) that are toxic to plant roots. The toxic components are neutralized by lime.
