Lime quality

[ploughman1963]

The lime we have had inthe past from Kington quarry ( white, fine grit, lots of dust) has run out and we have just had some that apparently comes from further south (cotswolds??). This is very orange, no dust and much larger grit size. It’s the grit size that concerns me - see photos - how soon will this actually be available to affect ph levels? Opinions gratefully received

thanks

 

[N.Yorks.]

The lime we have had inthe past from Kington quarry ( white, fine grit, lots of dust) has run out and we have just had some that apparently comes from further south (cotswolds??). This is very orange, no dust and much larger grit size. It’s the grit size that concerns me - see photos - how soon will this actually be available to affect ph levels? Opinions gratefully received

thanks

Ask the quarry for an up to date analysis, it'll tell you what the various particle sizes are so you'll be able to understand what percentage is dust and similarly how much is 3mm+ and sizes in between. The analysis will also tell you what the Neutralising Value is as a %. I've just looked at two different quarries and the NV for one is 49% and the other is 71%. The particle sizes were both similar so are crushed the same, which means I'll need less of the NV 71% to increase soil pH than I would the NV 49%.......

The stuff in your picture doesn't look too bad as there's obviously a fair bit of finer stuff in there. As you say the finer stuff reacts more quickly as it has a greater surface varea in contact with the soil than the coarser stuff, but the coarser stuff will obviously carry on reacting in the soil over the longer term.

Forgot to say, analysis will tell you if it's Magnesium or Calcium type lime - in some situations that can be an important factor.......

Hope that helps!

 

[Spencer]

Won’t the “road grit“ sized pebbles only be of any use when the soil is ground up in a lab for testing.. thus making the sample un representative of what the limes actually doing in the field?

We had some “grit” a few years ago that was sold as lime. Complained about it and they said, oh sorry came off the wrong pile, use it on your drive

 

[CPF]

Did R&T supply it?

 

[chipchap]

Won’t do any liming until I can source product that meets spec of “agricultural lime”
that looks like waste from a gravel pit to me.

 

[chipchap]

but the coarser stuff will obviously carry on reacting in the soil over the longer term.

might get some benefit from it if you live for 1000 years.

 

[RAF]

Buxton lime is best

 

[CPF]

My guess it's out of the quarry at oathill nr ford in Gloucestershire.

 

[Coximus]

That looks like a mag lime - not great if your soil is already Mag high,
Getting good lime is very hard, I rejected a 40 tonne load from one of the alrgest aggregate companies in britain,.... tipped a load of what could be best descirbed as grit and gravel.
A typical shovel full weighed to 1kg gave me,;
130g 3mm+
400g of 2mm +
350g of 1mm+ bits
120g dust under 1mm

They didnt collect it until I called their bluff on a county court claim and sent them bakc the legal defintion of Ag lime....

I had their lime tested, and their own tests said 49% NV.
Due to the large particle size, the test result gave 9% NV as the lab confirmed everthing 1mm+ did not react in acid during the test and the 2 and 3mm would not react either.

A lot of companies just use AG lime as a place to dump washings and low quality stone waste,>
Daft thing is it they just crushed it again they could dispose of this waste day in day out as lime legitimatly....

Ive used Chalk from east riding and that was good as even 1-2mm bits react within the year,
Alternatly my next load will be Lime from Malton - The reaction test on that came back at 49% bang on what they were claiming, and its consistently fine/.

 

[DanniAgro]

Ask the quarry for an up to date analysis, it'll tell you what the various particle sizes are so you'll be able to understand what percentage is dust and similarly how much is 3mm+ and sizes in between. The analysis will also tell you what the Neutralising Value is as a %. I've just looked at two different quarries and the NV for one is 49% and the other is 71%. The particle sizes were both similar so are crushed the same, which means I'll need less of the NV 71% to increase soil pH than I would the NV 49%.......

The stuff in your picture doesn't look too bad as there's obviously a fair bit of finer stuff in there. As you say the finer stuff reacts more quickly as it has a greater surface varea in contact with the soil than the coarser stuff, but the coarser stuff will obviously carry on reacting in the soil over the longer term.

Forgot to say, analysis will tell you if it's Magnesium or Calcium type lime - in some situations that can be an important factor.......

Hope that helps!

Didn't realise that there were so many shysters and generally such poor quality lime on the market, as I've used a firm to supply and spread in the past, and they source their own lime of course. It's a pity that your supplier of 71% NV isn't closer to me - presumably the quarry is in Yorkshire?

 

[Jetemp]

That looks like a mag lime - not great if your soil is already Mag high,
Getting good lime is very hard, I rejected a 40 tonne load from one of the alrgest aggregate companies in britain,.... tipped a load of what could be best descirbed as grit and gravel.
A typical shovel full weighed to 1kg gave me,;
130g 3mm+
400g of 2mm +
350g of 1mm+ bits
120g dust under 1mm

They didnt collect it until I called their bluff on a county court claim and sent them bakc the legal defintion of Ag lime....

I had their lime tested, and their own tests said 49% NV.
Due to the large particle size, the test result gave 9% NV as the lab confirmed everthing 1mm+ did not react in acid during the test and the 2 and 3mm would not react either.

A lot of companies just use AG lime as a place to dump washings and low quality stone waste,>
Daft thing is it they just crushed it again they could dispose of this waste day in day out as lime legitimatly....

Ive used Chalk from east riding and that was good as even 1-2mm bits react within the year,
Alternatly my next load will be Lime from Malton - The reaction test on that came back at 49% bang on what they were claiming, and its consistently fine/.

watts (Malton) lime is generally pretty good, although have to be carefull if its been wet! As can form big lumps!

 

[Kevtherev]

@Cab-over Pete

 

[bobk]

The lime we have had inthe past from Kington quarry ( white, fine grit, lots of dust) has run out and we have just had some that apparently comes from further south (cotswolds??). This is very orange, no dust and much larger grit size. It’s the grit size that concerns me - see photos - how soon will this actually be available to affect ph levels? Opinions gratefully received

thanks

Type 1 hardcore . good for patios .

 

[C.J]

The lime we have had inthe past from Kington quarry ( white, fine grit, lots of dust) has run out and we have just had some that apparently comes from further south (cotswolds??). This is very orange, no dust and much larger grit size. It’s the grit size that concerns me - see photos - how soon will this actually be available to affect ph levels? Opinions gratefully received

thanks

That looks like sharp sand for Lime mortar or plaster

 

[Cab-over Pete]

The lime we have had inthe past from Kington quarry ( white, fine grit, lots of dust) has run out and we have just had some that apparently comes from further south (cotswolds??). This is very orange, no dust and much larger grit size. It’s the grit size that concerns me - see photos - how soon will this actually be available to affect ph levels? Opinions gratefully received

thanks

It could be from Oathill, or if it’s orange as you say it could be from just along a bit at Temple Guiting.

Both not particularly good samples, even for screened lime. They would struggle to analyse very well. How soon to be available? Your grandkids might benefit.

I hope it was cheap.

 

[Mounty]

The lime we have had inthe past from Kington quarry ( white, fine grit, lots of dust) has run out and we have just had some that apparently comes from further south (cotswolds??). This is very orange, no dust and much larger grit size. It’s the grit size that concerns me - see photos - how soon will this actually be available to affect ph levels? Opinions gratefully received

thanks

Is that how it came out of the lorry or is that some thats been picked up off the ground after being wet? Looks like smaller pieces are all stuck together?

 

[Mounty]

Ask the quarry for an up to date analysis, it'll tell you what the various particle sizes are so you'll be able to understand what percentage is dust and similarly how much is 3mm+ and sizes in between. The analysis will also tell you what the Neutralising Value is as a %. I've just looked at two different quarries and the NV for one is 49% and the other is 71%. The particle sizes were both similar so are crushed the same, which means I'll need less of the NV 71% to increase soil pH than I would the NV 49%.......

The stuff in your picture doesn't look too bad as there's obviously a fair bit of finer stuff in there. As you say the finer stuff reacts more quickly as it has a greater surface varea in contact with the soil than the coarser stuff, but the coarser stuff will obviously carry on reacting in the soil over the longer term.

Forgot to say, analysis will tell you if it's Magnesium or Calcium type lime - in some situations that can be an important factor.......

Hope that helps!

I've never come across an NV of 71%. The highest I've seen is 59%. Is this NV. and not TNV? Althought would be low for TNV I guess?

 

[ploughman1963]

Thanks guys- handful was wet spillage in gateway - other photo was as spread. Confirmed my suspicions. I heard that imported from Derby was another option - would that be ground limestone like I was used to before?

 

[chipchap]

“If it don’t blow about a bit it ain’t no good”

 

[Cab-over Pete]

Thanks guys- handful was wet spillage in gateway - other photo was as spread. Confirmed my suspicions. I heard that imported from Derby was another option - would that be ground limestone like I was used to before?

It depends entirely on the quarry and the company producing the lime. It’s not all fantastic stuff out of Derbyshire.

Unfortunately there are very few that are bothered about the agricultural business these days and I don’t think I know of a single company with an ag department with specialists and reps on the road.

There is good lime from Derbyshire and there is good lime from the Cotswolds. You can get very good Cotswold lime from Breedon at Naunton and Smiths at Burford.