Fall is the best time because the combination of rain and snow, along with the process of freezing and thawing, aid in the breakdown of the lime into the soil. Once the warmer weather arrives and spring starts the nutrients will be there for your lawn to grow,' adds Andrew. The calcium level in your soil does not say anything about how much of it can actually get absorbed by plants. Add calcium to your soil when it is low in organic matter and nutrient-absorbing properties like clay, which can be determined by its Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC). This measures the calcium absorption of the soil. Choosing whether to use dolomite lime vs garden lime in your soil depends on a number of factors, including soil acidity and nutrient levels, what plants you’re growing, and soil hydration. Soil Acidity It is possible that microorganisms are capable of precipitating primary dolomite. [7] This was first demonstrated in samples collected at Lagoa Vermelha, Brazil [6] in association with sulfate-reducing bacteria ( Desulfovibrio), leading to the hypothesis that sulfate ion inhibits dolomite nucleation. Later laboratory experiments suggest bacteria can precipitate dolomite independently of the sulfate concentration. [36] With time other pathways of interaction between microbial activity and dolomite formation have been added to the discord regarding their role in modulation and generation of polysaccharides, [37] manganese [38] [39] and zinc [40] within the porewater. Meanwhile, a contrary view held by other researchers is that microorganisms precipitate only high-magnesium calcite but leave open the question of whether this can lead to precipitation of dolomite. [41] Dedolomitization [ edit ] CaO + H 2 O water ⟶ Ca ( OH ) 2 calcium hydroxide {\displaystyle {\ce {{CaO}+{\overset {water}{H2O}}->{\overset {calcium~hydroxide}{Ca(OH)2}}}}}

Rich source of magnesium: Fields that are home to crops taxing on potassium levels — such as corn fields — can benefit from magnesium treatments. If your field contains a calcium-to-magnesium ratio of 6:1 or greater, it is considered to be magnesium deficient, and you should strongly consider using dolomite lime to balance your minerals. Proper calcium-to-magnesium ratios are important for ensuring healthy growth.

What Is Dolomite Lime?

Heather Hartshorn, "Dolomitic Lime Mortars: Carbonation Complications and Susceptibility to Acidic Sulfates" Thesis. May 2012. Columbia University Most dolomite was formed as a magnesium replacement of limestone or of lime mud before lithification. [1] The geological process of conversion of calcite to dolomite is known as dolomitization and any intermediate product is known as dolomitic limestone. [2] [3] The "dolomite problem" refers to the vast worldwide depositions of dolomite in the past geologic record in contrast to the limited amounts of dolomite formed in modern times. [4] [5] Recent research has revealed sulfate-reducing bacteria living in anoxic conditions precipitate dolomite which indicates that some past dolomite deposits may be due to microbial activity. [6] [7]

Mineral dolomite has a 12% to 13% smaller volume than calcite per alkali cation. Thus dolomitization likely increases porosity and contributes to the sugary texture of dolomite. [16] The dolomite problem and primary dolomite [ edit ] Aglime and dolomite both become useful when soil becomes too acidic. This typically occurs after exposure to acid rain, after frequent use of fertilizers and other chemicals or even after the soil has simply become deprived of important nutrients from years of planting and harvesting crops.Utami SG (2014) Clay soil stabilization with lime effect the value cbr and swelling. ARPN J Eng Appl Sci 9(10):1744–1748

Vandeginste, Veerle; Snell, Oliver; Hall, Matthew R.; Steer, Elisabeth; Vandeginste, Arne (December 2019). "Acceleration of dolomitization by zinc in saline waters". Nature Communications. 10 (1): 1851. Bibcode: 2019NatCo..10.1851V. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-09870-y. PMC 6478858. PMID 31015437. The way to determine whether you need to add calcium to your soil is through a professional soil test. It is different from a simple pH test that you can do at home. A professional soil test analyses both the calcium level and the pH of your soil. Professional soil tests such as those offered by a state cooperative extension office also will tell you exactly what to add to the soil, and in which amounts. Because of this, it’s very important to make plans to spread aglime across affected areas in advance. The best time to till aglime into the soil is at the end of the growing season. This will give the material enough time to be absorbed into the soil and react before the following planting season. Because dry lime is so small in particle size, it can be blown in the wind, so it should be applied in calm weather conditions. If yours is sandy, it may not be able to buffer properly to avoid becoming acidic. Read more about understanding the kind of dirtthat you may have in your plot. Reducing Acidity

Kincardine

Generally, if your soil’s calcium-to-magnesium ratio is 6:1, then it’s considered magnesium deficient. If this is the case, then you should consider using dolomite lime in your soil to boost magnesium levels for healthy plants. What You’re Growing