Go BottomSpreading Lime
 | Turnkey
Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 1 Gallitzin, Pa. 
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2002-05-05 38155
What does anyone out there use to spread lime? I would like to lime about 3 acres and most of it is yard. Can't use one of those big lime spreading trucks. Can the 3 point hopper type fertilizer spreaders be set up to spread lime? Does anyone make a small 5 foot drop type spreader?
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| TomG
Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 5406 Upper Ottawa Valley 
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2002-05-05 38161
A net search on 'lime spreaders' returned quite a few hits. There is a discussion in the ytmag archives. A summary of the discussion is that granular fertilizer spreaders work but drawbar types work better then 3ph models, but small drawbar types may not be available new. A search for 'spreaders' on easternfarmmachinery also returns quite a few models. Pickup bed sand spreaders also seem to work
One problem with the use of 3ph models is that the hoppers of CAT I models don't hold that much. Even 3 acres probably will take more than a couple tons of lime. That's a lot of hefting and dumping of bags of lime into the top of a high implement and spilling it on the tractor, yourself and the ground.
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| Dirt Man
Join Date: Posts: 1
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2002-05-06 38230
Try using pelletized lime. It is in a compressed pellet that will allow for use in a conventional spreader. 400 - 500 lb ac if pH is 5.5 - 6.0 ....
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| TomG
Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 5406 Upper Ottawa Valley
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2002-05-07 38238
Yep, Dirtman shows the difference between ideas and practice. Standard practice would be to take a pH reading. I believe a table with the product or a county agent (if they still exist) would give the amount of lime to produce a desired pH correction.
We live in a mostly conifer forest where acid rain killed a bunch of lakes in past decades. It would take a lot of lime here to do much, but I guess if I took myself literally, 1,300 lbs. per acre does seem a bit much even around here. The few fields here are in hay, and Timothy does OK in the soil pH as it comes. I don't think lime is used much except on gardens. The natural resources people used to try to keep small lakes going by dumping crushed limestone from airplanes, which I believe is available as ag lime. I didn’t know about pelletized lime, but it’s probably a common product. Good to know about it.
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| TomG
Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 5406 Upper Ottawa Valley
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2002-05-08 38333
My wife and I took a drive today and were in a farming area about 60 miles from here. Sort of ironic, but we drove past a farmer who was liming a field. The spreader was a huge thing on tandem axles, and he was towing it with a JD farm tractor. I noticed a company name on the side of the spreader, so I guess it was rental equipment.
The tendency around here probably is to rent rather than own spreaders since they're probably used a few days a year. Rental probably is an alternative in areas that are commonly limed. However, there's no way a compact tractor would power the spreader I saw. Maybe smaller models are available. What was being spread appeared to be powered lime.
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