Adding Agricultural Lime to My Pastures
With cooler temperatures and rain showers expected this afternoon and tonight, it’s a good time to treat the horse pastures.
Anyone with grazing animals understands that pasture management is extremely important. A well-maintained pasture is the most natural and healthy environment for any foraging animal. Yesterday, Carlos Trigueros from Trigueros Family Farm Inc. in Brewster treated the pastures with agricultural lime. Agricultural lime is a soil additive made from pulverized limestone or chalk that works to correct the acidity of the soil, eradicate any noxious weeds, and raise the overall health of the land.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
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- This is a view of one of my large paddocks looking down toward the stable in the distant left. Like many of you, I care very much about our environment and am always seeking better ways to practice wholesome organic gardening and farming. I test the soil consistently to ensure it is in the best condition. Maintaining proper soil pH is essential for healthy forages – the best with a pH between 6 and 7.
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- Here’s another field. A well-maintained pasture with healthy grasses is a nutritious and relatively inexpensive feed source for horses. Adding lime encourages the activity of soil bacteria, so valuable nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur can be released.
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- Carlos Trigueros is a very knowledgeable farmer. If you follow this blog regularly, you may recall last summer’s post on baling hay – Carlos helped to bale all the hay in my large fields.
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- One bag holds a ton of pelleted lime. We get our lime from Brian Allyn, owner of Allyndale Limestone Corporation in East Canaan, Connecticut.
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- The sacks come equipped with a built-in funnel at the bottom for easy dispensing. This makes loading the hopper very easy.
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- Lime can be applied at any time of year but is most often applied in the early spring. It is also best to apply lime before a rainy period so it breaks down faster.
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- Lime consists mainly of calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate. The smaller the particle size the more effective the stone is at reacting in the soil. Lime comes in a powder and in a pelletized form such as this.
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- In addition to correcting the soil’s acidity levels, lime also improves the soil’s water absorption.
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- Here is the spreader, which is hitched to the back of the tractor. It moves the pulverized limestone and throws it about 30 feet out as it is driven through the field.
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- In the back of the unit is the control for how much of the pelleted lime is released – it is important to lock this in place, so the lime is distributed properly.
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- These are slinger blades that help to direct the lime as it is thrown from the spreader.
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- Here is Carlos in one of the paddocks adjacent to my long Boxwood Allee still covered in protective burlap. He looks back often to check that the lime is running through the feeder correctly.
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- Carlos goes slowly to ensure good coverage.
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- Here is a closer look at the lime coming out through the bottom of the hopper, and how much is left at the top – it is still very full.
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- Once empty, Carlos loads up the hopper again – this time by hand.
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- And then heads out to the next field. Rain is expected in the forecast later today, so this was a good time to apply the lime to empty fields. The fields where the horses are currently grazing were left alone and will be done at a separate time.
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- Here is the tractor as it comes down the donkey paddock spreading lime on both sides and in back – a very thin layer is sufficient.
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- It takes about six-months for limestone to become active in the soil.
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- The tractor will make several passes up and down the fields before it is finished. Lime is also good for adding calcium and magnesium. The best way to determine if a soil is acidic or deficient in calcium or magnesium is with a soil test – available at your local cooperative extension.
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- And, do this when there is little to no wind, so the application can be done as evenly as possible.
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- Carlos spread two tons of lime in just two hours. One of the best ways to care for your horse is to care for your land so it can provide healthy pastures all year round.
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