Lime Requirement Calculator
Calculate how much lime to apply to reach your target soil pH
Work in progress — this calculator is still under development and may not be fully accurate. Use results as a guide only.
Soil pH
From a soil test
6.0–6.5 for most grassland
3.75 t/ha ground limestone equivalent per 0.1 pH unit
Lime material & field
24.71 acres
Application rate
7.50t/ha
Ground limestone — 7.50 t/ha ground limestone equivalent
A second application of 18.75 t/ha is recommended the following year to fully correct pH. See split application detail below.
pH Shortfall
0.7
pH units
Material needed
75.0
tonnes (year 1)
GL equiv
7.50
t/ha
Est. cost
£2625
at £35/t
Split application recommended
RB209 recommends splitting applications exceeding 7.5 t/ha GL equivalent to prevent short-term over-liming.
pH correction summary
About lime requirement: Rates based on RB209 soil buffer capacity values. Actual requirements should be confirmed with a soil analysis from a UKAS-accredited laboratory. Lime should be incorporated by cultivation where possible; surface applications take 2–3 years to move through the profile. Do not apply lime within 3 months of slurry or ammonia-based nitrogen fertilisers to avoid N loss.