The Rates of Reaction with Acid Soils of Finely Divided Soil Liming Materials 1

In attempting to measure the agricultural value of a by-product precipitated carbonate of lime produced in the manufacture of soda ash, the question arose as to whether any practical difference exists in the rate at which finely divided burned and carbonate forms of lime react with acid soils. Interest centered particularly in four classes of materials sold commercially for liming soils in Ohio, i.e., hydrated lime, a precipitated carbonate of lime sold under the trade name of "Plant Lime", finely pulverized high calcium limestone, and finely pulverized dolomitic limestone. While it is generally recognized that all of these materials possess relatively high efficiency, not infrequently claims for superiority have been made for hydrated lime over the carbonate forms, for precipitated carbonate over the natural carbonates, and for high calcium over dolomitic pulverized limestones. In a laboratory study, Morgan and Salter (5)', employing 40to 50mesh and 80to loo-mesh separates of 10 limestones of diverse origin, one marble sample and one natural precipitated carbonate (travertine), could find no relation between the rates of dissolution, in either buffered acid or acid soil, and such physical properties as