Liming grass

[Dissident]

Living in an acidic area, i read that if you lime grassy fields that it would make it much more palatable to the deer. Anyone ever heard of this?

[Monroe]

Yes - the better the pH, the more digestable the vegetation. Likewise, more nutrients in the plants because they are more efficient at nutrient uptake.

[deerhunt45]

Yes. It's all about the calcium to magnesium ratio of the soil, at least 4/1, ideal is 6 or 7/1). Have the soil tested. Some soils in Ohio are calcium deficient and require hi cal lime while others are magnesium deficient and would need dolomitic (higher magnesium) lime addition.

A USGS Soil Survey is invaluable for land and crop management.

[ohiosam]

To do the best you should plow after you spread. I'm going to bet you probably don't want to do that. Unfortunately lime isn't very mobile in the soil and won't move down very good. Putting lime on top is better then not putting it on, you just won't get the best results. Oh and yes it can help the quality of the feed.

[Dissident]

thanks for the replies guys. oh, and deerhunter45, my fall soil test showed my CA to be 2683 and MG to be 195. my other readings were pH 5.1, P 42, and K137. id like to eventually try food plots but first things first. i'm kinda new to this so any suggestions are apprec.

[ohiosam]

Where did you have the soil test done? Most soil tests come with recommendations based on the crop you want to grow. Did you get recommendations?

Here's some links with more information
http://ohioline.osu.edu/anr-fact/0005.html
http://ohioline.osu.edu/b472/0004.html

[Dissident]

Sent it to the university. Thanks for the links i will check them out!