What Does Limestone Mean?
Limestone is a sedimentary rock, formed by the deposition and subsequent cementation at the surface of the earth and within bodies of water. Skeletal remains of aquatic creatures contain minerals like calcite and aragonite. These are different crystal forms of the salt calcium carbonate (CaCO3), which is the primary composition of limestone.
Limestone is a common rock. One out of every 10 sedimentary rocks is a limestone. It is one of the most useful rocks available on the planet. The solubility and the color of limestone often makes it similar to other sedimentary rocks such as dolomite and dolostone. The first man to make this distinction was Slovenian geologist Belsazar Hacquet, who discovered that limestone had different chemical properties than the other rocks it resembled.
Limestone is sometimes called agricultural lime, or simply just lime, due to its usefulness in the field.
Maximum Yield Explains Limestone
Agricultural lime is considered a soil conditioner and is an important aspect of gardening as many lawns and gardens need limestone to supply calcium to the soil. It also increases the pH level of acidic soil, thus reducing the acidity and increasing the alkalinity of the soil. It can permit water penetration and improve fluidity for acidic soil. Many plants, like beans and tomatoes, require high levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, potassium, and magnesium, all of which are improved by the addition of limestone to the soil.
You can tell if your soil needs lime by the condition of your plants. Gardens that have acidic soil result in unhealthy growth of herbs and shrubs. Some of them have their leaves turn yellow, while some experience burnt roots. However, the only precise method to know if your garden soil needs lime is by getting it analyzed using a soil test kit or by going through a soil testing lab.
To add limestone to your soil, you will need a face mask, a liter of distilled water, and a pH level tester (litmus, universal pH, or any other tool). Putting on a face mask is very important as the process creates a lot of dust. Prepare a concentration of distilled water and soil and take a pH reading. If it is low, add more lime, and if it is high, add more water. Select an amount suitable for your plants and add the mixture to your soil. Spread it evenly throughout the top eight inches of your soil. The general pattern should be around two tablespoons per pH level per square feet. It can take a few months to a year to get the pH level stable.
