The British Survey of Fertiliser Practice* suggests that the steady decline in agricultural land area receiving lime in Britain appears to be reversing slowly for arable agriculture, but for grassland agriculture it is a differerent and more worrying story – see ‘News and Events’ for more information.
The survey also concludes that this area is still considerably less than that calculated to require liming. In addition, it states the principle causes of acidification have not lessened, and it is reasonable to believe that significant areas of arable land, and more particularly grassland, are at a pH level which could limit productivity.
*Organised and jointly funded by the Fertiliser Manufacturers' Association (FMA), the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Scottish Executive Rural Affairs.
Proven over more than 80 years, LimeX is an easily spreadable, high-quality liming material ideal for the correction of soil acidity and general conditioning. It is suitable for agriculture, horticulture, brownfield restoration and the built environment.
Is your grassland suffering from acidity and risking yield and quality?
Reliable evidence from the British Survey of Fertiliser Practice illustrates the decline in grassland liming. The grassland liming trend has declined dramatically in the past 12 months as shown in table 1:
The data emphasises a long term reduction in lime use for ‘all grass’ over the past decade, with a 35% decline in the past 12 months, to the lowest level since 2001!.
Indications are that our grasslands are becoming more acidic, and this reduction in pH is likely to adversely affect sward composition, and therefore grassland yield and quality will decline.
Furthermore, nitrogen applications increase the natural rate of soil acidification, and cut herbage (i.e. silage) removes significantly larger quantities of calcium when compared to other crops.
Therefore routine pH testing and liming is required to ensure consequential loss of yield and forage quality is avoided by keeping soil pH at an appropriate level.
LimeX is the ideal product for fast acting, but lasting pH correction on grassland, and can be used in organic farming systems. Furthermore, the integral nutrient package within LimeX contributes to maintaining soil fertility by supplying valuable quantities of P2O5, MgO and SO3.
LimeX is available to order now for this spring and early summer, but stocks will not last. For more information on LimeX please contact 0870 2402314.
Due to the exceptional process conditions created as a result of the prolonged wet and then cold and wet weather during the latter half of the 2012/13 processing season it was necessary to increase lime use to varying extents in our factories to maintain throughput.
As a result this has affected the total P2O5 content in LimeX70 produced at Newark and Wissington.
Please be aware that we are unable to declare 1.0% minimum P2O5 content for Newark and Wissington product until new season (2013/14) product becomes available.
Our revised values for product to be dispatched are now 0.9% P2O5 for Newark and 0.7% P2O5 for Wissington.
Please contact us if you require more information.
Click here for more info
The Effect of pH on Crop Yields
Minimum levels of pH vary from crop to crop as can be seen from quantified data...
Click here for more info
LimeX's Carbon Footprint
As part of British Sugar's commitment to reducing its impact on the environment, we now have an estimate of our carbon footprint...
Click here for more info
Technical Literature
We've produced a series of technical leaflets on the benefits of using LimeX products for different agricultural applications:
Click here for more info
LimeX - Product Status
British Sugar can confirm that all LimeX products have 'product status'. As such, customers do not need an exemption under the Waste Management Licencing Regulations or Agricultural Waste Regulations.
Results of Efficacy Trials
We now have the results of our latest trials on the efficacy of limeX against other liming materials ...
more info>>
Concerns over the recent, rapid decline in grassland liming:
Is your grassland suffering from acidity and risking yield and quality?
Reliable evidence from the British Survey of Fertiliser Practice illustrates the decline in grassland liming. The grassland liming trend has declined dramatically in the past 12 months as shown in table 1:
Table 1: Liming trends from the British Survey of Fertiliser Practice.
The data emphasises a long term reduction in lime use for ‘all grass’ over the past decade, with a 35% decline in the past 12 months, to the lowest level since 2001!.
Indications are that our grasslands are becoming more acidic, and this reduction in pH is likely to adversely affect sward composition, and therefore grassland yield and quality will decline.
Furthermore, nitrogen applications increase the natural rate of soil acidification, and cut herbage (i.e. silage) removes significantly larger quantities of calcium when compared to other crops.
Therefore routine pH testing and liming is required to ensure consequential loss of yield and forage quality is avoided by keeping soil pH at an appropriate level.
LimeX is the ideal product for fast acting, but lasting pH correction on grassland, and can be used in organic farming systems. Furthermore, the integral nutrient package within LimeX contributes to maintaining soil fertility by supplying valuable quantities of P2O5, MgO and SO3.
LimeX is available to order now for this spring and early summer, but stocks will not last. For more information on LimeX please contact 0870 2402314, or visit: limex.co.uk
Ends.
For more information please contact:
Richard Cogman, LimeX Manager, richard.cogman@britishsugar.com
Tel: 01733 422085 or 07850 369840.
