The pH value of acidic soil is between 4.5 ~ 6.0 which not only lacks nutrition, but also releases a lot of toxic substances. So, it’s important to improve its quality. Of various treatments, limestone always takes a place.

How Does Limestone Improve Land Quality?

The main component of limestone is calcium carbonate (CaCO3). It will boil and be dissolved once it contacts dilute acetic acid, dilute hydrochloric acid and dilute nitric acid. Meanwhile, it will decompose into calcium oxide and carbon dioxide under high temperature. Limestone can be used in large quantities in building materials and industrial materials, but it cannot be used to improve acidic soil directly. Only when limestone is burned into quicklime, can it be used to improve acidic soil. When quicklime (CaO) absorbs moisture, it will turn into slaked lime whose main component is Ca(OH)2, commonly known as calcium hydroxide. Like quicklime, slaked lime can also be used for the improvement of acidic soil.

How to Improve the Soil with Limestone?

(1) The amount of limestone used to grow different crops in soil with different pH values
When the PH value of soil is 4.5-5.5, corn and soybean are planted, and the appropriate amount of limestone is 1125-1500 kg per hectare. For rice, 975-1350 kg per hectare is appropriate.

(2) Effects of different limestone amounts on yield
As for corn planting, when the soil’s PH is below 5.5, the application of 750 kg per hectare of limestone is significant, with an average yield increase of about 7%. The use of per kilogram of limestone can increase the yield by 0.6 kg. When the application of limestone is 1125 kg per hectare, the yield increase is about 15% on average. The use of per kilogram of limestone can increase the yield by 0.8 kg.

(3) Effects of duration of limestone use on increasing yield
The improvement effect of limestone on acid soil has a certain relation with its application period. The application of limestone in corn and rice land in the first year increases the yield by about 13% and 11% respectively. The effect of application in the next year is similar to that of the first year.

(4) Effects of limestone on low-yield acid cold waterlogged fields
The first effect is to adjust the PH value of the soil. The amount of limestone is 112-1500 kg. Usually, for not more than two years, the soil will get neutral. The second is to increase the soil’s effective nutrients with total nitrogen increasing by 0.014%-0. 031%. The third is to improve physical properties of the soil. The soil bulk density is reduced by 0.11-1.19 grams per cubic meter, and the soil water content is increased by 0.3%-0.9%.

Limestone Grinding Projects

Case1
Equipment: MTW 138 European Grinding Mill
Country: Laos
Material: Limestone
Input size: 200mm
Output size: 200mesh
Capacity: 9t/h

Case2
Equipment: MTW 175 European Grinding Mill
Country: Russia
Material: Limestone
Input size: 150mm
Output size: 200mesh
Capacity: 15t/h

Case3
Country: Saudi Arabia
Equipment: MTW175 European Grinding Mill
Material: Limestone
Input size: 200mm
Output size: 200mesh
Capacity: 15t/h