Delegates at today’s SHEEP 2018 event in Teagasc Athenry heard that lime is key for maintaining soil fertility and grass production. Despite this, 65% of all Irish soils are deficient in this nutrient.
Teagasc’s Mark Plunkett – a soil and plant nutrition specialist – highlighted the benefits that can be achieved by using lime to bring the soil pH up to the target of 6.3-6.5 on mineral soils.
It’s the most underutilised and the most cost-effective nutrient in Ireland. It costs approximately €20-25/t and farmers can increase grass production massively just by getting the pH right.
Research from Moorepark and Johnstown Castle indicates that by increasing soil pH from 5.2 to 6.4 – and using only lime – an average grass production response of 1t/ha was achieved. This is worth €105/t.
Lime can be spread at anytime throughout the year and livestock can graze pastures once it has been washed off the herbage.