ABSTRACT
Lime requirement (LR) refers to the amount of lime required to neutralize the acidic components present in soils of low pH. Raising the soil pH to a satisfactory level for a specific crop has long been recognized as an important way to improve yield, and historical accounts are instructive in this regard. An appraisal of LR methodologies would not be complete without first reviewing the different means of measurement and media used. Cornell Nutrient Analysis Laboratories for instance markets a number of pH indicator soil test kits that come complete with an instruction sheet and tabulated values. The simplest method is based upon determination of soil pH, with subsequent consultation of a table of lime applications. There are many methods available for the determination of soil LR, but no single method is suitable for all soils under all conditions.
