Gradual decline of lime: researcher says there's a need for a greater input

Renowned researcher and authority on acid soil management, Helen Burns, who recently retired from NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), stresses that many farmers are not applying enough lime to address subsurface acidity in layers below five centimetres.

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Unless addressed, these soils will gradually decline in productivity and require even higher future lime rates in conjunction with aggressive incorporation.

This is to detect where acid soil layers are most significant and helps assess how much lime is required and where it should be placed.

Commonly, lime a