Effects of lime on pasture production on soils in the North Island of New Zealand

Abstract

Results from 126 field trials from the North Island of New Zealand were examined, in order to model pasture responses to liming. Soil pH was a useful predictor of lime responses, and accounted for up to 60% of the variation in lime responses. Soil texture and buffering capacity did not significantly improve the prediction of lime response. The optimum pH, defined as the pH above which no further pasture responses to liming occurred, was 5.8–6.1 for mineral soils, and 5.0 for organic soils. There was no evidence from the study that mineral soils derived from different parent materials responded differently to liming.