Lime application to amend acid soil conditions is an often necessary management practice to ensure field productivity. Uniform application is often difficult to achieve due to the powdery nature of typical aglime. Pelletized sources of lime are currently available which make application much easier, but the cost of such materials often prohibits use on a large scale. The objective of this work was to compare typical aglime to pelletized lime at varying rates to determine each material's ability to affect soil pH over time and the impact of lime application on corn grain yield. Three rates (2.8, 5.6, and 11.2 tonne per ha) of each material were applied and incorporated prior to corn planting in 2004. Soil samples were collected periodically throughout the growing season to determine the affect of lime application on soil pH. At the low application rate, neither source of lime raised soil pH above 6.0, but application of typical aglime did result in higher grain yields than pelletized lime (12% higher). At the higher rates of application both sources performed equally well. Application of pelletized lime, at rates significantly lower than current recommendations, does not appear to be a viable alternative management practice.
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