ROTHLIME

The Rothlime app

In simple steps this app is used for deciding how much lime to add to raise a soil's pH under UK conditions. Soil pH refers to measurement made in water with a soil:water ratio of 1:2.5 (weight:volume). See Methods for Analysis of Agricultural Materials (1986).

  • It asks for the measured pH and the target pH. The range of pH covered is 4.5 - 7, and the target pH must be above the measured value.
  • The target pH is at least 6.5 for most arable soils, 6 for most grassland soils. This promotes optimum nutrient supply and avoids acidification, aluminium release and crop damage.
  • A user selects what type of liming material they intend to use, the type of soil to be limed and the current agricultural land use (arable or grass). The user can input the actual neutralising value, which is useful if the product to be used is different from the assumed value for any given liming material.

Tests showed that RothLime gives similar lime requirements to those obtained from the ALA model and the table in RB209 (see LINKS).

Disclaimer

ROTHAMSTED EXPERIMENTAL STATION means Rothamsted Research, Rothamsted Experimental Station, or its successor in name, a company limited by guarantee incorporated in England under no. 2393175 and a not for profit charity no. 80238

Rothamsted Experimental Station gives no explicit warranty:- (i) that it owns all necessary property and other rights contained within this electronic resource and that its use will not infringe any patent, copyright, trade mark or other right owned by any third party; or (ii) that this electronic resource is of satisfactory quality or fit for any particular purpose, and has been developed with reasonable care and skill or tested for completeness and accuracy.

The Rothamsted Experimental Station shall have no liability to the user, whether in contract, tort or otherwise, in relation to the use of this electronic resource or its use by any other person, or the consequences of their use, to the maximum extent permitted under applicable law. The user shall indemnify and hold harmless Rothamsted Experimental Station from and against all claims and losses arising from such use, including without limitation claims and losses arising from:- (i) injury to Rothamsted Experimental Station employees and third parties; (ii) infringement of third party intellectual property rights; and (iii) use of the data within or outside the scope of this disclaimer.

Copyright, Rothamsted Experimental Station. This electronic resource may not be reproduced without the written consent of Rothamsted Experimental Station.

ACCEPT DISCLAIMER AND START ROTHLIME

Books

Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF). Agricultural Development & Advisory Service (ADAS) The analysis of agricultural materials: a manual of the analytical methods used by the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service. Reference book, 427 3rd edition ,1986 London, HMSO. This book is out of print but copies are available through libraries.

RothLime contact details

Developed by Sciphus Computing Ltd

E-mail: Sciphus Computing

Sustainable Agriculture Sciences Department
Rothamsted Research
Harpenden, Herts
AL5 2JQ England

E-mail: Steve McGrath or Keith Goulding

Copyright, Rothamsted Research. This electronic resource may not be reproduced without the written consent of Rothamsted Research.

The Sustainable Agriculture Sciences department

This page is part of the Sustainable Agriculture Sciences.

The Sustainable Agriculture Sciences Department has staff at both the Harpenden and North Wyke sites. We aim to understand, model and manipulate the abiotic and biotic processes in arable and grazed grassland soils to improve the function, resilience and sustainability of farming systems.

READ MORE

Sustainable Soils and Grassland Systems department