Use of Lime in Orchards
Chuck Bornt, Team Leader, Extension Vegetable Specialist
Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture
Thorough incorporation of adequate amounts of lime prior to planting a new orchard is essential. The topsoil (0-8 inch depth) should be adjusted to pH 7 and subsoil (8-16 inch depth) to pH 6.5. An adequate liming program based on soil tests should be the first consideration in developing orchard fertilization plans. Lime is the most economical source of calcium and magnesium. Regulation of soil pH through liming is also necessary to achieve optimal response to other nutrient elements. Fruit from Honeycrisp plantings can suffer from a physiological disorder called bitter pit (BP). The mitigation of BP requires the implementation of multiple tactics, of which the maintenance of soil pH around 7.0 helps.
Use of Lime in Orchards (pdf; 126KB)
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Herkimer, NY
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