Limestone
The use of limestone seems to always be in pursuit of raising the pH of soil from acidic to neutral or alkaline.
Enjoy,
David Proctor
Urban Soil Farmer/Rancher

Calcium As A Fertilizer
by David Proctor
January 30, 2025
Urban Farm Lifestyle Magazine Published Weekly
Limestone is very prevalent in the Midwest, as shown by the many cave formations located throughout the area.
The only time I ever used limestone was with a drop spreader to apply to our lawn.
No one ever thought about the benefits of the calcium and magnesium that the plants were getting from this application.
Monticello Garden
Even today when one looks at the internet, the main reason and function for applying calcium is to neutralize the soil acidity.
Very seldom will you find the topic of calcium as a main fertilizer and that the acidity is an indication of a lack of fertilization of calcium and other nutrients in the soil.
It has been shown that plants will grow just fine in acidic soil if there is enough calcium for the plants to uptake into the roots or applied as a foliar to the leaves.
As stated by William Albrecht, PhD “Calcium deficiency in the soil has come to be plant nutrient problem number one in the agricultural production… It has been the common belief that liming the soil is beneficial for plants through the reduction of the hydrogen-ion concentration (acidity) which this carbonate treatment affects when, in fact, the benefit comes from the introduction of the nutrient, calcium, for plant use. Increasing soil acidity is disastrous to agricultural production, not because of the advent of the hydrogen (pH) into the soil, but because of the exit therefrom of the many plant nutrient cations replaced by the hydrogen. Among these, calcium is the most prominent.”
In layman’s terms, it is not the acid, it is the lack of calcium.
Calcium is used by the plant in conjunction with nitrogen to produce proteins in the plant and is used for cell walls and enzymes in plant health.
Raised Bed Gardens – Reelsboro, NC
Many tests have shown that the lack of calcium can cause inferior plant growth and inferior nutrition from the plant that does not have the proper balance of nutrients.
Now is a good time to add an application of limestone to your garden.
The pH can be used as a measure of how much to add, but just applying a small amount now and again in the fall will help the soil and the biology of the soil.
Check It Out!
Gary Pilarchik (The Rusted Garden)
Quick Tip
I found limestone for $6.00/50lb bag at a local farm supply store.
Most will sell pelletized calcium which uses a broadcast spreader.
If you get the powder limestone, spread it by hand or with a drop spreader.
Bibliography:
Albrecht, William A., and Charles Walters. Albrecht on Calcium: The Albrecht Papers, Volume V. Acres U.S.A, 2011.
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