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Since its founding in 2005 by a group of career farmers and ranchers, Grasshopper Fertilizer has consistently experienced double-digit annual sales growth. The company grew 50 percent to 100 percent annually for the first five years and in 2011 during a widespread drought, Grasshopper Fertilizer managed to grow by 25 percent.

“The market is just thirsty for the type of product we offer,” said GW Sharp, owner of Grasshopper Fertilizer. “Our biggest source of growth is farmers sharing their positive experiences with each other. I think we could shut off all advertising and marketing in 2012 and still grow.”

According to Sharp, Grasshopper Fertilizer offers higher quality, price competitive specialty ag products including fertilizer, root stimulant and micronutrient blends. Its foliar fertilizer blends are the company’s bread and butter. They offer 100 percent absorption into the leaf compared to absorption rates of 20 percent to 80 percent for many fertilizers. Grasshopper Fertilizers are used on the top row crops including corm, soybeans, cotton and peanuts as well as hay, range and pastures.

“It’s a high-quality product that offers lower use rates and can be mixed and applied with herbicides and fungicides. That also saves the farmer time and money,” Sharp said.

Grasshopper Fertilizer is available through 75 retail outlets including sales reps, feed stores and fertilizer outlets throughout the southeastern U.S. The company also offers wholesale distribution throughout the U.S. and internationally in Canada, South America and Africa.

The right blend
Grasshopper Fertilizer products offer the right blend of high quality chemical ingredients to achieve 100 percent absorption. According to Sharp, the company’s leadership team started with what had worked best in their experience as farmers and ranchers and then created blends by adding root stimulants and micronutrients.

“We’re constantly refining and improving our proprietary formulas. We’re not science majors but we have worked with several university labs and co-ops,” Sharp said.

It’s especially important to get the right quality of chemicals, according to Sharp. For example, not all types of nitrogen can be absorbed into the leaf. After designing a proprietary blend and beginning its manufacture, the company then enlists the services of a contract manufacturer.

Successful trials
Grasshopper Fertilizer has participated in trials at several agricultural shows including the Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie, Ga. The trials are used to demonstrate the performance of new seeds, fertilizers, equipment and similar types of ag products.

“We had some of the largest yield increases in soybeans, peanuts and cotton that they’d ever seen at the Sunbelt field day,” Sharp said. “The yield increases were two to four times the cost of the product.”

Word of mouth created by successful trials and customer experiences has accelerated sales of the company’s products. According to Sharp, one satisfied farmer telling friends and neighbors about his experience is much better than any magazine advertisement.
“We’re a young company competing with absolute giants in the ag chemical industry,” Sharp said. “So positive word of mouth is especially important.”

In addition to positive word of mouth, having a memorable name has helped Grasshopper Fertilizer stand out. Hay production was the company’s first target market and the company name referred to its ability to “get grass hopping.” Now the Grasshopper name helps the company stand out from others in the industry.

See the Slide Show Soil Acidity and Ag Liming Issues

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PACIFIC NORTHWEST CONSERVATION TILLAGE HANDBOOK SERIES
Chapter 6 – Fertility, No. 11, Spring 1987

Wheat Response to Lime on Acid Soils

Roger Veseth

Increasing acidity in the surface foot of soil is reducing yield potential of cereal and legume crops in northern Idaho and other Northwest cropland areas. Recent research has shown that lime (calcium carbonate) applications can increase yields of winter wheat and spring wheat if the soil pH is less than 5.3. The research has been conducted by Robert Mahler, University of Idaho soil scientist, in cooperation with Robert McDole, UI Extension soil specialist.

The demand for agricultural lime is new to much of this region and commercial supply options are limited, Consequently, lime is often expensive and difficult to obtain. Equipment capable of spreading solid (dry) lime is also often a limiting factor. Dry fertilizer applicators are not capable of spreading lime materials because they contain a range of particle sizes and because of the high application rates required.

Liquid lime may be an option because most producers have the spray equipment needed for application. However, there are several limitations to the use of liquid lime as well, The high application rates required (120 to 240 gallons per acre) may limit the feasibility of using sprayer equipment. Other limitations include the higher cost of liquid lime material compared to dry lime, extra cost of preparing the liquid lime (a suspension) and the higher cost of transportation due to the fact that liquid lime is 50 percent water.

4-Year Research Effort

Mahler completed 4 years of research from 1983 through 1986 directed at: (1) evaluating the effect of liquid lime on yields of spring wheat and winter wheat, (2) determining the optimum timing and placement of liquid lime and (3) comparing the effectiveness of liquid lime to a typical solid lime material. The research was conducted east of Moscow in a 22- to 24-inch precipitation zone on silt loam soils. Initial saturated paste pH of the soil was 5.1.

Liquid Lime Application Rate and Timing

Yield response of spring wheat and winter wheat to three rates of liquid lime broadcast and incorporated 5 months before planting was compared with the same applications 2 days before planting, The lime used in the liquid suspension had a neutralizing value (Calcium Carbonate Equivalent) of 100. The suspension contained 48 percent 200 mesh lime, 50.5 percent water and 1.5 percent suspension clay.

Mahler found that liquid lime applied 5 months before planting at rates of 500 and 1,000 pounds/acre resulted in significant spring wheat yield increases of 50 and 63 percent, respectively (Table 1). The 250 pounds/acre rate, applied 5 months before planting, and all the application rates 2 days before planting did not result in spring wheat yields statistically superior to the check. Mahler points out that this indicates the importance of applying lime in the fall before a spring crop to allow time for the lime to react with the soil and raise soil pH.

Table 1. Yields of spring wheat and winter wheat from plots treated with liquid lime either 5 months before or 2 days before planting at Moscow, ID, In 1983 and 1984 (Mahler, Ul).

¹ Means in the same column followed by the same letter are not statistically different at the 0.05 level of probability.

With winter wheat, 500 and 1,000 pounds/acre applications of liquid lime 5 months before planting increased yields 21 and 45 percent, respectively. When the same rates were applied 2 days before planting, yield increases were 23 and 34 percent, respectively. The 250 pounds/acre application rate did not significantly increase yield regardless of application date. In contrast to spring wheat, application date was not a factor in winter wheat response to lime. The winter months apparently allow the time necessary for the liquid lime to react with soil, consequently, masking any potential advantage of an earlier application date.

Liquid and Solid Lime Comparison

In 1985 and 1986, Mahler compared five application rates of liquid and solid lime broadcast and incorporated 1 day before planting. The liquid lime contained 48 percent 200 mesh lime, 50 percent water and 2 percent suspension clay. Solid lime had the following particle size distribution: 80 percent passed a 20-mesh sieve, 50 percent passed a 60-mesh sieve and 20 percent passed a 100-mesh sieve. Both sources had a neutralizing value of 100.

Liquid lime application rates of 2,000, 1,500, 1,000, 500 and 250 pounds/acre 1 day before planting resulted in spring wheat yield increases of 25.0, 13.4, 14.4, 11.4 and 11.0 bushels/acre, respectively (Table 2). No significant differences were found between yield responses to liquid and solid lime at any application rate.

With winter wheat, liquid lime application rates produced yields significantly higher than solid lime. Liquid lime applied at rates of 2,000, 1,500, 1,000,500 and 250 pounds/acre resulted in winter wheat yields of 38.8,43.2, 42.7, 27.1 and 15.8 percent greater than the check, respectively. Yield increases with the same application rates of solid lime were only 21.1, 23.5, 9.8, 2.7 and 3.9 percent, respectively. Differences in winter wheat yield between liquid and solid lime were statistically significant at all application rates.

Table 2. Comparison of spring wheat and winter wheat yield responses to liquid and solid lime broadcast and incorporated 1 day before planting near Moscow, ID, in 1985 and 1988 (Mahler, IA)

NS, * and ** designate not statistically different, statistically different at the 0.05 level and statistically different at the 0.01 level, respectively (statistical comparisons are only between lime sources at each application rate).

Incorporation vs. Non-incorporation

Wheat response to 500 and 1,000 pounds/acre rates of liquid and solid lime broadcast and incorporated one day before seeding was compared with broadcast nonincorporated applications 3 days after seeding (Table 3). Differences were generally not statistically significant when comparing application rates of liquid and solid lime on spring wheat and winter wheat yields.

A broadcast non-incorporated option for lime applications could be important in a no-till system. However, in this higher precipitation area, producers are generally not in a continuous no-till system for all crops, so lime could be applied when some tillage incorporation was possible in the rotation.

Conclusions

Mahler’s research conclusions point out some general guidelines for producers considering liquid or solid lime applications.

1. For a spring crop, liquid lime was more effective when applied in the fall than in the spring, allowing more soil reaction time under moist conditions. A similar advantage would be expected with solid lime. For winter wheat, liquid lime application just before planting appears to be about as effective as application the previous spring. Earlier application of solid lime may be advantageous, however.

2. Fall applications of 500 and 1,000 pounds/acre of liquid lime to acid soils (pH 5.1) significantly increased spring wheat and winter wheat yields.

3. When applied in equal amounts, liquid lime usually produced wheat yields superior to solid lime. The difference in yield response can be explained by the fact that finer mesh-size liquid lime has a greater surface area and contacts more soil than solid lime, consequently, neutralizing soil acidity at a faster rate.

4. Even though liquid lime applications were successful in these experiments, the lower cost of solid lime must be considered. When material and application costs are taken into account, liquid lime may be as much as three times more expensive than solid lime.

5. Liquid lime has some advantages that may overcome some of the cost difference. These include: possible use of commonly available spraying equipment; quicker reaction time in the soil and improved yield response; and greater uniformity of application on hilly terrain.

6. Liquid lime at low rates (500 pounds/acre) may give a yield benefit on the crop in the crop year when-applied, but it does not correct the acid soil problem. Thus, it is only a temporary measure.

Table 3. Comparison of spring wheat and winter wheat yield response to broadcast Incorporated and non-incorporated applications of solid and liquid lime near Moscow, ID, in 1985 and 1988 (Mahler, Ul).

¹1 day before — incorporated before-planting application; 3 days after— non-incorporated after-planting application.

²NS, * and * * designate not statistically different, statistically different at the 0.05 level and statistically different at the 0.01 level, respectively (statistical comparisons are only between application for each lime source and rate).

Additional information on lime materials and application considerations can be found in the 1986 University of Idaho Current Information Series 787, Lime Materials by Mahler and McDole. It is available through the Extension Office in your county. A new UI Current Information Series, The Relationship of Soil pH and Crop Yields in Northern Idaho, by Mahler and McDole should be available this summer. The increasing availability of lime materials and application equipment in the Northwest should make lime application on acid soils more feasible in the future.

For more information see Liquid Lime Research

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]]> http://www.grasshopperfertilizer.com/mojo-lime-wheat-response-lime-acid-soils/feed 0 http://www.grasshopperfertilizer.com/mojo-lime-liming-ph http://www.grasshopperfertilizer.com/mojo-lime-liming-ph#comments Sun, 25 Sep 2011 21:36:17 +0000 grassdmin8 http://www.grasshopperfertilizer.com/?p=2809 Published in The Ohio State University Extension Bulletin 760

Jay W. Johnson and Don Myers

1. How long does it take for lime to work?

The length of time that it takes for lime to neutralize soil acidity depends upon the type of lime used. Liming materials differ widely in their neutralizing powers due to variations in the percentage of calcium and/or magnesium and impurities (silt, clay, etc.) contained in the limestone. Refer to Table 14, page 18 of the Ohio Agronomy Guide, 13th ed. for a listing of the TNP (total neutralizing power) of various agricultural liming materials. Usually, liming materials with high TNPs tend to neutralize soil acidity faster than those with low TNP’S.

The coarseness of the liming material will also influence how fast the lime will react. The finer the liming material, the greater the surface area and the faster it will react with acid soil.

2. How little or how much lime can be applied at one time?

There is no lower limit to the amount of lime that can be applied at one time. You can apply as small a quantity of lime as the application equipment will allow. Typically, an applicator will not uniformly spread amounts less than 2 tons/acre. Likewise, there is no definite upper limit to the amount of lime that can be applied at one time. You must, however, be careful not to add such an excessive amount of lime that the soil pH rises above 8. For most Ohio soils, there will be a risk of over-liming if the application is in the range of 15-20 tons or more of agricultural ground lime/A.

3. When should lime be applied?

The answer to this question depends on the pH of the soil. When large additions of lime are needed to correct soil pH, lime should be applied as far preceding planting as is practical so that there is ample time for neutralization of soil acidity. Preferably, such an application would be made at least 3 months for row crops and 6 months for forage crops prior to seeding. When only a maintenance application is needed (2 tons or less per acre), lime should be applied before primary tillage so good incorporation is obtained.

Under no-till systems, autumn normally is the best time to apply lime. Application at this time tends to minimize N losses.

4. Should lime be worked into the soil or placed on the surface? Will lime react with herbicides etc.?

Tillage should be used to work lime into the soil whenever possible. Good lime soil contact will help maximize the effectiveness of the liming material.

Surface applications of lime are not normally recommended. Surface applied lime moves into the soil profile at a very slow rate. In fact, in Ohio we have estimated that lime will move downward at a rate of approximately 1 inch per year. Even under no-till systems, it is best if the lime can be lightly incorporated with shallow tillage such as a disk. If, however, the slope of the field is steep enough to cause erosion, leave the lime on the no-till surface.

Lime does not typically react with herbicides; nevertheless, it may have an effect on the chemical activity of some herbicides. For example, soil pH levels less than 5.5 may reduce the activity of triazine herbicides (atrazine, Bladex, and Sencor), but soil pHs greater than 6.5 may tend to increase their activity and/or carryover potential.

5. What is the relation of tillage practices to lime?

As mentioned above, tillage allows for mechanical mixing of the lime with the soil. When reduced tillage systems are used, there will be a limited amount of mixing of lime and soil. In addition, surface applications of nitrogen fertilizers will tend to lower the pH in the top 1 inch of soil. Thus, no-till systems need to be closely monitored for pH changes. Soil samples should be taken more frequently when no-till is adopted. In general, more frequent lime additions are needed under no-till.

6. Acid subsoils are normal in our area. For corn and alfalfa, what are the subsoil pH levels that are troublesome? If adjustments to subsoil pH are needed, is there any practical, effective technique to raise the pH other than maintaining a plow layer pH at or near 7.0 and waiting years? How can we speed the increase?

If pH levels in the subsoil are below 5.5 for corn or below 6.0 for alfalfa, corrective applications of lime are needed. The pH level in the topsoil should be raised to pH 6.5 for corn or 7.0 for alfalfa and maintained at this level. As water flows through the soil profile, the added lime will be carried into the subsoil and gradually increase the subsoil pH. This downward movement will take years. There is no practical method to speed up this process except incorporating lime directly with tillage or by injection.

7. Types of lime and carriers such as Mg and Ca. When to use what?

On a soil that has a Mg content between 10% and 50% of the CEC, the lime carrier is usually not important. You can use either a calcitic or dolomitic lime. If the Mg level is below 10%, you should use a dolomitic carrier. This becomes particularly important if you are growing a grass crop for forage because the use of dolomitic lime should raise Mg levels in the grass and help to prevent grass tetany.

8. How does agricultural slag compare with lime as a neutralizing material? Is ag slag as good a liming material as ag ground?

Agricultural slag is a generalized term for fused calcium magnesium silicates. This material is normally a by-product of the steel industry. Generally, agricultural slag has less neutralizing power/ton of lime than does agricultural ground limestone; thus, higher rates of agricultural slag are typically required. When used at the appropriate rate, agricultural slag can be an effective liming material. One should, however, be aware of the total composition of the agricultural slag that is used. Some materials that are sold as agricultural slag may have high levels of heavy metals, water and be course, thus slowing the soil reaction.

9. What are the advantages and disadvantages of liquid lime verses dry lime?

Liquid lime is approximately 50% CaCO3 and 50% H2O. It has the advantage of providing better uniformity of spread over the field in comparison to dry lime.

There are 3 main disadvantages of liquid lime. First, there are normally higher operational costs since you must haul both water and lime across the field. Secondly, more frequent lime applications are often needed since liquid lime reacts quicker than does a dry lime. Finally, over-liming is more likely to occur with liquid lime. You must be very careful of the rate at which it is applied. Because it has such a fast reaction time, you may run the risk of increasing the pH too high and thus accelerating denitrification or surface volatilization of urea, especially under no-till systems. As mentioned earlier, over liming will also tend to increase the activity of triazine herbicides.

10. The cost effectiveness of liquid lime products versus agricultural lime.

To make a decision about the cost effectiveness of these two products, one must compare both the total neutralizing power/unit weight of each and the cost/unit weight of each.

11. Why is there such a spread between LTI and pH?

PH is an unbuffered measure of the hydrogen ion concentration in the soil whereas LTI (lime test index) is a buffered measurement of total soil acidity. Soils with low buffering capacities (low C.E.C.) there can be a large spread between LTI and pH. At high pH’s (>6.2), LTI is not very reliable for many soils.

12. A testing laboratory in our area often recommends liming soils above pH 7.0, claiming improved nutrient availability will result. Is there any merit to this?

Soil pH has a large influence on the availability of plant nutrients. Figure 7-1 and 7-2 on page 21 of the Ohio Agronomy Guide, 13th ed., shows the relative availability of twelve essential plant elements at different pH values for mineral soils. Notice that at the pH range between 6 and 7 most of the essential elements are readily available. This is the reason that we recommend liming to this pH range.

Adding additional lime to raise the pH above 7 may give increased availability of molybdenum, but deficiencies in this micronutrient are rarely reported in Ohio. Thus, in practical terms, liming to pHs above 7 will not lead to improved crop nutrition.

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by Jeff Ball

1. How long does it take for lime to work?
   Since water is required for lime to react with the soil, effects of a lime application will be slower in a dry soil. It often takes a year or more before a response can be measured even under perfect conditions. However, a response may be observed within weeks of the application when soil pH is extremely low. It is important to apply lime immediately after the growing season or crop removal to allow lime to react, correcting soil pH before the next growing season.The reactivity time also depends on the type of lime used. Liming materials differ widely in their neutralizing powers due to variations in the percentage of calcium and/or magnesium. Usually, liming materials with a high calcium carbonate equivalent (CCE) tend to neutralize soil acidity faster than those with a low CCE. The coarseness of the liming material will also influence how fast the lime will react. In other words, the finer the liming material, the greater the surface area, resulting in faster reactivity.
2. How little or how much lime can be applied at one time?
   The amount of lime needed depends on the type of crop being grown.  If growing continuous wheat or bermudagrass, it is only necessary to raise the soil pH above 5.5. Therefore, one-half ton or 25 percent of the soil test deficiency amount required to raise the soil pH to 6.8 is recommended. If growing legumes, the soil pH needs to be raised to 6.8. If surface applying lime, apply no more than two and one-half tons per acre per year. Up to four tons per acre may be applied if the lime is worked into the soil. In situations where soil pH is extremely low and a large amount of lime is recommended, it may be a good idea to spread the cost over two to three years by annually applying one-third or half of the lime needed.
3. Should lime be worked into the soil or placed on the surface?
   Whenever possible, tillage should be used as a tool to incorporate lime into the soil. When lime is worked into the soil, a larger portion of its surface area is exposed to the soil allowing for faster reactivity.Lime applied on the soil surface does not react as fast as lime incorporated by tillage, but what other option is there in perennial pasture systems? Surface-applied lime moves into the soil at a slow rate.  It is similar to non-mobile nutrients in its movement in the soil. However, there are a few crops that have roots that feed close to the soil surface, such as bermudagrass and alfalfa. It has been documented that correcting pH in the top two to three inches of the soil has a positive effect on forage production. Even though it is best to incorporate lime whenever possible, it is still important to surface-apply lime to correct the soil acidity problem in established pastureland and no-till cropping systems.
4. Does liming have an effect on herbicide activity?
   There are several herbicide families that are soil pH dependent. For example, low soil pH levels may reduce the activity or residual time of triazine (atrazine, Sencor) and sulfonylurea (Peak) herbicides. High soil pH levels (>6.8) tend to increase herbicide activity that increases the risk of crop injury and/or carryover potential.
5. What effect do different tillage systems have on soil pH?
   All lime calculations are based on neutralizing the acidity in the top six inches of soil. As a result, different tillage systems affect soil acidity. A conventional tillage system involves several tillage passes over the field prior to planting. If the subsoil is calcareous, deep tillage may mix enough subsoil into the top six inches to maintain soil pH at the surface. Conventional tillage systems allow the opportunity to thoroughly mix applied lime prior to the next growing season. A conservation tillage system is not as aggressive as conventional. Fewer tillage passes may be implemented prior to planting, leaving greater than 30 percent crop residue on the soil surface. As a result, there is a limited amount of soil mixing. It is critical to closely monitor soil pH in no-till systems since most lime and dry fertilizer is surface-applied. Over time, the top inch of soil may become extremely acidic due to the surface application of fertilizer. However, soil surface pH can also become too high if a large amount of lime is applied at one time and left on the soil surface. It is best to apply small amounts of lime more frequently to maintain soil pH in a no-till system.
6. Are dolomitic sources of lime better than calcitic?
   In general, soils in Oklahoma and north Texas are not deficient in magnesium. Therefore, the use of dolomitic lime to increase soil magnesium levels is not important. Dolomitic lime may be recommended in pastures that have a history of grass tetany to raise forage magnesium levels. Both calcitic and dolomitic lime sources work well in raising soil pH. In our region, it is more important to look at the cost effectiveness rather than the source.
7. What are the advantages and disadvantages of liquid lime verses dry lime?
   Liquid lime is a formulation of approximately 50 percent high quality dry Ag lime (usually greater than 90 percent) and 50 percent H2O. It has the advantage of providing better uniformity of spread over the field in comparison to dry lime. There are three main disadvantages of liquid lime. First, there are normally higher operational costs since you must haul both water and lime across the field. Secondly, under-liming is more likely to occur with liquid lime due to spread rate. Finally, more frequent lime applications are often needed since liquid lime reacts quicker than a dry lime source, but the rate may not be high enough to correct all the reserve acidity. One must be very careful of the rate at which liquid lime is applied. It is appealing to the producer because of its fast reaction time and uniformity advantages.  It is important to know how much active ingredient or neutralizing power that you are paying for.
8. What is the cost effectiveness of liquid lime products versus agricultural lime?
   To make a decision about the cost effectiveness of these two products, one must compare both the total neutralizing power/unit weight of each and the cost/unit weight of each. This area can quickly become rather complicated.  If you have any questions in comparing the cost of liquid and dry lime, we would be more than glad to provide assistance.
9. Why is the difference in soil pH and buffer pH on the soil test report?
   pH is an unbuffered measure of the hydrogen ion concentration in the soil (active acidity) whereas buffer pH is a measurement of total soil acidity (active + reserve acidity). Soils with low buffering capacities (low cation exchange capacity or CEC) usually have less total acidity than soils with a high CEC if the pH is the same. Therefore, it takes less lime to correct the total acidity in a soil with a low CEC. The buffer pH on the soil test report is used to calculate how much lime is needed to correct both the active and reserve acidity. When soil pH is 6.5 or greater, the buffer index will not be reported on the soil test report due to its irrelevance.
10. How often should I apply lime?
    The answer to this question depends on a variety of considerations. A soil with a low CEC does not require a lot of lime to correct soil pH, but may need to be limed frequently. A soil with a high CEC requires a large amount of lime to initially correct pH, but it may be several years before another lime application is needed due to its high buffering capacity. The level of production also dictates how often lime will be needed. As fertilizer is applied to enhance forage or crop production, the removal of essential plant nutrients from the soil also increases. As a result, lime may be needed more frequently to replenish removed nutrients. For example, the rate of nutrient removal from a pasture being hayed is much greater than a pasture being grazed. Therefore, the hay field may need to be limed more often.

For more information see Liquid Lime Research

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See PDF of the Article Liming Acid Soils

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See PDF of the Article Choosing between Liming Materials

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See PDF of the Article Soil Acidity and Liming

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