| bkandra - 3/25/2011 18:44
The topic below about pelleted lime got me to thinking. What about the liquid lime? There are several people around here who absolutely swear by it. No one I ask can tell me just what the amount of water per ton is. Does it take 50% water to get it to pump and flow through the nozzles? I understand that the lime in it is very available, but if it is 90% available and 50% water, by my calculations that is only 45% available lime. Most of the quarry lime around here is in the 50% range, and only costs about 1/2 as much as the liquid lime.
So, the way I see it, a ton of liquid per acre gets you 900# of ECC immediately, and another 100# of lime that will be available later. A ton of crushed lime at 50% ECC is 1000# immediately available lime, and most of the other 1000# will be available later as the bigger pieces break down.
Let me know your thoughts. I have always been a big believer in lime, and feel that the crushed limestone is the way to go.
Liquid Lime is really good lime because it is a 200 mesh material and is 100% available immediately. Long ago I was told that it takes 80% water to keep liquid lime in suspension. Thus you must truck 80% water and 20% lime? you need an agitator to keep it in suspension. Last time I checked it costs just as much per ton to haul water as it does lime. Spreading liquid lime would take more expensive and sophisticated equipment. Who is paying for the tankers and all the equipment? Is liquid lime a byproduct of something else? If they were getting paid to remove it plus they charge the farmer for it they either they can make a lot of profit on it or if they were honest could offer it at a more fair price.
There is no money in regular lime spreading (handling a huge volume of product at a very low margin.) By claiming that liquid lime is magic and is more available and works faster they can charge more for it and apply less. The problem lies with the 80% water how much per ton are you willing to pay for water.
If I am wrong about it taking 80% water to apply liquid lime? Any Dealer dishonest enough to make false claims about this product would most likely be dishonest enough to use 90% water and 10% lime. The lime used in liquid lime is great lime. Unless it is a by product of something else like a Water Treatment plant your costs will be too high to justify.
Same with Pellet lime. Pellet lime is just plain fine ag lime with binders added to make it into a pellet that is easy to spread mixed with dry fertilizer.
It's just a lot cheaper to use 30% to 50% more course ag lime which costs 1/5 the price of pellet lime.
There are liquid sulphers out there too that are industrial by products. Since no one knows what a Fertilizer dealer pays for it he can make a 200% or 400% margin on it. |
Speaking of expensive lime
