THE AGRICULTURAL CAL AND ITS BENEFITS IN AGRICULTURE.

Hello friend of the farms in this opportunity you speak to them of the benefit that it provides us to use the agricultural lime in our crops, I hope that my article is of your interest and I would appreciate your comments.

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In many occasions it happens that when in the soil that is too acidic with a pH of 5.5 or lower, what we have is a soil that, due to its composition, blocks some essential minerals for plants such as iron and magnesium. . Many farmers and agronomists cause great concern that when the soils are used for agriculture they become too acidic and have a negative impact on the productivity of the crops, decreasing their production.
Farmers of agronomists can solve reverse acid soil with applications of agricultural lime. To solve them, or even to prevent them, it is very advisable to remove lime. But, there are different types and each of them has different utilities.

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QUICKLIME
It is calcium oxide (CaO). It is used in gardening to prepare broths (such as Bordelés broth) which eliminate pests that affect plants, as a herbicide, and as a fertilizer since it provides calcium that, although it is a micronutrient, is essential for the proper development and plant maintenance. You have to be very careful and never throw it on or around the plants, since it would dehydrate them.

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CAL OFF:
It is calcium hydroxide (Ca (OH) 2. It can be used to obtain compost, as a biocide and to improve soil characteristics, both acidity and porosity.

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AGRICULTURAL CAL
It is nothing more than calcium carbonate (CaCO3). This lime is the most used in gardening to improve the soil and raise the pH. By doing so, plants are able to assimilate nutrients much better, not to mention that it provides calcium. It is also used to control the fungi of acid soils. The agricultural lime is a conditioner for the soil that is made of crushed limestone. The agricultural lime works as it dissolves with the soil, which makes the release of its potential makes it decrease the acidity of the soil. When the pH of the soil remains neutral, the crop will be able to increase its profit potential, giving benefits to the farmer, including the efficiency of the fertilizers, spending 50% less of these inputs.

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PROPERTIES OF AGRICULTURAL LIME
The application of this product has beneficial effects on crops directly, by the elimination of toxic elements in very acid soils, such as aluminum, manganese and increased availability of phosphorus.
Indirectly, agricultural lime stabilizes soils, improves the conservation of organic matter, adds sandy soils and softens clays, permeability improves ostensibly and this causes water infiltration and retention to increase, so drought resistance in any type of soil it is highly favorable.

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BENEFITS OF THE AGRICULTURAL CAL
The proper use of agricultural lime is one of the most important components to end a successful crop since excess acidity in the soil can severely lower crop production as well as short-term or long-term soil.
Agricultural lime improves the physical chemical and biological properties of the soil, provides better nitrogen fixation by the use of legumes, increases the availability of nutrients for plants, reduces soil toxicities, improves the effectiveness of some herbicides, supplies of calcium magnesium and other nutrients for crops.
Using agricultural lime to raise the pH to a neutral or neutral value will increase the activity of the organisms decomposing crop residues giving a better structure to the soil. Helping to leach nutrients and improve water retention in the soil

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HOW TO USE THE AGRICULTURAL CAL
Many studies have shown that the application of agricultural lime is a very favorable investment for farmers even when the prices of crops are very low. The recommendation of the amount of agricultural lime to apply varies depending on the crop type of soil and the region where it is found by this farmers or agronomists should not apply agricultural lime without first sending representative samples of soil to an agricultural laboratory. Having this report of the soil sample can give a correct recommendation of how many kilos or tons need to be applied for that type of soil.
The liming of the floor can be done at any time of the year, applying volleys with manual implements, animal or mechanical traction. It can be incorporated by means of carancho, plow or harrow, to facilitate its mixing with the ground.
The moment of the application of the agricultural lime must be done before the cultivation either of 2 to 3 months this will give sufficient time for it to act and correct through the contact with the soil particles the acidity of it. Another correct way to apply agricultural lime will be after the harvest of a summer crop of this profit. It will be possible to incorporate the harvests of this crop together with the agricultural lime and a plow pass the approximate depth of 10 is recommended. 20 centimeters the plow or harrow passes. The recommended dose is roughly 5 tons per hectare, half of which is applied before plowing and half of the remainder after plowing. If the agricultural lime can not be incorporated in the previous dates, it can be applied 15 days before sowing, however the results will not be presented immediately if not in the following crops or the mid-crop that is going to be carried out.

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THE APPLICATION OF AGRICULTURAL CAL IN THE SOIL ACCORDING TO ITS CULTURE.

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In the cultivation of sweet corn, a groove will be marked with a groove, the furrow is dug and sprinkled at a rate of 3 fists per linear meter, the furrow is covered and then marked, to later plant and finish the work with a good irrigation .

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For horticultural operations, planks or beds will be formed, then lime will be applied, mixing earth and lime with rake.

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For plots of extensive crops, lime can be applied broadcast, making use of simple elements for transport; as baskets in whose bottom plastic bags are deposited. For a better use, the lime must be incorporated into the soil with some elements such as carancho or harrow.

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In the case of the cultivation of a single plant, a hole of 30 centimeters deep will be dug, with the earth removed two shovels of manure and two fists of lime will be mixed, then the plant will be introduced holding it by the neck so that it is soil, and finished with a generous watering.
Something to keep in mind, is that agricultural lime should be applied 30 days before planting.

CONCLUSION
The use of lime is profitable in agriculture. First we have to know that the pH of the soil indicates the acidity or alkalinity of it. If the pH is 7 it indicates that this is the soil that is neutral, a value lower than 7 will indicate that the soil is acidic and therefore values ​​higher than 7 will show us an alkaline soil or base.

SOURCE:
http://www.abc.com.py/edicion-impresa/suplementos/abc-rural/cal-agricola-928839.html
http://www.tipsytemasagronomicos.com/para-que-funciona-la-cal-agricola-y-su-importancia-en-la-agricultura/
https://www.jardineriaon.com/that-utility-has-la-cal-para-las-plantas.html