Dairy adviser Ger Courtney joins Emma-Louise Coffey to discuss liming protocol to optimise lime pH on farm.
 
Ger explains that there is a positive trend from 2014 when 36% of soils were at optimum pH compared with 60% in 2017.  Target soil pH is 6.3 and 5.5-5.8 in peaty soils.
 
Optimum pH leads to greater biological activity, microorganism activity, nitrogen fixation and root structure. Research has shown an increase in grass growth in the region of 1.5-2 tonnes while palatability and utilisation also increases.
 
Return on investment is considerable and increases over time. In the initial years, a return on investment of €3 for every €1 invested in a liming protocol. Once soils reach optimum pH, a consistent return of €6 for a €1 invested in maintenance liming.
 
For more information:
https://www.teagasc.ie/media/website/publications/2016/Advice-on-Liming-Leaflet.pdf
 
For more episodes and information from the Dairy Edge podcast go to:
 https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/