Is it OK to use Type “S” hydrated lime in substitution for regular hydrated lime?
I use hydrated lime to control acidity. My forest- product-based growing media tend to be acid. I like it that the hydrated lime works immediately and allows me to creep up on the target range by a series of small applications.
Can I use Type “S” (high magnesium dolomitic limestone-derived) hydrated lime instead? It’s much cheaper. My soil is neither deficient nor rich in Magnesium.
I experimented with a tomato seedling in a container and it seemed OK. Is there a longer-term reason not to do that?
I’ve used it sparingly … not observing any negative reactions.
(In my case, utilizing leftovers that are beginning to cake or ruin for use in masonry projects…not purchased specifically for use in the garden or orchard.)
I tested it out with a tomato plant and a small dose. I didn’t notice any thing bad, although maybe it was just the small dose.
The information on the web is all over the place. The gardening sites say not to use it with absolutely no explanation. A couple of sites say it’s OK, (or as OK as any other use of hydrated lime) also without explanation.
Almost all the sites except one describe it as hydrated dolomitic (high Magnesium) limestone except one—-The American Lime Association. Go figure.
Sounds like it needs to be handled with a bit extra care, so that’s a consideration.
Got me curious so I did a little poking around and found this from Wikipedia:
“… Unlike the types of lime called quicklime (calcium oxide) and slaked lime (calcium hydroxide), powdered limestone does not require lime burning in a lime kiln; it only requires milling. All of these types of lime are sometimes used as soil conditioners, with a common theme of providing a base to correct acidity, but lime for farm fields today is often crushed limestone. Historically, liming of farm fields in centuries past was often done with burnt lime; the difference is at least partially explained by the fact that affordable mass-production-scale fine milling of stone and ore relies on technologies developed since the mid-19th century.”
That says to me that you are safe using it agriculturally.