Topdressing with agricultural lime raises soil pH.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. It depends
• D. Not sure

Answer: (A)

Topdressing with agricultural lime raises soil pH because lime is alkaline and neutralizes soil acidity. When lime (typically calcium carbonate, or dolomitic lime which also supplies magnesium) is present in soil moisture, it reacts with hydrogen ions in the soil solution, reducing acidity and shifting the soil toward neutral pH. In addition to raising pH, lime adds calcium (and magnesium in the dolomitic form), which helps improve soil structure and nutrient exchange, making nutrients more available to grasses. How much the pH rises depends on the soil’s buffering capacity, organic matter, clay content, and the lime’s fineness and application rate; finer lime reacts more quickly and larger rates produce bigger pH changes. In practice, lime is used to move acidic soils into the optimal pH range for turf health and nutrient uptake.