Lime requirement for New Jersey blueberry-producing soils

Abstract

In New Jersey, the major soil series (Sassafras, Pocomoke, Berryland, Atsion, and Downer) used for blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) production often have soil pH levels much lower than the soil pH range of 4.0 to 5.2 that is considered satisfactory for blueberry. The lime requirements for these soils to achieve a target soil pH of 4.8 has not been established. Soils with current soil pH levels in the range of 3.3 to 3.9 were collected from eight New Jersey sites used for blueberry production. The soils were treated with various application rates of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and incubated in a greenhouse to estimate the lime requirement of each soil. After 70 days of incubation with CaCO3, results show that a general lime recommendation of 100 lb of calcium carbonate equivalent (CCE)/acre (112 kg·ha-1) for each one tenth of a soil pH unit increase desired would elevate pH of each of the soils to within a range (pH 4.3 to 5.0) that brackets the target pH of 4.8 without causing serious risk of overliming.