Liming Materials & Cheapest Per Effective Tonne
Compares calcitic
Enter the calcium carbonate equivalent, fineness and price of two liming materials to see how much of each you need, the cost per hectare and the cost per effective tonne — so you buy the cheapest neutralising power, not the cheapest bag.
Compare liming materials
Next: buy on cost per effective tonne, but pick dolomitic if you also need magnesium, and finer grades for a faster pH response.
ENV = CCE × fineness; get your lime requirement from a buffer-pH soil test; quicklime/hydrated lime act fast but are caustic — handle with care.
Liming material comparison — key facts
- CCE
- neutralising power vs pure CaCO₃
- ENV
- CCE × fineness
- Material needed
- lime requirement ÷ (ENV/100)
- Cost per ha
- material needed × price
- Cost / effective t
- price ÷ (ENV/100)
- Choose dolomite
- if you also need magnesium
- Finer grades
- react faster in the soil
- Privacy
- Runs in your browser; nothing uploaded
Buy neutralising power, not tonnes of rock
Two bags of lime at different prices can look like an easy choice — until you realise they are not the same product. One may be purer, one more finely ground, and those differences decide how much acidity each tonne actually neutralises. The honest measure is the effective neutralising value: calcium carbonate equivalent multiplied by fineness. A cheaper, coarser, lower-grade lime often needs so much more material that it ends up the dearer option once you spread enough to do the job.
This tool compares two liming materials on a level field — it shows the tonnes of each you need, the effective neutralising value, the cost per hectare and the cost per effective tonne, then names the cheaper material and your saving, in 8 currencies. Start from a buffer-pH soil test for your pure-lime requirement, choose dolomite if you also need magnesium, and pair this with the Lime Requirement, Gypsum Requirement and CEC & Base Saturation calculators to get your soil chemistry right.
Compare fairly
Judge limes on neutralising power, not bag price.
Find the real cost
See the cost per effective tonne of each.
Get the rate right
Know the tonnes of each product to spread.
Pick the right type
Dolomite for magnesium, finer for fast action.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why isn't the cheapest bag of lime the cheapest lime?+
Because liming materials differ in how much acidity they neutralise and how fast they react. A cheap product with low calcium carbonate equivalent or coarse particles does less work per tonne, so you must spread more of it to get the same result. The honest comparison is cost per effective tonne — the price for a tonne of actual neutralising power, not a tonne of material.
What is calcium carbonate equivalent (CCE)?+
CCE, or neutralising value, is a material's acid-neutralising power expressed as a percentage of pure calcium carbonate. Pure calcite is 100%; dolomite is around 108%; quicklime and hydrated lime are higher. A product at 90% CCE neutralises 90% as much acidity per tonne as pure limestone, all else being equal.
What is fineness and why does it matter?+
Fineness measures how finely the lime is ground. Fine particles have more surface area, dissolve faster and react with the soil sooner; coarse particles can sit for years doing little. Fineness is captured as a percentage efficiency factor, so a coarse product effectively delivers less of its CCE within a useful timeframe.
What is effective neutralising value (ENV)?+
ENV combines quality and reactivity: ENV = CCE × fineness. It is the share of a material that actually neutralises acidity in a reasonable time. A lime at 95% CCE that is only 70% fine has an ENV of about 67%, so two-thirds of each tonne does the job. ENV is the number to compare products on.
How much liming material do I need?+
Material needed (t/ha) = pure-lime requirement ÷ (ENV ÷ 100). If your soil test calls for 3 t/ha of pure lime and your product has an ENV of 75%, you need 3 ÷ 0.75 = 4 t/ha of that product. The tool does this for both materials so you can see the real application rates side by side.
How is cost per effective tonne worked out?+
Cost per effective tonne = price ÷ (ENV ÷ 100). It tells you what a tonne of genuine neutralising power costs after adjusting for quality. The tool also shows cost per hectare (material needed × price), then names the cheaper material and the saving versus the other one.
When should I choose dolomitic lime?+
Choose dolomitic lime (calcium-magnesium carbonate) when your soil is also short of magnesium, since it supplies both nutrients while raising pH. On soils with adequate magnesium, calcitic lime is usually fine and may be cheaper per effective tonne. The comparison still comes down to ENV and price for the neutralising job.
What about quicklime and hydrated lime?+
Quicklime (calcium oxide) and hydrated lime (calcium hydroxide) have very high CCE and react quickly, so they raise pH fast and you need less by weight. But they are caustic to handle, can scorch if over-applied, and usually cost more per tonne. They suit situations needing a rapid pH lift rather than routine maintenance liming.
How do I get my lime requirement?+
Get it from a buffer-pH (lime requirement) soil test, which measures the soil's reserve acidity and reports how much pure lime per hectare is needed to reach your target pH. Enter that pure-lime figure here, and the tool converts it into the actual tonnes of each product you must spread.
Is this exact?+
It is a sound planning comparison. Real results depend on accurate CCE and fineness data from the supplier, even spreading, soil mixing and time for reaction. Use the supplier's declared neutralising value and fineness where possible, and treat the cost per effective tonne as the fair basis for choosing between products.