What is the purpose of soil liming and what soil pH range is optimal for most temperate crops?

• A. Lowers soil pH to acidic conditions.
• B. Raises soil pH to neutralize acidity, improving nutrient availability.
• C. Adds phosphorus to increase soil fertility.
• D. Decreases soil buffering capacity.

Answer: (B)

Liming is used to correct soil acidity by raising the pH of the soil. When soil is too acidic, many nutrients become less available to plants and potentially toxic metals like aluminum become more soluble, harming root growth. Adding lime supplies calcium (and sometimes magnesium if dolomitic lime is used), which helps neutralize acidity and improves the soil environment for root development and microbial activity. For most temperate crops, the preferred pH range is roughly 6.0 to 7.0, with many crops thriving around 6.5. So the main purpose of soil liming is to raise pH to neutralize acidity, improving nutrient availability and overall soil health. Lowering pH would move away from the goal, liming isn’t primarily about adding phosphorus, and it doesn’t decrease soil buffering capacity—in fact, it often helps soils resist future pH changes.