# Lime Application Calculator

> Convert a soil-test lime requirement into the amount of your liming product, adjusting for its neutralising value (ECCE/CCE) and your tillage depth.

Category: Agriculture · Applies to: Worldwide · Last updated: 2026-10-29
Interactive calculator: https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/soil-lime-requirement-calculator

Soil labs give the lime needed as pure calcium carbonate for a set depth. Scale it by your product’s neutralising value and the depth you will mix it into.

Also called: Agricultural lime calculator, Liming rate calculator.

## Inputs
- Lime requirement from soil test (default 2.5)
- Requirement unit (options: tonnes per hectare, US tons per acre, lb per acre; default t_ha)
- Product neutralising value (ECCE or CCE) (unit %; default 80)
- Depth the requirement is for (default 15)
- Depth you will incorporate to (default 20)
- Field area (default 3)
- Area in (options: Acres, Hectares; default ha)

## Results
- Product for the field
- Product per hectare
- Product per acre
- Product per acre
- Product for the field

## Formula

```
Product rate = Requirement × (100 ÷ ECCE) × (Your depth ÷ Recommendation depth);  Total = Rate × Area
```

Where:
- Requirement: lime needed as 100% CaCO₃
- ECCE: effective calcium carbonate equivalent of your product, %

## Worked example
1. ECCE adjustment: 2.5 × 100 ÷ 80 = 3.125 t/ha.
2. Depth adjustment: 3.125 × 20 ÷ 15 = 4.17 t/ha.
3. For 3 ha: 4.1667 × 3 = 12.5 t.

**Result:** A 2.5 t/ha requirement for 15 cm becomes 4.17 t/ha of an 80% ECCE product mixed to 20 cm, or 12.5 t for 3 ha.

## What the result means

Large rates are often split over two or more years; your adviser or lab may set a maximum single application.

## Assumptions and limits
- The requirement is expressed as 100% calcium carbonate equivalent.
- Lime need scales in proportion to the depth of soil treated.
- The calculator does not derive a lime requirement from soil pH; that needs a lab buffer test and regional tables.

## Questions

### What is ECCE?

Effective calcium carbonate equivalent: the product’s neutralising value relative to pure CaCO₃, adjusted for how fine it is ground. Coarser lime has a lower ECCE.

### Why does depth matter?

Lime only neutralises the soil it is mixed into. Treating a deeper layer means more soil, so more lime.

## Related calculators
- [Fertiliser NPK Calculator](https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/fertilizer-npk-blend-calculator)
- [Fertiliser Application Rate Calculator](https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/fertilizer-application-rate-calculator)
- [Soil Carbon Stock Calculator](https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/soil-carbon-stock-estimate-calculator)

Source: GM¹X CalcVerse — https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/soil-lime-requirement-calculator