Identification of Lime‐Deficient Peat Soils

Abstract Field and laboratory studies were made of 37 Minnesota peat bogs to fix the upper limit of lime content in the surface of lime‐deficient bogs, and to determine criteria of lime‐deficient peats other than the lime content. Field trials to determine whether the peats were lime‐deficient, using common farm crops, were conducted on peats from 35 uncultivated bogs and two cultivated bogs. All lime‐deficient peats and most of the lime‐sufficient peats were extremely acid as indicated by pH measurements. A close correlation existed between the lime (calcium oxide) content and lime‐deficiency. No native plant species were found to indicate lime‐deficiency reliably.