California's land-grant extension publishes a method — not a one-size-fits-all rate. Combined source: lime + nutrients (UC ANR 8292) in california_uc_anr v1.1. Live inputs: water pH, texture, and 6" or 12" incorporation depth for the UC ANR vegetable table on acid-soil regions. Enter the required soil-test values in the free calculator for tons of CaCO₃-equivalent per acre, ECCE-adjusted, with the citation.
Need lime: North Coast, Sierra foothills, coastal North/Central CA. Do NOT need lime: Sacramento Valley, San Joaquin Valley, Imperial Valley, Salinas Valley, most of Southern CA.
Published source: California — UC ANR / CDFA-FREP / UC Davis Nutrient Management (Olsen-P calibration + commodity manuals)
It depends on water pH, soil texture, and plow depth — California's UC ANR table is for vegetables (except potatoes) on acid North Coast and foothill soils, not a statewide buffer reading. Combined source: lime + nutrients (UC ANR 8292) in california_uc_anr v1.1. Enter pH, texture, and depth in the free Zone Forge lime calculator for tons of CaCO3-equivalent per acre, with the citation.
UC ANR publishes a pH × soil-texture lookup for acid-soil regions, with rates written for a 6" plow layer and doubled for 12" incorporation. Valley and southern cropland is often alkaline and needs no lime. Combined source: lime + nutrients (UC ANR 8292) in california_uc_anr v1.1. Source details on the calculator citation. Source: California — UC ANR / CDFA-FREP / UC Davis Nutrient Management (Olsen-P calibration + commodity manuals).
Zone Forge computes California lime from that state's published land-grant method (measured water pH, soil texture class (sand / loam / clay), and incorporation depth (6" table rate; double for 12")) — lime calculator, soil-test fertilizer, and full variable-rate prescriptions. See the science →