Fast-Acting Lime vs. Pelletized Lime: What Your Soil Test Really Means

Your soil test recommends 90 lbs lime/1000 sq ft. But fast-acting lime works differently—you need less. Here's the science.

Lime Types Compared

• Pelletized lime: Finely ground limestone granulated for easy spreading. Mostly magnesium carbonate in GA.
• Fast-acting lime: Either super-fine limestone (dissolves faster) or calcium carbonate (dissolves faster than magnesium carbonate).

The Soil Test Assumption

UGA tests assume coarse agricultural lime with large, slow-reacting particles. Fast-acting products have far more fine particles:

Fast-acting lime

Mesh % passed through
200 50
100 70
60 85
50 90

Powdered lime

200 20
100 40
60 50
50 55

Pelletized lime

100 40
60 50
50 55
40 60

Adjusted Rate

Instead of 90 lbs, apply 60-65 lbs of fast-acting lime per 1000 sq ft. The finer particles react completely, so less total product is needed.