Lime passing through which of the following mesh sizes would be of greatest benefit in neutralizing soil acidity?

The correct choice for the mesh size of lime that would be of greatest benefit in neutralizing soil acidity is based on the concept that finer particles have a larger surface area and therefore react more quickly with the soil. Specifically, lime that passes through a 60 mesh sieve is finer than the larger mesh sizes, which means it can dissolve and react with the soil more readily, leading to more effective neutralization of acidity.

In practical terms, when lime is applied to acidic soils, the goal is to increase the soil pH, making nutrients more available for plant uptake. Finer lime particles have a greater surface area in relation to their volume, allowing them to interact with soil acids more efficiently. This rapid reaction leads to quicker improvement in soil pH, benefiting crop production.

While lime that passes through finer mesh sizes such as 100 mesh would also be effective, the choice of 60 mesh represents a good balance, as it is still sufficiently fine to ensure adequate reaction speed without being overly fine, which may be less cost-effective in terms of application and distribution. Therefore, choosing lime that passes through a 60 mesh sieve is particularly advantageous in the context of promptly addressing soil acidity issues.