Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Fertilization Application of lime and fertilizer

I recently received the results of a soil sample on my pond and they are as follows. What would your recommendation be for lime on a 3 surface acre pond and how best to distribute on a pond with water. I have seen info that say’s to spread around the edge of pond, but it seem to me it would not be effective in the center of the pond. Any suggestions to distribute the lime more effectively? And when is the best time to lime and shoul I also fertilize. The pond is stocked with bass, catfish and bream. Thanks!!

Calcium,ppm 349.26 Very low
Magnesium,ppm 153.19 High
pH 5.28 Very low
pH@ 1 ton/acre 6.11 Low
pH@ 2 ton/acre 7.07 Optimum
Phosphorus,ppm 18.83 Low
Potassium,ppm 97.87 Medium
Sodium,ppm 8.11 Optimum

I suggest getting a water sample tested for alkalinity. This is the most important parameter besides water visibility for proper pond management in my opinion. My little brain does not remember what this soil sample is telling me about lime and fertilizer requirements. If alkalinity is above 20 ppm you should not have to lime at all, if lower than 10 ppm 5 tons/acre 10-15 ppm maybe only 2-3 tons/acre is necessary. Good luck

Where is your pond? It definitely sounds like you need aglime. Not hydrated lime, or quicklime, but aglime. Very important. Greg is right about the alkalinity. pH is not necessarily a reflection of alkalinity, although the two are related. Alkalinity is a measurement of negatively charged ions such as carbonate or bi-carbonate.
Distribute aglime as evenly as possible, even in the deeper water. Commercial guys do it with pontoon boats or barges. They load the lime onto the barge, then use high pressure water pumps to was lime into a lake. But, a spreader truck can distribute lime around the edges of a pond. Distribute as best you can.
Fertilize when water temps rise above 60 in spring. There's plenty of posts on this site detailing fertilization, so scan around and take a look.