[leftydrum]

I have a problem that i can't find the exact answer too anywhere.

Before i ask the question let me set the scene -

 I have an allotment with clay soil and a pH of about 6, so it needs a little lime. As it is clay it also needs plenty of manure. In a perfect world, i would manure now and then lime in early spring, a few weeks before planting leaving 4-5 months between the two.
The problem is, i have ordered a huge load of cow manure thinking it was fairly fresh and would need to rot down for 4-5 months. So i planned to manure in the early spring, and have limed now, BUT the manure turned up and the farmer told me it has been sat in a pile for 12 months, so now i want to get it laid on the plot ASAP.

So my question -  What is the minimum time you can allow between liming and manure without causing a reaction? (i've been told about 6 weeks from a guy who hasn't actually ever done it!!)

[JayG]

The science of it is that the lime reacts with the nitrogen compounds in the manure causing the release of ammonia, which is a gas so is lost to the air and therefore your soil.

I have also read that because ammonia is also highly soluble in water, if the reaction takes place in the soil the ammonia is captured by the soil water and subsequently recycled back into nitrates.

On that basis, spreading the lime on top of the manure would be the worst plan, manure on top of the lime should minimise the problem, and digging them both into the soil the best.
I'm not desperate to go against the conventional wisdom on the subject so I'll let you decide! 

[sunshineband]

Succinctly explained there JayG 

[gavinjconway]

Thanks for the question leftydrum and subsiquent answer from JayG - I'm in the exact same position but with values from 5 to 6...

Now I'm happy with lime then manure then dig!!