I have 5 small clover plots totaling 1.3 acres. I am needing to add lime as the soil tested 5.3 to 5.4 ph. The co-op said using an ATV broadcaster doesn't work well. They suggested buying pelletized lime at the farm store but it is pretty expensive.. does anybody have a method that works better? How much lime would be required per acre to get the ph over 6? Any advice is appreciated.

Your county extension can get you the application rate.
I assume your considering powdered or slaked lime which isn't the best option. You were told right pelleted or dolomitic is usually the better longer lasting option.
My guess based on my 1/4 acre garden with similar pH your looking at 1500-2000 pounds give or take.
At those rates you may be able to get your local co-op to send out a spreader truck if they can get into the plots.

Otherwise I'd look to renting or borrowing a small tractor with spreader.

Can you get a lime truck out to your plots?

ENM (effective neutralizing material) of your lime would need to be figured - generally the quarry will know it. Soil test will tell you how much ENM you will need to reach your pH goal. Lime is cheap, trucking and spreading will cost as much usually. I would not hesitate to put 3 tons per acre down and probably opt for 4 ton as I don't want to address the issue for another few years.

If no truck access - pellet lime is your only option and does have a better ENM calculation - bag should say on it - but again you may be packing 4o-50 or more bags with you on an atv. You generally can not put down too much lime unless it begins to look like a gravel road....

The good news is that depending on soil type you can get years out of a good liming.
I limed the garden five years ago and it still tests spot on. I have clay loam.

The guy at the co-op used to be a county extension agent. He said to put on 3 or 4 bags of pelletized per plot. I may try that. My family are farmers but getting them to stop and do food plots is an issue as they are very far behind. Also due to access and the plots small size a tractor is not a very good option. Thanks for all the input.

Pelletized lime is fast acting, but short lasting. And of course ridiculously expensive. But it is the easiest. Honestly, 200 lbs of lime/acre with a pH in the low 5s isn't going to do much.

Couple other options, but none are ideal.
One, if you have a truck, pick up the lime from the nearest quarry ( or co-op if they carry it), and sling it on with a shovel. A quarter acre plot isn't going to take long.
Two, you can pick up old 8' pull behind drop spreaders at farm auctions for very little. I spread 20 tons with one a few years back. Have the lime delivered and dropped in a pile.
Three, if you have access to a tractor, your local co-op or county extension office may rent a lime buggy. The ones for rent around here aren't real big, maybe 5-10 ton capacity.

New products coming out are cheaper then lime and put on with backpack or quad sprayers Google liquified Calcium for foodplots or check with companies that specialize in food plotseeds

I just paid 5.00 a 50lb bag at the fertilizer dealer. pell lime.

get powder lime and spread by hand. You will get messy but it will be done.
Bags on sale around here for $2 now.
Wear a dust mask.

LOL
Don't fall for the magic beans. It's proven BS.

I had a small food plot that needed lime. I bought 2500# of powder (not pelletized) lime in bulk. I tried to spread it with a broadcast spreader and as you have been told it doesn't work well (read 'not at all'). Ended up slinging it all with a shovel and using a rake. It actually didn't take that long to get it done. Not more than 2-3 hours work for 3 of us and that was shoveling from truck and trailer into atv trailer and then shoveling into food plot. It is much cheaper than buying pelletized lime. As mentioned they do sell drop spreaders for lime made for atvs but they will cost you a bit ($1000 or more) for the ones that I have seen.

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Consider these facts in your decision Larry. Quality of ag lime is determined by 2 things; fineness of the grind and percent CaCo3. Ag lime varies greatly but most will be way less than 50% while Pell Lime is nearly 100% effective. Old rule of thumb is 100#/acre PL will increase pH by .1. Also, 1 acre is very close to 1 football (including the end zones).

IMO hand spreading lime on an area this size is prohibitive. And unless your brother works for a lime spreading company good luck finding someone to spread plots this small. So I'd recommend using PL which will spread easy with your 4-wheeler. Most fertilizer dealers in my area carry bulk PL. Used to be about $80/ton but I suppose it's gone up? Call around and ask what time of day is their least busiest and go get some. Pell Lime is very dense so a 5 gallon bucket will probably hold at least 60#. Personally, I'd raise the pH to 5.8-6.0 for clover so, if my math is correct, you'll need about a thousand pounds. If bulk PL isn't available then go for the bagged stuff at a farm store or lawn care center.

What was the fertility results from your soil samples?

Broadcasting on the surface will always take more time than working it into the soil. It may be wise to do some of each. The pelleted for faster action and the elemental or slower acting for more longer term action. Also note the calcium levels or grades etc. as there are big differences in quality that is reflected in the price. Going from the mid 5s to say mid 6s takes quite a bit of calcium, but less if your soil has more loam and silt compared to heavier clay soils that are more mineral based and the ions tie up more elements.

Bryce

The liquid calcium sounds good but I don't want to use something that doesn't work I will try to find pellets in bulk. Either the fertility rate wasn't included in soil sample or I am not smart enough to figure out what it is

Pelletized lime expensive???? Where you looking at Plus with 1.3 acre spread about 200 lbs and watch the clover grow. But one question Do you bale the clover or is it just food plots. With the correct rain and if it is blooming why worry about it. More lime will help the yield if you are baling it. But if its for the deer and it makes you feel good pelletize can be spread thru any spreader pulled behind your lawn mower. Heck even with a push yard spreader

Just checked here 3.97 40 lb bag pelletized lime............. walmart garden center got it clearance 2.50 for 40 lbs..........

Ok guys remember he has FIVE 5 plots that total 1.3 acres. Geez that's two yards in a subdivision. You want him to roll up in an agr spreading truck. Forget the formulas, scientific notations, dept of agriculture proposes , just get you 4-5 bags of pelletized lime spread it until you run out . Pray for rain before it frost or freezes . Then set in your stand a shoot a deer.
Lot of things more difficult than making your clover green and grow faster .................

Please video the spreader truck . It will blow up you tube . Big truck sitting still slinging lime in dust cloud !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not one person has suggested a lime spreader truck.
And it seems you're making stuff up as you go, 200 lbs on over an acre? Top dressing 200 lbs of even pelletized lime isn't going to much of anything. If you don't know what you're talking about, why are you here trying to make fun of those that do?