Helping a buddy rotate some plots into clover this fall. Does anybody know how long it takes the calcium and magnesium to become available when using dolomatic lime in fairly sandy soil. I'm aware of the time frame for the neutralizing aspect of the lime but is the time frame similiar from a micronutrient aspect? Reason I ask is both plots are quite low in calcium and magnesium and I'm debating on whether separate amendments need to be made for these issues or whether the calcium and magnesium in the lime will will be available soon enough to just let it do it's thing?

No experience intentionally feeding deer but have done what you ask.
Tests showed the mag and cal were over dosed and caused
more harm than good, long term. They are trace.

Put down the dolomite and move on.
Or get with County Ag Ext.
Or, if you really want to over think it,
the deer clover salesmen.

Bud of mine moved to your state from mine.
He np longer shoots runt mountain deer.

Depending on the size of the granules it can take a year to notice any gain in Ph, and sandy soil can take a lot, like 3 tons per acre.. I'm sure BBLI can give you better info

Soil test!

I have a soil test. The lime I'm using is ballpark 11% magnesium and 21% calcium. The liming needs will adequately provide the numbers i am after but I am trying to decide if I need to dose it with a bit of each at planting through fertilizer to make sure the clover has a good start in the spring. This is a buddies property in michigan that I've helped with the last few years and normally I could make adjustments by looking at the plants and seeing what they need but I only get up there every 6 months or so and to be honest my buddy has the opposite of a green thumb and is very limited on time so I'm trying get it right from the get go. My original question worded another way is does the magnesium and calcium in lime work at the same rate as its neutralizing ability or does it become plant available sooner similiar to a traditional fertilizer application?

Thanks. This is actually a farm in michigan. I've done a good bit of farming and plotting in the past but this farm is a different animal as it was nearly beach sand when we started with organic matter under 2%. Have improved the soil a good bit with annual rotations, would normally continue the same rotation but with his time constraints its either expand the clover or let them go fallow. I don't think overdosing on anything will be an issue as the soil still isn't in great shape but it is good enough that the clover should do fine in anything but a moderate drought.

We’re in the Cadillac area. Pretty sandy soil and we’ve seen relatively quick response to the lime, although we’ve been using pelletized. I would imagine powder is less available and will take longer to have an effect.

Ag lime needs time, powdered and pellets are much faster, more expensive and powder needs a drop spreader or you'll look like Charlie Browns pig pen, lol