Farmers are requested to mix lime with soil while farming their fields. This is because

Farmers mix lime with soil primarily because lime acts as a base to neutralize soil acidity [2]. Excessive use of chemical fertilizers can make soil acidic, which inhibits plant growth [1]. Agricultural liming materials, such as calcium carbonate, calcium oxide, or calcium hydroxide, react with hydrogen ions in the soil solution to raise the pH level. This process, known as liming, reverses soil acidification and improves the availability of essential nutrients like calcium and magnesium. While most plants can tolerate slightly acidic conditions, excessive acidity leads to poor root development and reduced crop yields [3]. By decreasing the acidity (increasing the pH), lime creates a more favorable environment for soil microbes and plant roots, thereby enhancing overall agricultural productivity.

Sources

1. [1] Science-Class VII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: Exploring Substances: Acidic, Basic, and Neutral > 2.3 Neutralisation in Daily Life > p. 18
2. [2] Science , class X (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 2: Acids, Bases and Salts > 2.1.6 Reaction of a Non-metallic Oxide with Base > p. 22
3. [3] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9982607/