pH. Lime applications are known to have short-term stimulating effects on soil biological activity, thus favoring organic matter mineralization and very likely accelerating organic matter turnover rates in soil. Amelioration of soil structure, leading to a reduction of mineralization by means of a protection of soil organic carbon. Liming is known to ameliorate soil structure, as high Ca2+ concentrations and high ionic strength in the soil solution to enhance the flocculation of clay minerals and in turn forming more stable soil aggregates. An agricultural study at the Faculty of Forestry in Freising, Germany that compared tree stocks 2 and 20 years after liming found that liming promotes nitrate leaching and decreases the phosphorus content of some leaves. See also Alkali soils Soil conservation Soil pH Agricultural lime Aluminum References Further reading Further reading "A Study of the Lime Potential, R.C. Turner, Research Branch, Department Of Agriculture, 1965" Edaphology Soil chemistry