the songkhla limestone agricultural project thailand
in the songkhla province of southern thailand near the border with malaysia a project is processing local limestone into agricultural lime for the regions vital rubber and oil palm plantations. this is the songkhla limestone agricultural project which features a simple but reliable raymond mill stone powder grinding mill with a capacity of 11 tons per hour. the raw material is limestone sourced from a quarry in the nearby mountains where extensive deposits of high-calcium limestone have been identified.
the soils of southern thailand are typically acidic and nutrient-poor due to high rainfall and the intensive cultivation of perennial crops like rubber and oil palm. agricultural lime made from ground limestone is essential for correcting this acidity improving soil structure and making nutrients available to the trees. the raymond mill grinds the limestone to a fine powder with a target fineness of 250 microns approximately 60 mesh. this relatively coarse specification is ideal for agricultural applications as it provides a sustained release of calcium over several months without dissolving too quickly and washing away during the heavy monsoon rains.
the primary application of this limestone powder is direct application to rubber and oil palm plantations throughout songkhla and the neighboring provinces of phatthalung and satun. regular liming improves the health and productivity of these perennial crops increasing latex yield in rubber trees and fresh fruit bunch production in oil palms. the powder is also sold to smallholder fruit farmers who grow durian mangosteen and rambutan on the regions hillsides where acidic soils can limit the growth and quality of these high-value tropical fruits.
the project faced the challenge of serving a market with highly seasonal demand peaking just before the rainy season when farmers apply lime to their fields. the solution was to build sufficient covered storage capacity to allow the 11 tons per hour mill to operate steadily throughout the year building inventory for the peak demand periods. a fleet of specialized bulk trucks delivers the lime directly to farms and plantations across the region reducing handling costs and ensuring that farmers have access to this essential soil amendment when they need it most.
this stone powder grinding mill project in songkhla demonstrates the vital link between mineral processing and agricultural productivity supporting the economic foundation of southern thailand by providing local farmers with an affordable and reliable source of agricultural lime for their plantations and orchards.
this stone powder grinding mill project in songkhla demonstrates the vital link between mineral processing and agricultural productivity supporting the economic foundation of southern thailand by providing local farmers with an affordable and reliable source of agricultural lime for their plantations and orchards.
