Correcting pasture pH means getting lime onto the paddock evenly, at the right rate, without the hopper corroding out in two seasons β and picking the right lime spreader is most of that battle.
- Iris IJS340 340L PTO spreader ($1,995) suits lifestyle blocks under 10ha spreading lime occasionally β Buy.
- Iris IKS530PHCECS 530L with remote control ($2,895) handles sheep and beef blocks 10-40ha β Buy.
- Iris ILS2200 ground-drive lime spreader (500L, 2m width, $4,395) is the dedicated pick when lime is most of your spreading job β Buy.
- Iris IODD1300A 1300L hydraulic twin disc ($11,995) is built for contractors and large-scale operations, not small blocks β Consider.
Why this matters
Ag lime is caustic and abrasive compared with granular fertiliser, and it flows differently β coarser particle size, more clumping, more weight per litre. A spreader sized and built for urea won't necessarily handle a tonne of lime without bridging in the hopper or wearing through a mild steel floor by the second season. Getting the pH right on a paddock is a multi-year investment; the spreader is the tool that determines whether the lime actually lands where the soil test says it should.
For a lifestyle block or a sheep and beef run in New Zealand, this isn't a one-off purchase decision either β lime correction typically runs on a 3 to 5 year reapplication cycle, so the spreader earns its keep across multiple seasons of pasture renovation, not just one application.
Who this is for
This guide is for farmers and lifestyle block owners in New Zealand who've had a soil test come back low on pH and need to get lime down on pasture β not orchard or vineyard operators applying small, precise doses of compound fertiliser. If you're running a compact or sub-compact tractor and need a lime spreader that matches your PTO output and your paddock size, the picks below are sorted by scale: from a 5-10ha lifestyle block up to a 100ha-plus sheep and beef operation.
What to look for in a lime spreader for pasture pH correction
Spreading mechanism: ground-driven vs PTO vs hydraulic
Ground-driven spreaders are simple and cheap but rely on wheel rotation for spread rate β fine for smaller lime jobs at walking-pace tractor speed. PTO-driven units run off the tractor's power take-off (standard 540 rpm) and give more consistent output regardless of ground speed, which matters when you're covering uneven paddock terrain. Hydraulic twin-disc units, like the Iris IODD1300A, decouple spread rate from PTO speed entirely and suit larger operations spreading big tonnages.
Capacity versus paddock size
A 340L hopper on a lifestyle block covers a few hundred square metres per fill at typical lime rates β fine if you're topping up a couple of paddocks a year. A 40ha sheep and beef block reapplying lime across multiple paddocks in one pass needs 500L-plus to avoid constant refilling. Match hopper litres to hectares, not to price.
Corrosion resistance
Lime is alkaline and abrasive; a mild steel hopper without a protective coating or stainless liner will pit and wear faster under lime than it will under standard granular fertiliser. Check the hopper material and floor construction before buying if lime is going to be a regular job, not a once-a-decade correction.
Even spread pattern and gate control
An uneven spread pattern means some strips of pasture get double-dosed on lime and others get missed, which shows up as patchy pH correction the following season. Look for adjustable gate settings and a documented spread width β the ILS2200's 2m working width, for example, is a fixed, known figure you can calibrate against.
Hitch type and tractor match
Three-point linkage Cat 1 and Cat 2 mounts cover most compact and mid-size tractors. Confirm your tractor's PTO horsepower and lift capacity against the loaded weight of the spreader before buying β a full hopper of lime is considerably heavier than the same volume of urea.
Side dressing and versatility
If the same machine needs to double as a general fertiliser spreader outside the liming window, a side dresser attachment β like the one on the Iris IKS530PHCECS β extends the spread pattern for orchard rows or fence lines without swapping equipment.
Top picks
The lifestyle block starter: Iris IJS340 PTO Fertiliser Spreader 340L
A 340L hopper at NZ$1,995, PTO-driven, sized for orchards, vineyards, kiwifruit blocks and smaller lifestyle properties rather than broadacre pasture. It's compact enough for a sub-40hp tractor and cheap enough that it doesn't need to be everything. If your lime correction job is a couple of paddocks a year on a block under 10ha, this is the Fertiliser Spreader PTO 340L worth starting with. Buy for occasional, small-scale lime and fertiliser work.
The workhorse: Iris IKS530PHCECS 530L with remote control
At NZ$2,895 this 530L PTO spreader adds a side dresser and electric remote control for adjusting flow and spread rate from the tractor seat β useful when you're covering multiple paddocks in one session and don't want to stop and dismount to change settings. It's built for sheep and beef blocks running lime and fertiliser through the same machine across a season. This Fertiliser Spreader 530L Remote Control unit is the Buy for 10-40ha operations wanting one spreader that does both jobs well.
The dedicated lime pick: Iris ILS2200 Ground-Drive Lime Spreader 500L
This is a purpose-built lime spreader, not a fertiliser spreader pressed into service β 500L capacity, ground-driven off wheel rotation, 2m working width, mounted on Cat 1 and Cat 2 three-point linkage, priced at NZ$4,395. If lime correction is the bulk of what you spread rather than an occasional add-on, the dedicated build handles the caustic material better over repeated seasons. Buy if lime is 90% or more of your annual spreading task.
The high-volume option: Iris IODD1300A 1300L Hydraulic Twin Disc
Hydraulic drive, 1300L capacity, twin disc spread pattern, priced at NZ$11,995 β this is built for contractors and large-scale sheep, beef and cropping operations covering big hectares in a day, not a 10ha lifestyle block. The capacity and price only make sense once you're spreading regularly across 80ha-plus. Consider for large-scale or contracting use; Skip it if your paddock count is in single digits.
What to avoid
- 12V electric micro-spreaders sized for seed and light fertiliser. A 70L electric unit built for grass seed top-dressing won't cycle enough volume for a bulk lime job on pasture β it's the wrong tool even though it mounts the same way.
- Mild steel hoppers with no coating on a spreader you'll use for lime every season. Lime's alkalinity wears untreated steel faster than urea does; if the listing doesn't mention a corrosion-resistant liner or coating, ask before buying if lime is a recurring job.
- Pendular or fixed-gate spreaders with no adjustable flow control. Coarser ag lime particles need a wider gate opening than fine granular fertiliser β a spreader that can't adjust for particle size will under- or over-apply.
For a deeper look at matching spreader capacity to a small sheep and beef operation, see the guide on fertiliser spreaders for small-scale sheep and beef farms.
Verdict comparison
| Pick | Capacity | Drive | Best for | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iris IJS340 | 340L | PTO | Blocks under 10ha, occasional lime | Buy |
| Iris IKS530PHCECS | 530L | PTO + remote | 10-40ha, lime and fertiliser combined | Buy |
| Iris ILS2200 | 500L | Ground-driven | Dedicated lime, 2m width | Buy |
| Iris IODD1300A | 1300L | Hydraulic twin disc | 80ha-plus, contractors | Consider |
FAQ
What's the best lime spreader for a small lifestyle block?
A 340L to 500L PTO or ground-driven lime spreader, like the Iris IJS340 (340L, NZ$1,995), suits most lifestyle blocks under 10ha. Anything larger sits idle most of the year on a small property.
How much lime per hectare corrects pasture pH?
Maintenance liming for pasture pH correction in New Zealand commonly falls between 2 and 5 tonnes per hectare, depending on soil test results and existing pH. A soil test is the only way to set an accurate rate for your paddocks.
Is a PTO lime spreader better than a ground-driven one?
A PTO lime spreader holds a steadier spread rate regardless of tractor ground speed, which matters on uneven paddocks. Ground-driven units, like the Iris ILS2200, are simpler and cheaper but rely on consistent wheel rotation for even output.
How often should pasture lime be reapplied?
Pasture lime correction typically runs on a 3 to 5 year reapplication cycle in New Zealand conditions. Retesting soil pH before each reapplication confirms whether the previous application held.
Can I use a regular fertiliser spreader for lime?
A fertiliser spreader can handle lime if the hopper is corrosion-resistant and the gate opening adjusts for coarser particle size. A dedicated lime spreader, or a multi-material spreader rated for lime, avoids the wear a caustic material causes on an untreated mild steel hopper.
What PTO speed does a lime spreader need?
Most PTO lime spreaders in New Zealand are built around the standard 540 rpm tractor PTO output. Check the specific spreader's rated PTO speed against your tractor before buying, particularly on older or sub-compact models.
How much does a lime spreader cost in New Zealand in 2026?
Lime and multi-material spreaders in the Implements Direct range span roughly NZ$1,995 for a 340L PTO unit up to NZ$11,995 for a 1300L hydraulic twin disc spreader in 2026. Capacity, drive type and remote control features drive most of the price difference.
One last thing
The 2m working width on the Iris ILS2200 isn't a marketing figure β it's the number you calibrate against when working out how much lime lands per pass, and it's worth writing down before the first paddock, not after. A spreader with an unknown or undocumented spread width turns every lime application into guesswork on rate, which defeats the point of running a soil test in the first place.