Previous studies have overlooked the possible consequence of different degrees of soil disturbance caused by different openers on lime incorporation and its effectiveness in altering soil pH. In this study we hypothesised that greater soil disturbance with tines and knife-points in no-tillage seeding would result in a faster top-and subsoil liming effect compared with low-disturbance disc openers and that this would result in increased crop yield of wheat, barley, canola and lupins; also, this effect would be greater with more acid-sensitive species (barley) and with increasing rates of lime.