What are quicklime and slaked lime?

Lime is a soil amendment used to correct acidic soils by raising the pH. Usually, agricultural lime (calcium carbonate or dolomitic lime) is used. To correct severe acidity quickly, stronger materials are sometimes used, such as quicklime (calcium oxide) or slaked lime (calcium hydroxide). However, since these types of lime are highly reactive and can burn plant roots, this is usually not recommended.