Why Do I Need Calcium?

By Robert Smith, Chief Agronomist –

Providing your soils with an adequate level of soluble and available calcium is an essential part of well-rounded fertilizer nutrition practice for several reasons. Here’s why and how to add calcium to soil.

• Calcium improves tilth and friability by reducing the stickiness and clinging ability of soils containing clay.
• Calcium, by breaking up clay particles and improving clay soil, increases the surface area of soils so more nutrients can be held by each particle.
• Calcium, by loosening up soil, increases water penetration ability, water-holding capacity, and aeration ability. The soil biome requires oxygen; thus, the more oxygen available, the more soil life it can support.
• Calcium is a direct nutrient for growing plants and the soil biome. Among other things, calcium is crucial for plant growth and development, playing a key role in cell wall structure, division, elongation, and membrane permeability. It is essential for fruit development and quality and helps prevent physiological disorders.
• Calcium acts as a buffer/carrier for some other nutrients and enhances the uptake of water.
• Calcium promotes root and leaf development in plants.
• Calcium can double the effectiveness of other fertilizers applied, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and other essential nutrients.
• Calcium can reduce soil-borne pathogens.
• Calcium is a relatively immobile element within a plant. Thus, a continuous supply is essential for growing plants.

While available calcium is not directly related to pH (i.e., a soil with a high pH can be calcium-deficient), its use in soils with a low pH will decrease soil acidity. In acid soils, there may be an excess of soluble iron, aluminum, and/or manganese.

The Ultra Gro Solution: 
Thio Plex – Delivers plant-available calcium and reduces sodium stress. 
Calcium Soil Booster – High-analysis calcium with biologicals and organic acids. 
Cal-9 – Premium liquid calcium for soil health and nutrient activation. 

Think: Calcium–Nitrogen–Phosphorus–Potassium, not just N–P–K. 
Calcium is the foundation that maximizes the performance of every other nutrient.