Calcium Clarified: The Basics
Calcium Clarified: The Basics
Optimal crop nutrition is more than just N, P and K. Secondary nutrients, like calcium, are often overlooked, but actually serve important roles in crop production. From supporting plant cell structure, early root growth and leaf development to regulating nutrient uptake and movement throughout the plant, calcium plays a significant role in crop growth and yield.
The Benefits of Calcium
Generally, calcium supports the plant in the following areas:
Cell Division & Elongation: Calcium acts as a secondary messenger to regulate the cell cycle and promote proper cell expansion. Calcium ions help activate enzymes that facilitate cell division and elongation, contributing to the overall growth and development of the plant.
Cell Wall Elongation & Strength: Calcium is important for the formation of pectin, a component of the cell wall matrix. Adequate calcium levels contribute to strong and well-developed cell walls, providing rigidity to the plant stem, branch, and leaf structure.
Nitrogen Uptake & Metabolism: Calcium influences the activity of transport proteins for the uptake of nitrate from the soil. Calcium also modulates enzymes involved in nitrate assimilation within the plant, ensuring proper nitrogen utilization for various physiological processes.
Abiotic Stress Management: Calcium helps maintain cell membrane stability and integrity during periods of environmental stress, such as drought or extreme temperatures. Calcium is vital for preventing cellular damage and ensuring the plant’s resilience to adverse conditions.
Disease Resistance & Defense Mechanisms: Calcium contributes to the activation of defense responses in the plant, including the synthesis of antimicrobial compounds and reinforcement of cell walls. Adequate calcium levels enhance the plant’s ability to resist infections and protect plants from common diseases because the surface of the plant tissues are more resilient with stronger cell walls.
Soil Structure Health & Biological Activity: Calcium is vital for maintaining soil structure health and promoting biological activity in the rhizosphere, the region of soil engaged by the plant’s roots. Calcium also facilitates nutrient availability and microbial activity to foster a healthy environment for plant growth.
Calcium Availability
Today’s high-yielding crops require more calcium than ever before. Even when soil tests indicate high calcium levels, it does not guarantee optimal plant availability for the critical nutrient. Generally, less than 5% of measured calcium shown on traditional soil test results is plant-available.
The availability of calcium for plants to uptake in soils can be influenced by interactions with soil colloids, the presence of other nutrient ions and soil pH. Therefore, regular soil and plant tissue testing and consideration of the soil chemistry dynamics are essential for tailoring calcium management strategies and optimizing plant nutrition.
Supplemental Calcium
Supplemental calcium nutrient sources vary in plant availability. Therefore, in many cases, it is critical to apply calcium products that are more plant-available and can address plant uptake needs during critical growth and development periods. By choosing calcium sources that are readily absorbed by plants, growers can help maximize uptake and deliver elevated returns on their fertilizer investment. With 100% plant-available nutrition, SUL4R-PLUS® calcium-sulfate is an excellent option for helping crops meet their calcium needs (and it helps improve the soil too).
Overall, calcium is important for supporting plant growth and development and ensuring robust yields across most crops. Stay tuned for future blog posts in our Calcium Clarified series where we will break down the role of calcium in specific crops including alfalfa, corn, potatoes, soybeans and wheat.
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