Ground Calcitic Lime

1. Plants generally grow best in a soil with a pH of 6.8 to 7.0. Calcium, often from limestone, is a soil neutralizer, pushing the solution of dissolved soil materials, towards a neutral pH of 7.0. While calcium effects pH, by itself pH does not indicate the most desirable chemical make-up in the soil.

2. Cation Exchange Capacity ( base exchange) is a measure of the chemical inventory in the soil. As the balance of actions in the soil shifts towards sodium and magnesium, “bound water” occupies more space. Water does not move easily in the soil and the root zone lacks oxygen. BUT when the balance shifts towards calcium, soil porosity increases , plant roots function more effectively to greater depths, soil dries more quickly in spring or after rains, yet water can move more easily to the root zones during drier periods.

3. Microbes, (beneficial soil organisms), decompose organic matter and break down soil minerals to release nutrients to growing plants. Most microbes are aerobic, i.e. they require an adequate supply of oxygen. The population of important soil microbes is related to the calcium levels which enhances the oxygen supply.

4. Of the four main nutrients (calcium, nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium), calcium should be ranked first. But because it is often over looked, it may be the limiting factor in plant nutrition.

Why Use Calcium

The Agricultural Industries has been using Calcium for years. Farmers have applied as much as 4 tons per acre Calcium is probably one of our most important fertilizer ingredients but it is not always available in the quantities needed for our plants. Most soils today need extra calcium, even those soils which originated from limestone. Ground raw limestone rock is usually the most economical source of calcium. If the purity is over 87%, Calcium CaO is 45% or greater, and the Magnesium MgO is less than .60% it would be considered as a very good product.
Application can be in spring and fall. The length of time it takes to get some results from the calcium depends on, the mesh size (fineness) and moisture.

Calcium and Soil Types

Every soil type has a calcium requirement. This requirement depends on the amount of colloidal clay and chemical native organic matter it contains.
In general, a sandy soil may be saturated if it has only 800 lbs. of calcium where a muck soil may have 4,000 lbs. to 5000 lbs.

Pellitized Calcitic Lime Available in Suitable Quantities