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Edition 18

👋 Hey TropicalBytes family, welcome to this week’s edition of Q.U.I.P.S.!

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In Today’s Email:

• Q: What Are the Differences Between Calcium Sources in Agriculture? 🤔

• U: JAFF 8's Foolproof Measuring Cup for Hand-Applying Fertilizer 👨‍🌾

• I: 12 Tip-Top Facts About Calcium, Lime & Gypsum 🎯

• P: A Close-Up Look at Pure Ca 🔬

• S: Is it Time for a Change? Let's Hear From You! 🎁

Deciding what topics to spotlight, how and when, in our incredible resource, QUIPS, is a labour of love for us.

And in sharing our passionate determination to bring the best know-how to the farming community, we often find ourselves tumbling down many rabbit holes, losing ourselves in the sheer wonder of agriculture… where were we?

Oh yes… our last conversation about “what topics to spotlight?”

This brings us to a recent conversation we had with a highly-respected industry consultant.

And you know how the saying goes: “When the wise speak, you lend an ear.”

"Farmers are often uncertain about how to use calcium, i.e: lime, and gypsum effectively" he said.

“Really!? But it's all so straightforward!” That’s when we realised – maybe it isn’t…

So, in typical TropicalBytes fashion, we burrowed down deep.

Get your notepads out, because oh boy do we have some pearls to share with you!

Let's dive right in! 🚀

Question❓

What Are the Differences Between Calcium Sources in Agriculture?

Calcium

First, we’re on to Calcium.

Not just a bone-strengthener, Calcium is a veritable MVP (Most Valuable Player) for both soil and plants!

Represented by the symbol 'Ca,' it's the fifth most abundant element on Earth. Though it's an alkaline earth metal, it doesn't occur naturally in a free state. Instead, it's found in various compounds around the world.

In soil, Calcium works like a charm by flocculating—clumping together—clays and organic matter, thereby:

• Increasing soil porosity 🌱

• Improving air and moisture movement throughout the soil 💨

• Enhancing microbial activity 🪱

In simpler terms, think of it as creating root HEAVEN!

But the fun doesn’t stop there.

Within the plant, Calcium plays two crucial roles:

1. Cellular Armour: It builds strength in cell walls and membranes, acting as a protective shield against pathogens.

2. Nature’s Messenger: Serving as a communication hub, Calcium signals a variety of physiological, developmental, and environmental cues. This includes alerting the plant to the presence of other essential nutrients and even incoming pathogen threats. (This area is hot in current research!)

📌 Note: Plants deficient in calcium have been shown to be more susceptible to pathogens. On the flip side, supplying your plants with an external source of calcium, can significantly improve their resistance.

Lime

Lime is more than just a mineral; it's an essential agricultural amendment made primarily of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃). Sourced from high-quality limestone, it is "engineered" to correct soil imbalances, particularly to raise the pH of acidic soils. 

In farming, we generally deal with two key types of lime: Dolomitic and Calcitic. Both serve to adjust soil pH but come with their own sets of benefits.

• Dolomitic Lime: Consider this your "two-for-one" deal. Extracted from dolomitic limestone, this variant not only provides calcium carbonate but also includes magnesium carbonate (MgCO₃). Magnesium is crucial for chlorophyll synthesis, making Dolomitic lime particularly beneficial for crops requiring elevated levels of this nutrient.

• Calcitic Lime: This is your straightforward option. Made from nearly pure calcite limestone, Calcitic lime focuses solely on delivering calcium—no (or very little) magnesium attached. It's the go-to choice for soils that need a calcium boost without the additional magnesium.

Both Calcitic and Dolomitic lime offer valuable benefits for soil improvement in agriculture. The optimal choice between the two hinges on specific factors such as cost, soil composition, and the unique needs of your crops.

📌 Note: Maintaining a balanced calcium-to-magnesium ration is vital for optimal soil structure, nutrient uptake and overall plant health. Proper lime application promotes root penetration and enhances water infiltration, setting the stage for robust root development.

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Gypsum

Switching gears, we turn to its close relative in soil amendments: Gypsum.

Scientifically termed Calcium Sulfate (CaSO4), gypsum has the unique advantage of delivering soil benefits without significantly altering pH levels. It’s mainly used as a soil ameliorant to improve the structure of sodic and magnesic soils. Its high solubility (approximately 200 times greater than agricultural lime) allows for effective subsoil treatment and is especially useful in high pH or high magnesium soils.

Derived from natural deposits, gypsum enriches the soil with roughly 20% calcium and 16% sulfur. This dual contribution not only enhances soil structure but also optimises nutrient absorption capabilities, making gypsum a versatile solution for issues like sodium toxicity or calcium and sulfur deficiencies.

🚨 Caution: Be mindful when applying gypsum. A highly-respected industry consultant underscores the importance of exercising caution with gypsum application, stating: "I’ve seen results where four weeks after application there are half the amount of every single mineral, than there were before the application." While gypsum's high solubility allows it to quickly penetrate the soil, this can also lead to the leaching of vital cations. Therefore, applying gypsum casually, without proper soil testing, can substantially decrease soil nutrient levels and create new challenges for soil management and plant health. Always conduct soil tests before making any amendments.

If you’re only going to take away 2 key points from this QUIPS edition, it's this:

1. Calcium primarily nurtures plant health, whereas Lime and Gypsum serve as soil conditioners. Knowing this distinction is key for effective soil management and optimal plant growth.

2. Test, don't guess; applying lime or gypsum without proper soil testing, risks introducing a cascade of a whole new set of soil issues.

❓ What question(s) do you have this week? Tell us here

Upskill 📚

JAFF 8's Foolproof Measuring Cup for Hand-Applying Fertilizer 👨‍🌾

Not sure about you but our brains are ready for something super-simple. 🤯

And JAFF 8 has just the thing… he makes up his own fertiliser measures to make sure there are no mistakes and mix-ups when it comes to manual, hand applications.

👉 For more on his refreshingly simple solutions. (Read Here)

💡 Want a bonus tip? Forward Q.U.I.P.S. to two farmer friends and reply letting us know. We’ll reply with the tip 😁

Information ℹ️

12 Tip-Top Points About Calcium,Lime & Gypsum 🎯

Calcium:

• Plants can't redistribute calcium. Once absorbed, calcium becomes a 'resident' of the specific plant tissue where it landed, meaning it can't be moved to other parts where it might be needed later. That's why it's crucial to provide a consistent supply of calcium throughout the growing season.

• Auxin, a universal plant hormone, acts as a "master regulator" in various growth processes and plays a specific role in facilitating calcium uptake. By opening calcium channels in cell membranes, auxin ensures that this crucial nutrient gets where it needs to go within the plant, influencing everything from root formation to fruit development. One can enhance natural auxin production and function in plants by integrating humic and fulvic acids, seaweed extract, proper pruning and maintaining a balanced soil pH.

• Calcium uptake occurs just behind the root tip, unlike potassium, which is absorbed along the entire length of the root. Factors that affect new root growth – such as soil composition, soil pH, moisture levels, low temperatures, poor soil aeration, phytophthora, planting depth, the list goes on – can directly impede calcium absorption, leading to deficiencies.

• Calcium deficiencies will be most easily and quickly observed in new leaves. The deficiency will only become apparent in older leaves if left unaddressed.

Lime:

• Lime is relatively immobile in soil, requiring proper incorporation for effective pH adjustment. Proper land preparation is crucial, especially for tree crops.

• While lime contains calcium, it is not an efficient source of calcium for plants. Farmers shouldn’t think they’re addressing calcium deficiencies in plants by applying lime. By neutralising excess acidity or alkalinity in soils, lime helps improve plant roots’ uptake of other nutrients.

• Effects may take a few weeks to a few months to manifest depending on the crop. Trees may take a year or more to show significant benefits.

• Speed of macro-nutrient absorption (e.g., calcium, magnesium) varies based on soil type, moisture, and crop/tree species. Smaller particles of lime react more quickly due to higher surface area. Larger particles take longer to react, possibly years, making them less suitable when quick pH adjustment is required.

Gypsum:

• Gypsum can improve the quality of low-grade irrigation water by lowering its Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR). Lowering the SAR can make the water more suitable for irrigation and reduce the risk of soil sodicity. Even reclaimed municipal wastewater can be used for irrigation if gypsum is applied as a soil conditioner. Caution should be taken to avoid sodium build-up in the lower soil layers, especially in soils containing swelling clays, as excessive leaching may occur.

• It provides plants with a source of calcium and sulfur, all without altering soil pH. (Note: it can leach Mg and Ca due to the Sulfur)

• Gypsum is most effective in soils high in sodium and low in calcium.

• When applied to soil, gypsum dissolves into calcium and sulfate ions. The calcium ions displace sodium or magnesium ions on clay particles. This process helps to bind together, clay and organic matter particles into aggregates, forming larger, more stable structures. This is how it can help in improving soil structure and "breaking up" compacted soil.

📊 Thanks to our industry consultant for providing the details. Here is an easy-to-follow graphic that guides you on when to use each soil additive for optimal results:

🖨️ Want to download or print out this graphic? → (click here)

Picture 📷

A Close-Up Look at Pure Ca 🔬

Ever wondered what pure Calcium looks like? Wonder no more…

Courtesy of: SCIENCE 4 FUN 

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Happy farming, deep learning, and warm smiles.

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