In the world of soil amendments and plant nutrition, calcium holds a pivotal position. Traditionally, agricultural lime (ag-lime) has been the preferred source for this essential nutrient. However, recent research and innovative products, like Pro-Cal and Advanced-Cal, have begun to challenge the effectiveness of ag-lime. This brings us to the question, is liquid calcium better than lime? Let’s explore.
Liquid Calcium Vs. Lime: Understanding The Differences
The primary difference between liquid calcium and lime lies in their rate of action and overall efficiency. While both are calcium sources, the form in which the nutrient is presented to the plants and soil varies significantly.
Agricultural lime is a slow-acting agent. Its primary function is to supply calcium and raise soil pH over an extended period, typically taking months to break down and become available to plants. This slow process often results in insufficient calcium release into the soil, sometimes failing to meet the soil’s calcium requirements for achieving desired pH levels.
On the other hand, liquid calcium products like Pro-Cal and Advanced-Cal go to work immediately, thanks to their highly soluble and available state. The nutrients in these products are already separated from non-pH-affecting substances like rock, allowing for faster action and increased effectiveness.
What Does Liquid Calcium Do?
Liquid calcium serves multiple functions in soil treatment and plant nutrition. Primarily, it raises pH by displacing hydrogen ions in the soil. Hydrogen ions are responsible for acidic conditions, and their displacement helps in elevating soil pH levels.
Around 95% of soils naturally possess a low pH. Therefore, the fast-acting and long-lasting effects of liquid calcium products like Pro-Cal, which immediately elevate and sustain a neutral soil pH, are highly beneficial. A neutral pH mitigates issues such as nutrient immobilization, fertilizer loss, stunted growth, and reduced productivity.
The Multifaceted Role of Liquid Calcium
Apart from raising soil pH, liquid calcium plays other crucial roles in soil enhancement and plant growth. By occupying 60-75% of the soil’s base saturation of cations, it increases the availability of other nutrients already present in the soil, such as Nitrogen (N), Phosphorous (P), and Potassium (K). It acts as a “trucker” nutrient, helping in the transportation and absorption of these other essential elements.
Liquid calcium isn’t just a pH adjuster. It’s an essential nutrient that facilitates robust and lush plant growth. The benefits of liquid calcium extend beyond immediate soil improvement. Its longevity, with an impressive soil life of 2-4 years, contributes to long-term soil enhancement, reducing the need for frequent reapplication.
Innovative Liquid Calcium Products: Pro-Cal and Advanced-Cal
Pro-Cal, an innovative soil amendment, delivers efficient calcium supply and quickly raises soil pH. It serves as an initial step in soil treatment, improving the effectiveness of subsequent fertilizer applications or seed plantings. Pro-Cal ensures multiple growing seasons of efficient soil and high-quality production.
Advanced-Cal takes the benefits of liquid calcium a step further. It combines chelated liquid calcium with essential micronutrients and microbial enhancements, fostering an optimized environment for nutrient absorption, microbial activity, and crop yield.
Advanced-Cal’s unique blend introduces micronutrients such as boron, manganese, iron, sulfur, and more to the soil, accelerating photosynthesis and facilitating nutrient access for plants. Its microbial enhancements promote beneficial microbial communities, further boosting nutrient availability and uptake efficiency.
Final Thoughts
In summary, liquid calcium, as demonstrated by Pro-Cal and Advanced-Cal, offers a multitude of benefits over traditional ag-lime. From its immediate action and long-lasting effects to its multi-faceted role in improving soil health and promoting robust plant growth, liquid calcium clearly stands out as a more efficient and economical choice for farmers and growers. Its unique capabilities of raising pH fast, acting as a ‘trucker’ nutrient, and contributing to the overall optimization of soil, mark a significant advancement in soil treatment and plant nutrition practices.
