Maintaining proper nutrient balance in fertilizer regimes

摘要

An ongoing practice that I have encountered throughout Canada involves the continued use of a fertilizer regime with high calcium feed when it is not necessary. To be clear, proper levels of calcium are imperative for proper plant growth. Calcium actsas the glue between cell walls, improves germination and is involved in shoot and root tip cell elongation. Many locations throughout Canada have very high bicarbonates, sometimes referred to as alkalinity, in their water. Normally, high bicarbonates will also mean high calcium levels. It's not uncommon to see levels of calcium of 80 ppm in many water samples. Most plants do not need levels beyond 50 ppm. Now, not all of the calcium in these types of water applications is readily available to the plant, but it is unusual to have calcium deficiencies when you have excessively high calcium levels in your water. What can happen in these instances by additional feeding with excess calcium is that your magnesium and potassium become less available since all these nutrients all have the same positive charge.