Soil and plant factors in availability of Ca

Some principles of Ca :
- Derived from limestone bedrock
- It is found in many primary and secondary minerals in the soil
- Often insoluble
- Not a leachable nutrient
- TIME = movement to the depths; thus a higher pH and higher Ca
content in the subsoils
The same general principles apply to the behavior of Magnesium (Mg) as
apply to Calcium (Ca) and Potassium (K)

www.soils.wisc.edu/extension/teachingmaterials/Peters/Liming%20basics.ppt -
Soil and plant factors in availability of Ca


The low ability of the plant to take up calcium
coincides with the large amount in most soils.
Available calcium is measured in terms of thousands
of pounds/acre, while other nutrients are present at
hundreds of pounds/acre, and often much less.
Except under conditions of severe calcium deficiency
in the soil, no relation exists between the amount of
Calcium in the soil and the amount in the plant.
Furthermore, like potassium, not much calcium is
required by soil organisms. (Parnes, 1990)
Factors in availability of Ca

Total exchangeable Calcium (Ca) supply
Soil pH
CEC
% Ca saturation of Soil colloids
Type of soil colloid/ Parent material
Ratio of Ca to other cations in the solution
- ex: Ca/Mg
Soil physical characteristics
Micro organisms

Soil and plant factors in availability of Ca


Soil pH: soil acidity; not exactly how
available the acidity is for use by the plants;
this is dependent on CEC
-Acidic soils have less Ca
-Alkaline soils have more Ca
-As soil pH increases beyond 7.2, additional
free Ca is not absorbed into the
soilunless CEC is increased as well
-Free Ca often forms insoluble compounds
with other elements such as Phosphorous
(P) making them less available

The addition of calcium carbonate and liming
raise soil pH to make it more basic

http://www.bionaturefertilizer.com/BNE%20Soil%20pH%20scale.gif
The only substances which
effectively neutralize soil
without disrupting cation
balance are Ca, or Ca + Mg
Depending upon Mg content of
the soil
Soil pH
Soil and plant factors in availability of Ca
www.soils.wisc.edu/extension/teachingmaterials/Peters/Liming%20basics.ppt -


A quick rundown of Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC):
Cation exchange is when very fine clay/humus particles (- negative
charge), attract cations (+)

How?
-Micelles; loosely attract cations
-Cations associated with the micelles form the pool of
exchangeable cations; those in the soil solution form the soluble
cations
Cation exchange reservoir = the number of micelles
Cation exchange capacity = the number of cations in the reservoir
Soil and plant factors in availability of Ca


CEC:
More soil OM = more soil particles = more CEC
- Liming acid soils increases CEC by creating a reservoir
- As Hydrogen (H+) on humus is neutralized by liming, the
site where it was attached attains a negative charge and can
hold on to Ca++, Mg++, K+, etc.

** plants are less sensitive to Ca concentrations, so Ca
plays a major role in maintaining the balance btwn acid and
alkaline conditions.
Soil and plant factors in availability of Ca


Parent material:

Soils derived from
LIMESTONE, MARL high Ca levels
SHALE, SANDSTONE low Ca levels
http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/arts/limestone.htm
http://www.zionnationalpark.com/zioninfo/photos/Sandstone-2.jpg
Soil and plant factors in availability of Ca


Soil physical factors: moisture, aeration, temperature
Soil and plant factors in availability of Ca


Micro-organisms:
Leaching of Ca


Ca = the most dominant cation in drainage
waters, streams, and lakes
- Sodium may be lost most readily from soil, but Ca is
lost in the greatest quantity
- Leaching losses from Ca = 75 200 lbs/A per year
Plants that love Ca


All plants need calcium.
It is involved with:
- maintenance of cell walls and membranes
- ion balance
- intracellular signaling

Plants that are likely to suffer Ca deficiency:
peanuts, tomatoes, celery, soybeans

Plants with high Ca requirements:
alfalfa, cabbage, potatoes, and sugar beets
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/aug2005/20050810_beet.jpg
http://www.nutbrothers.com/Pictures/Products/PEANUTS.JPG
Soil and plant factors in availability of Ca and Mg
Tying Ca and Mg together


Exchangeable Aluminum (Al
3+
):
- Dominant in soil with pH <5.0 5.5
- Ca and Mg uptake is impaired by high
levels of exchangeable Aluminum
-Aluminum saturation percentages of 65
70% are associated with Mg nutritional
problems
- excessive Al
3+
is harmful to plant root
systems
Liming can neutralize exchangeable
aluminium (Al
3+
)
http://www.agriculture.gov.bn/website2003/ninformation/fact15.htm
Soil and plant factors in availability of Ca and Mg
Tying Ca and Mg together


Exchangeable Aluminum (Al3+):

http://hubcap.clemson.edu/~blpprt/acid1.html
-Organic matter ties up aluminum and chelates many trace elements
-pH is not as important with high OM
The East and Oregon (acidic soils) toxic levels of Al
Southwest and West soils low in Al
Organic soils low Al

Concentration of Al in the soil
solution based upon:
- Soil pH
- Al saturation of effective CEC
- Salt concentration of the system
Soil and plant factors in availability of Ca and Mg
Tying Ca and Mg together


Cation ratios Ca/ Mg:
- Wide range of Ca:Mg ratio = plant deficient of Mg
- Ratio should not be greater than 7:1 (Ca:Mg)
-Healthy Ca:Mg ratios stimulate earthworm populations and
microorganisms

Horror scenario:
Humid region, coarse textured soils; receive high application levels of
calcic liming materials huge Ca:Mg ratio Mg deficiency
Soil and plant factors in availability of Ca and Mg
Tying Ca and Mg together


Cation ratios K/Mg:
- High levels of exchangeable Potassium (K) will interfere with Magnesium
(Mg) uptake by plants
- Problem in low Mg soils
- IDEAL RATIOS of K:Mg
< 5:1 for field crops
3:1 for vegetables and sugarbeets
2:1 for fruits and greenhouse crops
Amount of Mg present
Soil pH
Degree of Mg saturation
Nature of other exchangeable ions
Type of clay
Seasonal and environmental conditions

*The same general principles apply to the behavior of Magnesium (Mg) as
apply to Calcium (Ca) and Potassium (K)

Factors in availability of Mg
Soil and plant factors in availability of Mg


Amount of Mg present:
- An antagonistic relationship exists btwen Ca, Mg, and K
- all compete to be taken up by the root
-Mg rarely present as a soil amendment, often falls short
-Deficiencies do not cause yield loss, unless drastic

Soil and plant factors in availability of Mg


Soil pH:
Low pH decreases Mg availability; High pH increases availability

Balance between Ca, Mg, and K is crucial

Excessive Potassium (K) Mg deficiency (and Ca deficiency too in
acidic soils)
- Soil should ideally have as many Mg ions as Potassium (K)
ions
Soil and plant factors in availability of Mg
CEC:

Similarly to Calcium (Ca)
- Low CEC soils hold less Mg and High CEC soils hold more!
- OM adds mobility to Mg levels in the soil
Soil and plant factors in availability of Mg
Parent material/ Type of clay:
- Clays are unfavorable for Mg CEC
- Compost = great source of Mg
Soil and plant factors in availability of Mg


Seasonal and Environmental Conditions affecting Mg availability:

Mg deficiency caused by
- A Cool, cloudy, wet growing season
- Humid conditions
- Old weathered soils
Leaching of Mg


- Losses depend upon the interactions of the following:
- Mg content of the soil
- rate of weathering
- intensity of leaching
- uptake by plants
- Ave losses = 5 60 lbs/A per year
- Severe problem in sandy soils
-humid conditions blah!

- Few problems occur when equal amounts of Potassium (K) are applied
as carbonates, bicarbonates, or phosphates
Plants that love Mg


Highly responsive plants:
pastures, corn, potatoes, oil palm, cotton, citrus, tobacco, sugar beets

Apple varieties highly susceptible to deficiencies:
Newtown, Macintosh, and Spartan
http://www.texasrollingpins.com/apples.jpg
http://www.foodmuseum.com/images/oilpalm1.jpg
Grass Tetany


A nutritional disorder in cattle caused by lack of Mg in their diet,
and in their blood serum; often associated with low Ca levels in blood
- Caused by high levels of exchangeable elements (such as Al); and
LOW Mg in plants
- Effects females only
- Older cows more susceptible than younger
Symptoms
- Death
- Nervousness, muscle
tremors, salivation, rapid
breathing
http://www.hubbardfeeds.com/nmg/beef/beef_tetany.shtml


Solutions
- Application of properly balanced fertilizers and Mg
compounds to grass
- Dust Mg compounds directly onto plants for consumption
by the cattle
- Preventing disorder completely by supplying the animals
with Mg supplements

Grass Tetany
Soil and plant factors in availability of Ca and Mg
Tying Ca and Mg together


Use the following factors to make fertilizer recommendations:
-Total exchangeable amount of Ca
-Total exchangeable amount of Mg
-pH
-CEC and % saturation
-Exchangeable Al
-Cation ratio of Ca:Mg
-Cation ratio of K:Mg
-Soil physical factors: moisture, aeration, temperature
-Micro-organisms
Works Cited
Rankins, Darrell Jr. Management Practices to Reduce Grass Tetany.
Alabama Cooperative Extension System. Online.
http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-0495/. 5 March 2007
Visuals Cited
Whittington, David. Grass Tetany, the Silent Killer of Spring. Hubbard Feeds
Inc. Online. http://www.hubbardfeeds.com/nmg/beef/beef_tetany.shtml. 5
March 2007
The Government of Brunei Darussalam Official Website. Liming of Soil.
Online. http://www.agriculture.gov.bn/website2003/ninformation/fact15.htm.
5 March 2007