Calcium

CALCIUM - This is one of the dozen or so chemical elements essential to the growth and health of plants. In its pure state - as a light, silvery white, soft metal - it is rarely seen outside laboratories and it never occurs in that form in nature. It is, however, present in many other forms in most soils except those that are definitely sour; and in some mineral formations, such as limestone. In fact, calcium is best known in one form or another of lime, which may be the simple oxide (CaO), which we call quicklime, or hydrated or slaked lime (Ca (OH)2), or the carbonate (CaCO3) which is raw limestone.

While the exact way in which calcium serves the plant is not fully understood, it is accepted that the element is an essential plant food. However, as there is usually plenty of it in most soils in forms that plants can use, it is rarely if ever necessary to apply lime to the soil as a fertilizer.

Its great usefulness is as a soil amendment, or conditioner or modifier, and it is in that capacity that calcium is added to soils as ground limestone, or hydrated or agricultural lime; or, sometimes, in the form, of ground shells, marl, bonemeal, etc.

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