Technical Limestone and Gypsum


Understanding your options


Aqua Aid’s Jim Miller began working closely with calcium sources in 1997. A former Golf Course Superintendent, he fully understands the benefits calcium can bring to the soil, but suggests that traditional methods of application have now been overtaken by more modern methods


126 I PC FEBRUARY/MARCH 2016


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t all starts with understanding a soil test and knowing how to read that test. A complete soil test will include five major cations: Ca, Mg, K, Na, H plus a CEC value. Having these five major cations accurately


tested is the first step to thoroughly understanding the need for, lack of, and performance of the calcium in your soil profile as well as the calcium amendment you may choose to apply. This is where, we as turf managers, make our


first mistake in understanding the calcium we already have. Look at your soil tests. Is there a CEC value? Are there five major cations tested? Many will answer this as - no. And this leads to potential misinterpretation of that soil test.


More importantly, you may be making nutrient choices that won’t help or work or, more importantly, are being purchased and applied at the wrong rates for the problems that may not even exist. Remember, you are testing nearly 98-100% of that soils ability to hold Ca, Mg, K, Na, H. Leave one out and the others are thrown off and, therefore, your soil test is not worth the paper it is written on. Why all that calcium? Go back to your text


books and research what calcium does in the soil and plant. It has everything to do with: plant stress, colour, rooting, water movement or transpiration, cutting quality, photosynthesis and the list goes on and on. Last time I checked, these things were important. But just seeing


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