Allan et al., Just a geochemical quickie: calcium cation (2+) with any 2- anion is generally only sparingly soluble (Calcium carbonate and calcium sulfate) due to the strong electrical attractions between the ions. Calcium nitrate and calcium chloride(ice melter) have singly charged anions (Cl- and NO3-), so they completely dissolve very quickly. Hence they are very available forms of calcium. An exception to this charge rule of thumb is Ca(OH)2, which is not very soluble. With cal nitrate , Ca(NO3)2, you are applying two nitrates for every calcium, so if you used alot, you would soon be a chemical fertilizer.
Chris --- Lloyd Charles <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Allan Balliett <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Wednesday, December 18, 2002 9:16 AM > Subject: Re: Perfect Orchard-Calcium > > > > Pardon my ignorance, Lloyd: do you have any idea > of why calcium > > nitrate is not acceptable for organically > certified crops? > > > When people draw a line they tend to draw it in the > easiest place not always > where it should be drawn. I believe organic > certification allows any > naturally occurring material ? So if you can dig it > out of a hole in the > ground you're allowed to spread it on your farm - > broadly speaking - so > trace elements are allowed in the sulfate form - > because thats how they > occur in nature. Calcium nitrate in the form we use > is a manufactured salt > fertiliser - so I guess its taboo on those grounds > regardless of whether or > not its a beneficial material - I guess the > certifiers figure that using a > little bit is like being half pregnant. > > Graham is very health conscious and he was very > accepting of calcium > > nitrate as a first season or emergency input. How > do you feel about > > it? (And, why?) > > > Calcium nitrate lets us catalyse and activate our > soil calcium - which in > turn lets us get good results with affordable rates > of high calcium lime. > Calcium nitrate has allowed us (in early conversion > to regenerative > farming) to eliminate early broadleaf weed spraying, > without suffering a > yield penalty, on high potassium soils where these > weeds are a huge problem. > We use small amounts of it in growth energy foliar > sprays and it helps to > further depress weed growth > I make a special mix with cal nitrate and some other > goodies that has given > real nice energetic readings when tested > radionically. > As I said earlier we dont use much of this - 6 to 8 > pounds per acre per year > is all - but its a very beneficial input to our > system . I guess if it was > allowed in organics next thing you would have guys > using 500 pound to the > acre on vegetable crops and getting back on the same > ole treadmill they > thought they just got off!! > Cheers > Lloyd Charles > __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com
