For the normal and proper development of plants, there are 17 chemical elements that are considered essential and are also called nutrients.
In the absence of these elements, normal plant development is not possible and the plant is unable to complete its life cycle. The absence of a single element leads to deficiency symptoms that can only be treated by it, i.e. the element in question cannot be replaced by another element. The function of the element in plant metabolism must be known. That is, we must know exactly what processes it participates in and in which phase of development. Its action should be directly on the plant and not through secondary processes in the soil/substrate.
Below we will refer to one of these elements, calcium (Ca). Calcium is a fundamental element for vegetative growth.
The functions it participates in the plant are many and are mainly associated with the mechanical resistance of plant tissues, as:
- It exerts a supporting and reinforcing action on the lamellae of cell membranes.
- It acts as an enzymatic activator, as a regulator of carbohydrate translocation and compensation
- It balances the absorption of other cations such as potassium, magnesium, ammonium and sodium.
In plants, it accumulates and is stored in cell vacuoles in the form of oxalates, carbonates, phosphates and phytin (the latter is found only in seeds). In cultivated soils, calcium is mainly found in the form of carbonates (especially in calcareous soils), or in the form of sulfates in calcareous soils.
Its content is very variable: it is found in abundance in calcareous and calcareous soils, on the contrary, lower concentrations are found in acidic soils and in soils subject to intense runoff. In general, an average value of calcium in the soil ranges from 0.1 to 0.5%.
This element plays a fundamental role in the thickening and robustness of cell walls, thus influencing the consistency and crispness of fruits and vegetables: it is obvious how much proper nutrition significantly affects both productivity and the shelf life of fruits after harvest.
Its presence allows the acquisition of fruits that meet the requirements of consumers and large retail-wholesale buyers: fruits of large caliber, beautiful shape and intense color, excellent consistency.
Calcium deficiencies in plants
But how and when is calcium absorbed by plants? The moment of greatest calcium absorption is when the plant organs are in active transpiration, but only during the first phases of their development (shoots, young leaves, fruits), where they have intense stomatal activity.
Calcium deficiency in plants is characterized by the appearance of mechanical problems in the tissues, i.e. greater cellular fragility, greater predisposition to damage/breakage at the level of the stem, but mainly of the fruit: drying or twisting of leaves, yellow-brown areas between the veins of the leaves, dry rot (plug) on the lower part of tomatoes and peppers, drying of the spine of the vine, bitter spotting of the apple tree, cracking of the skin of pear and cherry trees: these are just some of the physiopathologies that plants can face if they are subjected to this deficiency during the critical period of their development.
Solutions for preventing and treating calcium deficiency in plants
To overcome these problems, Agroza, in collaboration with Cifo, has invested heavily in research and development and offers us various calcium-based products capable of satisfying any need.
Calcisan Green (calcium and magnesium with Macrocystis integrifolia)
It is CIFO’s revolutionary innovation in the field of foliar nutrition, created precisely to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of the calcium and magnesium complex in leaves and fruits. It acts on two different levels: the first is the contribution of calcium and magnesium, the second is their absorption and translocation with a parallel protective action, which is due to the pure Macrocystis integrifolia extract it contains. The preparation is designed for foliar applications, enhancing the effect of absorption and translocation of calcium and magnesium to the right places.
Calcisan (calcium and magnesium with L-amino acids)
It is able to effectively solve the problems related to the high salinity of soils. Calcium and magnesium replace sodium in colloids (humic-clay), favoring their leaching and therefore their removal from the rhizosphere. It contains a calcium and magnesium complex which is produced through an innovative industrial process that makes it even more effective and durable. It is also rich in peptides, polypeptides and free L-amino acids that are easily assimilated at the root level and are translocated to the developing organs. This makes it possible to obtain excellent fruits, with a longer shelf life and resistance to post-harvest handling.
Ideal for fertigation applications.
Calcium Fast (30% calcium chelate)
It is a liquid preparation based on calcium in chelated form, characterized by high absorption capacity for maximum effectiveness in treating physiopathologies caused by calcium deficiency as well as in increasing the consistency and shelf life of fruits and vegetables post-harvest.
Ideal for foliar applications.
Neobit (calcium with boron)
With a high calcium content and a contribution from boron, it is ideal for pome fruits and allows the obtaining of high quality fruits and vegetables.
Ideal for foliar applications.