Of all elements in the soil, Calcium is King. Without calcium most of the other elements will not work or be severely restricted. Calcium influences the pH of the soil, provides structure to the soil and is one component in allowing water to penetrate into the soil. Calcium is also vital for bone structure in animals and for milk to feed the young animals on the farm.
At Fertilizer New Zealand we say that Calcium is King. Autumn is a time to reset your farm and get ready for the next growing season which is Spring. The tradition of applying Lime is a good idea because it replenishes the Calcium that has been utilised through the previous growing season. However, there is more to soil than just elements. All of our soil tests concentrate on the many elements that create an environment for our plants and crops to grow.
There are other aspects to our soils which must be considered. These are carbon, microbes and fungi, because without these components (just like the calcium), crops and plants will be severely restricted. Carbon in the soil sits next to Calcium. This is vitally important to your soils. Most Nitrogen fertilisers utilise Carbon for them to work, which is the reason why farmers are applying more and more Nitrogen with lesser results. It is the lack of Carbon in the soil which is the limiting factor.
Fertilizer New Zealand has a unique product which adds both Carbon and Calcium to the soil, along with another key ingredient for soil health and vitality. That is the soil life which broadly falls into two categories – microbes and fungi.
Microbes and fungi make up the balance of beneficial soil life. Here is what they do. They create a porous soil which will over time lead to less compaction. They will, along with the likes of earthworms, create Nitrogen for free, and give a better root structure for your plants. Science tells us there are over one million species of microbes and fungi common to New Zealand soils. The main reason we have the common pest we call grass grub is because of the lack of beneficial microbes and fungi in the soil. They are a symptom of a poor biological soil.
These issues can be saved by applying VitaLife to your soils this Autumn. This product will provide the Calcium needed for next year’s growth. It will put carbon back into the soil and clean up the grass grub and other undesirable pests that destroy crops and pastures.
Calcium is King