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All About Calcium Supplementation in Crops (Part II)

Release Date:

2021-06-06

Calcium is an essential nutrient for crop growth and development; in 80% of fruit trees and vegetable crops, calcium requirements exceed those of phosphorus. Both root development and the growth of stems and leaves demand substantial amounts of calcium, while calcium requirements in fruits often surpass those of nitrogen. Calcium deficiency has become a major factor limiting both yield and quality in China’s agricultural production. According to statistics, at least 40 types of physiological disorders in fruits and vegetables are attributable to low or insufficient calcium levels.
III. Causes of Calcium Deficiency in Crops
01 Soil calcium deficiency
In some regions of southern China, soils developed from granites and gneisses have very low calcium levels. When the calcium concentration in the soil solution falls below 40–60 ppm, timely calcium supplementation is necessary.
02 Exchangeable calcium deficiency
In the saline–alkali soils of North China, Northwest China, western Northeast China, and the southeastern coastal regions, the pH often exceeds 9, and sodium ion concentrations are high, resulting in poor exchangeable calcium availability and insufficient calcium uptake by crops. Under such conditions, soil pH should be ameliorated first, followed by an increase in the level of exchangeable calcium.
03 Excessive application of nitrogen fertilizer leads to an imbalance in the nitrogen-to-calcium ratio.
The primary function of nitrogen is to promote the growth of vegetative organs; the greater the nitrogen supply, the faster these organs grow. However, calcium is required in larger quantities to support the development of organ epidermis. Because calcium uptake and translocation are far slower than nitrogen transport, the result is rapid organ growth coupled with delayed epidermal development—what is known as physiological calcium deficiency.
04 Excessive application of potassium fertilizer can lead to calcium–potassium antagonism, resulting in calcium deficiency.
Potassium and calcium are both adsorbed onto soil particles in ionic form. Through ion-exchange reactions, crop roots take up mineral nutrients such as potassium and calcium ions from the soil particles. Potassium ions are more mobile; when potassium levels are high, the likelihood of calcium being absorbed by crops decreases.
05 Excessive application of phosphate fertilizer, which lowers soil pH, can also lead to calcium deficiency.
The availability of calcium ions in the soil is directly linked to soil pH: in acidic soils, calcium readily combines with sulfate ions to form calcium sulfate, which is poorly soluble in water. Excessive application of phosphate fertilizers inevitably raises soil acidity, significantly reducing the mobility of calcium ions and, consequently, the amount of calcium that crops can uptake.
06 Poor root growth and weak absorption capacity can also lead to calcium deficiency.
Poor soil quality, root infections by pathogens, or a deficiency of other nutrients essential for root growth can all lead to stunted root development and reduced calcium uptake, ultimately resulting in calcium deficiency. For example, prolonged drought, excessive soil moisture, or low temperatures can all impair root growth. Particularly after several consecutive days of cool, overcast weather followed by a sudden return to clear skies and a rapid temperature rise, transpiration intensifies, increasing the crop’s demand for calcium. However, soil temperatures lag far behind air temperatures, and root absorption capacity has not yet recovered, leaving the plant unable to take up sufficient calcium ions, which in turn triggers calcium deficiency.
07 The sensitivity of crops to calcium requirements varies depending on crop category, variety, and growth stage.
Dicotyledonous plants are sensitive to calcium, and calcium deficiency is more commonly observed in production. Certain crop varieties—particularly those with rapid growth and early fruiting—are especially prone to calcium deficiency. The fruit‑expansion stage is the period when calcium deficiency is most likely to occur.
IV. Why do crops consistently suffer from calcium deficiency, and what makes calcium supplementation so challenging?
When it comes to supplementing calcium for crops, many farmers find themselves frustrated: despite trying calcium fertilizers from numerous manufacturers, problems persist—such as fruit cracking, wrinkling of new leaves, brittle stems, and a lack of plant vigor.
01 Calcium is highly reactive.
Due to the unique properties of calcium ions, they readily react with organic acids within plant tissues—for example, forming calcium oxalate when combined with oxalic acid. Outside the plant, they also easily bind with phosphorus- and sulfur-containing compounds, leading to their immobilization.
02 Calcium is easily antagonistic.
Calcium is subject to antagonistic interactions with numerous other elements. Excessive application of a particular fertilizer during specific growth stages can reduce the efficiency of calcium uptake. For example, overapplication of boron during the flowering stage or excessive potassium fertilization during the fruit‑coloring phase can lead to calcium antagonism.
03 Environmental Impact
More than 90% of calcium uptake by crops occurs via the root system, with only about 5% absorbed through the leaves. Calcium ion uptake is largely governed by transpiration intensity, making it highly dependent on external environmental conditions; for example, cloudy or rainy weather and high temperatures that cause stomatal closure can impair a crop’s ability to absorb calcium. Additionally, physiological imbalances triggered by other stress factors—such as drought, salinity–alkalinity, or root hypoxia—also contribute to difficulties in calcium absorption.
04 Calcium is difficult to transport.
Calcium is primarily transported unidirectionally over long distances through the xylem, and its regulation and distribution within the plant are strongly influenced by transpiration pull. Consequently, organs with weak transpiration—such as tubers and fruits—are prone to calcium deficiency, as the competition for calcium ions among robust, mature leaves can lead to early manifestation of deficiency symptoms. Only when the calcium ion concentration in these robust, mature leaves is sufficiently high will calcium be allocated to apical leaves, petioles, fruits, and other organs.
V. How to Supplement Calcium? Nongda Fertilizer Industry offers you an efficient calcium‑supplementation solution for your crops.

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