Too much magnesium in the soil can cause calcium deficiency For more information, check out my article on Epsom salt. So, there is no way that Epsom salt can add calcium to soil, or do anything to prevent blossom end rot. Wood ash is another solid source of calcium to supplementĮpsom salt (magnesium sulfate) does not help to prevent blossom end rot in tomatoes or peppers, since it does not contain any calcium. This is great if your soil has high saltĬoncentrations due to de-icing (in Northern climates) or ocean spray (in ocean side (On the other hand, Epsom salt is a good choice if your soilĪs an added bonus, gypsum will leach sodium from soil. It a great choice to supplement calcium if you are also worried about a lack of Gypsum is 20 to 23% calcium by weight, and also contains also Lime, gypsum will not raise the pH of your soil, so you can use it without Gypsum, or calcium sulfate, is another good fast-acting Dolomite lime is a good choice if you want to supplement both calcium and magnesium to your soil, to avoid a deficiency in either one of these nutrients. This is due to the fact that dolomite lime contains both calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate. Dolomite Lime – contains 22% calcium, which is less than pure lime.Hydrated Lime – calcium hydroxide is a fast-acting source of calcium, produced by burnt lime and water.If you apply it directly to plant roots, it will burn them. Burnt Lime (Quick Lime) – calcium oxide, which is very caustic (it can burn you, so avoid handling it without gloves!) It is made by heating up limestone to high temperatures.A finer powder will result in a faster increase in pH, and a faster increase in soil calcium levels. Agricultural limestone (ag lime) – a fine granulated calcitic limestone.The calcium is less available than agricultural lime, but it lasts for 4 to 5 years. Aragonite – this lime comes from oyster shells, and is mined off the coast of Bermuda.If soil pH is too high or too low, certain nutrients become less available toįor more information, check out this article from Research Gate on the effect of soil pH on nutrient availability.Īlso keep in mind that there are various types of lime that Just make sure that the resulting pH change doesn’t throw Lime is another excellent source of calcium for a garden, containing 37 to 40% calcium by weight.Īgricultural lime is often used for reducing the acidity ofĬan also use it to supplement calcium in your garden. To get the maximum benefit as a calcium supplement in your garden.Īt this point, you are probably wondering how to crushįor eggshells, break them up into smaller pieces and putĪfter they are crushed into powder, you can mix into water and pour theįor more information, check out my article on composting eggshells.įor clamshells and oyster shells, you are better offīreaking them into small chunks with a hammer first (wear goggles if you doīreak the chunks of shell into smaller pieces. Ideally, you should grind shells into fine powder More quickly when they are crushed into smaller pieces. (As a side note, calcium carbonate is the same compound thatĪs with many fertilizers, shells are more potent and act Oyster shells are a great source of calcium, but they will be more effective if broken or ground up to smaller pieces or powder. According to Scientific American, the shells are mostly calcium carbonate (about 98%), with the remaining 2% made up of protein and other trace minerals. Shells from eggs, clams, and oysters contain lots of calcium, in the form of calcium carbonate. This table summarizes various fertilizersĪnd their percentage of calcium by weight.įor more information, check out this page on fertilizers from the Oregon State University Extension, this page on fertilizers from the Penn State University Extension, and this page on soil amendments from the University of Maryland Extension. You can find more detail about each type of calcium fertilizer Here is a table with some of the best fertilizers with high calciumĬontent. Let’s get into more detail about each of these sources of calcium. Of course, you can use a mixture of any of these sources of calcium, Some of these will affect soil pH, so keep this in mind when you apply them, and get a soil test before doing so. So, what fertilizer is high in calcium? Fertilizers that are high in calcium include shells (egg, clam, or oyster), lime, gypsum, wood ash, bone meal, and calcium nitrate. Luckily, there are many options for high-calcium fertilizers. Probably looking for a way to supplement this important nutrient in your If a soil test reveals that your soil is lacking calcium, then you are
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