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| 1 Crop Production |
| 1.1 Fertilizer, Plant Food And Soil Amendments |
| 1.1.1 Calcium |
| Calcium is necessary in plants for the development of strong cell walls, cell division, and uptake of nutrients. Calcium is often an overlooked plant nutrient and is almost always deficient in Maritime soils. Fortunately, it is easily added to the soil by the application of fine rock powders of calcium-bearing rock.
A soil’s relative requirements for calcium and magnesium (based on soil test results and crop needs) will determine which liming material would be best suited to a particular situation. Calcitic lime is an excellent source of calcium and will also raise the soil’s pH. Dolomitic lime will also raise the soil’s pH and in addition to calcium, will also add magnesium to the soil. Calcium acts to loosen soil; magnesium acts to tighten it. Ideally, the amount of calcium in the soil relative to the amount of magnesium is balanced at approximately 6-8:1. Other sources of calcium include, calphos, crustacean shell powder, gypsum and bone meal. |
| 1.1.1.1 Calcitic Lime (CGSB Allowed) |
| Calcitic lime consists of finely ground calcitic limestone containing 32-40% Calcium. It is used to raise a soil’s pH and to add calcium. Calcitic lime must contain at least 70% calcium carbonate (CaCO3). Calcitic lime is readily available throughout Atlantic Canada.
Lime should be applied in the late summer or fall for it to have its pH adjusting impact prior to the following planting season. It should be well mixed into the top 15-20 cm of soil. |
| Products | Sources | OMRI | Origin | Calcitic Lime | Homestead Organics |  |
Graymont NB |  |
Atlantic Industrial Minerals Inc |  |
Cashton Farm Supply |  |
Terra Cal C | Hondo Chemical Co | |
Cal-Pril Limestone | Pacific Calcium Inc | |
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| 1.1.1.2 Calcium Carbonate (CGSB Allowed) |
| Calcium carbonate is often referred to as limestone. There are two types of limestone commonly available: calcitic and dolomitic. Both contain calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and both will raise a soil’s pH and increase the amount of available calcium; however, dolomitic lime is also used to increase magnesium levels. Soil tests are necessary to determine which is more appropriate for any given soil.
Liming materials must be incorporated throughly into the plow layer to effect rapid neutralization of soil acidity. Calcium carbonate can be obtained from other acceptable sources such as oyster shell flour, dolomite (not slaked), aragonite, eggshell meal, lime from sugar processing and mined CaCO3. Calcium carbonate is readily available from most farm supply stores. |
| Products | Sources | OMRI | Origin | Calcium Carbonate | Brookville Manufacturing | |
Graymont NB | |
Mosher Limestone | |
Elmtree Resources | |
Calcium Carbonate | Ash Grove Cement Company | |
Aragonite | North Country Organics | |
Biomin Calcium | J H Biotech | |
Egg Shell Meal | California Spray Dry | |
Penergentic-t | Planistics Management | |
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| 1.1.1.3 Calcium Chloride (CGSB Restricted) |
| Calcium chloride is prohibited for soil application because of its high chloride content; however, it is allowed as a foliar spray to correct bitter pit in apples only. It must be from natural sources. |
| Products | Sources | OMRI | Origin | Calcium Chloride | Cavendish Agri Services - Multiple Locations | |
Cleartech | |
Meta Natural Organic Calcium | Turf Logic | |
Vigor Cal | Agro-K Corp | |
Calcium 25 | Bio-Gard Agronomics Inc | |
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| 1.1.1.4 Calcium Phosphate (CGSB Allowed) |
| Calcium phosphate (apatite) is a naturally occurring combination of calcium, phosphorus, and trace minerals. It is known as colloidal phosphate, which means that the particles are small and its nutrients are more readily available for plant use. Calphos contains 20% calcium, 20% total phosphoric acid and 3% available phosphoric acid.
Calcium phosphate has low solubility and so is useful in a long-term soil building program. |
| Products | Sources | OMRI | Origin | Calphos | Bio-Ag Distributors |  |
Mosher Limestone | |
Homestead Organics | |
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| 1.1.1.5 Crustacean Shell (CGSB Allowed) |
| The shells of lobster and crab are rich in nitrogen, calcium and other minerals. A by-product of seafood processing, shell waste is finding its way to farmers’ fields rather than being dumped at sea. Although fresh waste can be incorporated directly into the soil, it is usually composted or processed to reduce the attractiveness to flies. Analysis will vary depending on the composition and handling of the shell waste.
There are several processed crustean shell products available. |
| Products | Sources | OMRI | Origin | Crustacean Shell | Turf Logic | |
Produits du Golfe St-Laurent | |
Lobster Meal | Heirloom Roses | |
Crab & Lobster Meal | W.E. Acres Crabmeal Ltd. | |
Produits du Golfe St-Laurent | |
Chito-Green (4-2-1) Turf Fertilizer | International Chitin Production Inc | |
Crab Meal | Beothic Fish Processors |  |
Homestead Organics | |
Turf Logic | |
Blue Cove Group | |
Island Fisherman Cooperative Association Ltd | |
Pecheries F.N. Fisheries Ltd. | |
Produits du Golfe St-Laurent | |
North Country Organics | |
Crab Shell | Produits du Golfe St-Laurent | |
Neptune's Harvest Fertilizers / Ocean Crest | |
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| 1.1.1.6 Dolomitic Lime (CGSB Allowed) |
| Dolomitic lime is derived from calcium-magnesium limestone; it contains 35-46% magnesium carbonate, a minimum of 11% magnesium. It is used primarily as a liming agent to raise soil pH and as a source of magnesium.
Dolomitic lime should not be used to increase levels of calcium if soil tests indicate that soil magnesium is adequate. Lime should be applied in the late summer or fall for it to have its pH adjusting impact prior to the following planting season. It should be well mixed into the top 15-20 cm of soil. Dolomitic lime is readily available at most farm supply stores. |
| Products | Sources | OMRI | Origin | Dolomitic Lime | Cavendish Agri Services - Multiple Locations | |
Homestead Organics | |
Brookville Manufacturing | |
Mosher Limestone | |
Elmtree Resources | |
Magnesium Conditioned Lime | Graymont NB | |
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| 1.1.1.7 Gypsum (CGSB Allowed) |
| Gypsum is a naturally occurring mineral that is a source of calcium and sulphur (CaSO4). Most commonly used in the manufacturing of wallboard, powdered gypsum can also be used as an agricultural input. It is readily soluble in water, but just as readily leaches out off the soil. Gypsum is valued in situations where calcium or sulphur is required but a change in pH is not. Gypsum contains roughly 22% calcium and 18% sulphur.
It should also be worked into the soil. Since gypsum supplies calcium and sulphur without having an impact on soil pH, it is an ideal product for scab susceptible potato cultivars. Calcium sulphate can also be produced as a by-product of super phosphate manufacture (the reaction of rock phosphate and sulphuric acid), or from the precipitation of sulphur dioxide gas with limestone. These forms are not permitted under organic standards, nor is gypsum derived from dry-wall rejects. Gypsum is readily available from most farm supply stores. |