However, the miniscule quantity of calcium applied in recommended application rates of liquid calcium products is not going to be able to provide nearly the quantity of calcium needed to change the soil pH through displacement of hydrogen ions on the CEC. Theoretically, a calcium ion could displace a hydrogen ion on the CEC, causing that hydrogen ion to leach slightly deeper into the soil profile. It is true that there is usually a relationship between base saturation and soil pH. However, if your soil needs calcium it is much more economical to buy a ton of limestone and wait 6 months for it to dissolve.Īnother claim is that liquid calcium will instantly increase soil pH by raising the base saturation of calcium on the CEC. If you want a pound or two of instantly soluble calcium to join the more than 2,000 lbs/ac of calcium that is probably already in your soil, then an application of liquid calcium would do just that. One of the typical claims is that the liquid calcium is instantly soluble, whereas limestone takes several months to dissolve. But you might still be convinced to buy the liquid calcium product after reading the marketing literature, which does a great job of blending truth, half-truth, and non-truth into a believable argument. Interestingly, a gallon of the liquid calcium costs about the same as a ton of limestone, but the ton of limestone contains 800 lbs of calcium (assuming it is pure calcium carbonate) compared to only 1.1 lbs of calcium in the gallon of liquid product.ĭoing the math on the liquid calcium products is a sobering exercise. For reference, the "plow layer" (6.66" depth) of a typical agricultural soil in Pennsylvania (a CEC of 10 meq/100g and a base saturation of 65% calcium) already contains 2,600 lbs/ac of exchangeable calcium. It's also worth comparing the cost and calcium content of liquid calcium to limestone. This is a very small quantity of calcium in the scheme of things.
Most liquid calcium products I encounter are a solution of dissolved calcium chloride, with a density around 11 lbs/gallon and a calcium analysis of 10% by weight. A gallon of product with these specifications contains 1.1 lbs of calcium, and recommended application rates ranging from 2 to 5 gal/ac would apply 2.2 to 5.5 lbs calcium per acre. Liquid calcium products are a mainstay in the vast marketplace of less-than-reputable soil fertility amendments.
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