• Is Nutri-Cal^® a product I can trust?
• Why do I need calcium on my fruits or vegetables?
• What are the physiological disorders that Nutri-Cal^® minimizes or eliminates?
• What causes these deficiencies, when my soil tests show I have adequate calcium levels in my soils? 
• What about CaCL and other inorganic salt calcium formulation?
• What is Nutri-Cal^® and why is it different?
• What crops can I use Nutri-Cal^® on?
• When do I apply Nutri-Cal^®?
• What is the difference between a chelated calcium and complexed calcium?
• Why should I use Nutri-Cal^®?
• What should I not mix Nutri-Cal^® with?

Is Nutri-Cal^® a product I can trust?

Nutri-Cal^® is the Number 1 organically complexed calcium product sold today. It is made by the C.S.I. Corporation, a family owned and operated fertilizer manufacturing company, which began in 1955 in Bondurant, Iowa. Until 1973, C.S.I. manufactured liquid fertilizers for grain farmers and other retail dealers throughout the mid-west. Since that time, we have diversified into the fruit, vegetable and turf markets throughout the United States and now, globally.

We began developing a liquid calcium product for the corn and soybean market in 1973. Our soils tested high in calcium, but the pH was low in many soils because a lot of nitrogen was used, creating high hydrogen levels in the soil. We were selling ag lime to help correct this, but found that it took several years to break down and the soil tests were still showing the need for more lime (calcium) and the yields were not increasing. So we set out to find an alternative that would release and keep available the calcium, which was already in our soils.

During this testing we found that there were thousands of pounds of calcium in the soil, but was tied-up and was not available for the exchange with hydrogen on the soil colloid or for uptake by the plant.  This is when we discovered a unique organic acid complexing agent that had a great affinity for calcium and could actually breakdown the insoluble calcium bonds in the soil. Thus, freeing the calcium ion, allowing it to be utilized by the exchange column to replace the hydrogen ion or be immediately absorbed by the roots into the plant. This changed many industry and university people's ideas about liming and introduced the idea of utilizing the nutrients we already have in the soil.

Then, in 1980, further diversifying, our research led us to the fact that many fruits and vegetables required calcium. That there were many physiological disorders associated with calcium deficiencies. Through our research and development program, we began a five year project to come up with a more efficient, effective and safer product than what was on the market. Nutri-Cal^® is that product. Nutri-Cal^® was introduced into the market in 1985 and is the Number 1 organically complexed calcium product sold today.  Over 15 years of consistent results has proven Nutri-Cal^® to be the best calcium source.

Today, Nutri-Cal^® is sold all over the world on and used on almost every crop grown.

Back to top

Why do I need calcium on my fruits or vegetables?

Calcium...

• Enhances quality, firmness and shelf-life
• Reduces or eliminates many physiological disorders
• Primary building block for cell wall structure
• Necessary for cell division, pollination and flower formation
• Regulates the exchange balance of other nutrients
• Enhances disease resistance naturally
• Aids in plant recovery from stress

Back to top

What are the physiological disorders that Nutri-Cal^® minimizes or eliminates?

There are several physiological disorders that are related to calcium deficiencies. Such as, bitter-pit or corking in apples or pears, blossom-end rot on tomatoes, peppers, and melons,  internal brown spot or hollow heart in potatoes and other root crops, tip-burn on many lettuce crops, black-heart in celery, split-pit in cherries and stone fruits, to list a few.

Soft fruit may also be attributed to low fruit calcium levels.

Back to top

What causes these deficiencies, when my soil tests show I have adequate calcium levels in my soils?

Much of the calcium in your soil is tied-up in an insoluble compound and is unavailable to be absorbed by plant roots.

Calcium only moves into the fruit during a short period of time. The cell division phase.

Usually, most calcium deficiencies occur during rapid plant growth, during periods of stress, or excessive use of nitrogen fertilizer ( to high of Ca/N ratio).

The calcium ion is very immobile within the plant. Calcium only moves upward in the plant from the roots through the xylem vessel by way of the water transpiration stream. Since the leaves have a larger surface to volume ratio than the fruit, leaves transpire more water and therefore most of the calcium goes to the leaves and never reaches the fruit. Fruit cell tissue become critically deficient of calcium allowing for breakdown of the cell wall. The cell leaks sugars, pathogens and fungi feed on it and decay sets in.

During rapid plant growth, the calcium can not move from the root to the fruit fast enough to ensure adequate tissue calcium. During heat stress periods, very little water is moving in the plant, therefore calcium is not being translocated to vital cell tissue. In periods of high humidity, plants are transpiring less, again very little calcium is moving, but cells are actively growing and continually calling for calcium. Disorders begin to appear.

Another factor to consider is ,since calcium only moves into the fruit during the cell division phase,  which in many cases is a few weeks after bloom, the plant can not absorb and translocate calcium quick enough, so the fruit cells become deficient. As the fruit proceeds into fruit growth and development phase, the calcium is further diluted. Large fruit are more susceptible.  

APPLY MULTIPLE FOLIAR APPLICATIONS OF NUTRI-CAL^®, BEGINNING AT BLOOM AND THROUGHOUT THE SEASON TO ENSURE ADEQUATE FRUIT CALCIUM LEVELS!

Back to top

What about CaCL and other inorganic salt calcium formulation?

• CaCl is very corrosive
• CaCl is a highly concentrated salt that may burn leaves and fruit
• Inorganic salts are in an ionic form and must have surface ion exchange to be absorbed, making them very inefficient to be absorbed by the leaf or fruit
• Once entering the leaf the calcium quickly forms insoluble compounds that can not be translocated within the plant 
• Calcium Suspensions require constant agitation or precipitation in tank occurs
• Dry products are bulky, hard to handle, and need agitation
• Synthetic chelates are foreign to the plant & use up valuable net energy to be metabolized by the plant
• EDTA & other true chelates are very stable, resisting calcium release
• Limited periods of application
• Limited products to apply in combination
• Should not be applied during cell division, when the fruit cells are calling for calcium

Back to top

What is Nutri-Cal^® and why is it different?

Nutri-Cal^® is an organically complexed calcium solution which consists of
specific polyhydroxycarboxylic acids and 5-carbon carbohydrate groups,
referred to as T.O.G., which are extracted from natural plant tissue.  The
T.O.G. complexes the elemental calcium ion allowing  the ion to be
absorbed directly and immediately through the leaf and fruit cell walls.
Inorganic forms of calcium must go through ion exchange to be absorbed
by the plant, and after entering the plant, readily forms insoluble compounds
that are not available for translocation to the fruit or vegetable.  The T.O.G/
Calcium complex provides a unique delivery system, which protects the
calcium from forming insoluble compound, enabling more efficient movement
of calcium to the fruit/vegetable where it is needed most.

The Nutri-Cal^® (2) 5-carbon carbohydrate groups are of the same elemental makeup as pectin, the gel-like substance that binds cell walls together.  As such, it enables more of the calcium from Nutri-Cal^® to be absorbed and utilized by the pectin to form calcium pectate, which solidifies the gel and strengthens the cell wall against disease and breakdown.

Nutri-Cal^® treated fruits and vegetables maintain their quality much longer.

Back to top

What crops can I use Nutri-Cal^® on?

Nutri-Cal^® can be used on peppers, grapes, pears, peaches, apples, tomatoes, potatoes, berries, turfgrass, and wherever growers need a safe and way to improve plant health or improve production. Information on using Nutri-Cal^® with a variety of crops can be found in the Specific Crops area.  

Back to top

When do I apply Nutri-Cal^®?

 

Information on applying Nutri-Cal^® can be found in the Specific Crops area. Research on the results of using Nutri-Cal^® is found in the Technical information area.

Back to top

What is the difference between a chelated calcium and complexed calcium?

A chelate and a complexing agent are somewhat similar in the fact they form a claw or ring formation around the metal ion, in this case a calcium ion. They actually sequester the metal,  changing the charge and form a new molecule.

A chelate attaches itself to two or more sites on the metal ion creating a very tight bond. A complexed ion is only attached at one site, allowing for quicker release of the calcium.

A problem with a synthetic chelate, such as EDTA, is the molecule formed maybe larger than the leaf pores absorbing the calcium, making it difficult to enter. Secondly, the calcium ion is held so tightly that the rate of release of the calcium is very slow. Thirdly, once the calcium ion is released the plant has to use up considerable net energy to metabolize it or remove it from the plant.

Chelates have shown to be very efficient in soil applications, but less so when applied directly to plant foliage.

Nutri-Cal^® is a natural organic complexed calcium source.

T.O.G, the natural organic complexing agent used in Nutri-Cal^®, consist of unique carboxylic acids and carbohydrates that are completely metabolized and utilized by the plant. They actually are involved directly with the photosynthesis and respiration processes of the plant. These organic acids are extracted from natural plant tissue , which are already present in our plants, so the plant readily accepts them.

T.O.G. sequesters the calcium ion forming an organic molecule that has a neutral charge, so it can be absorbed immediately. The calcium ion is masked , so that plant doesnít even know it is calcium. Now, the organic molecule can move more freely within plant, protecting the calcium ion from forming insoluble compounds, so it has a greater chance of getting to the fruit cells where it is needed.

Back to top

Why should I use Nutri-Cal^®?

20 years of research shows:

• Nutri-Cal^® improves firmness and storage quality, more marketable fruit
• Nutri-Cal^® will not burn leaves or fruit
• Nutri-Cal^® is a pure solution
• Nutri-Cal^® is non-corrosive
• Nutri-Cal^® is compatible with most all pesticides, saving trips
• Nutri-Cal^® is easy to handle
• Nutri-Cal^® is completely safe for you, fruit, &Environment
• Nutri-Cal^® is economical
• Nutri-Cal^® reduces many physiological disorders

Back to top

What should I not mix Nutri-Cal^® with?

Do not mix with phosphate fertilizers unless a jar test has been done. Consult the manufacturer or dealer if there is a question.

Back to top