Calcium nitrate

Experienced gardeners know what to do if the tomatoes are sick with blossom end rot – they prepare a solution of calcium nitrate, which helps stop the spread of the disease. And most do not wait for the first signs, but use this fertilizer for prevention.

But initially, calcium nitrate was created by man not at all for the sake of plants – gunpowder was his goal. There is an opinion that he spied the “recipe” in nature, having found natural compounds of lime and organic nitrogen on the walls of the caves of Puglia. Calcium nitrate was also formed during the mummification of the bodies of monks treated with lime mortar.

Whatever it was, adding lime to the “saltpeter pit” made it possible to obtain calcium nitrate, which, as practice has shown, had a serious impact on increasing crop yields. Today, this fertilizer is obtained by low-temperature neutralization of nitric acid with natural limestone.

What is calcium nitrate

Calcium nitrate or calcium nitrate (calcium nitrate) is an inorganic salt of nitric acid used in agriculture as an alkaline nitrogen fertilizer for all crops. It is especially effective on acidic soils. 

It is a water soluble, white crystalline fertilizer. Available in the form of powder or granules.

The composition of calcium nitrate

Calcium nitrate Ca(NO₃)₂ – two-component nitrogen fertilizer. Contains 20 – 27% calcium and 13 – 15% nitrogen. Does not contain chlorine   

Nitrogen in the composition of the fertilizer is responsible for the rapid development and growth of the vegetative mass of the plant, and calcium is responsible for the growth of the root system and strengthening the cellular structure of plants.

Properties of calcium nitrate

Calcium nitrate is one of the best nitrogen fertilizers for a good start in plant development, in which calcium and nitrogen effectively complement each other. This type of saltpeter increases the resistance of plants to diseases and the quality of fruits (higher sugar levels, better keeping quality).

Fertilizer reduces the acidity of the soil and improves its structure.

Good solubility in water allows the use of this fertilizer in drip systems.

But remember: fertilizer is effective only if the norms and terms of application are observed.

The use of calcium nitrate in the garden and garden

Calcium nitrate is applied to most fruit and vegetable crops, except for those that prefer acidic soils – blueberries, lingonberries, cranberries, heathers, erica, rhododendrons, conifers 

making Dates

Calcium nitrate is applied in the spring to feed fruit, vegetable and flower crops – then it has time to decompose in the soil into nutrients and be absorbed by the root system of plants. 

Also in the spring, calcium nitrate is used for pre-planting treatment of tubers and bulbs, which stimulates fast and friendly shoots.

Autumn top dressing of calcium nitrate is used only for winter crops.

Dosage of application

The norm for dry application in early spring for digging is 30 g (2 tablespoons) per 1 sq. m. In the planting hole for planting seedlings of cabbage, add 1 teaspoon with embedding in the ground.

For liquid top dressing under the root of the noma are:

• tomatoes and cabbage – 2 top dressings with an interval of 15 – 20 days, 20 g (4 teaspoons) per 10 liters of water, consumption rate – 1 liter per 1 sq. m;
• strawberries – before flowering: 10 g (2 teaspoons) per 10 liters of water, consumption rate – 1 liter per 1 sq. m;
• fruit trees – before bud break: 20 g (4 teaspoons) per 10 liters of water, consumption rate – 2 – 8 liters per 1 sq. m near the trunk circle;
• ornamental shrubs – 15 g (1 tablespoon) per 10 liters of water, consumption rate – 2 liters per 1 sq. m; 
• flower crops – 2 top dressings with an interval of 3 weeks 20 g (4 teaspoons) per 10 liters of water, consumption rate – 1 liter per 1 sq. m;
• indoor plants – 10 g (2 teaspoons) per 10 liters of water, consumption rate – 1 liter per 5 liters of soil.

Foliar top dressing is carried out up to 3 times during the season with an interval of 2-3 weeks at the rate of 2 g (1/2 teaspoon) per 1 liter of water until the leaves are completely wetted.

Application methods

There are 3 main ways to use calcium nitrate:

• dry – in the spring, fertilizer is scattered over the soil and covered during digging or introduced into fertilizer grooves in the tree trunks with subsequent watering (gardeners and gardeners rarely use this method);
• liquid top dressing – under the root in spring and in the first half of summer (it is considered the most effective);
• foliar top dressing – in the first half of summer, the same method is used to care for indoor plants 

Another method that is not very common is the treatment of planting material with a solution of calcium nitrate to accelerate the emergence of seedlings. 

Popular questions and answers

We asked about calcium nitrate agronomist Oleg Ispolatov – he answered the most popular questions of summer residents.

Sources of

1. State catalog of pesticides and agrochemicals permitted for use on the territory of the Federation as of July 6, 2021 // Ministry of Agriculture of the Federation

   https://mcx.gov.ru/ministry/departments/departament-rastenievodstva-mekhanizatsii-khimizatsii-i-zashchity-rasteniy/industry-information/info-gosudarstvennaya-usluga-po-gosudarstvennoy-registratsii-pestitsidov-i-agrokhimikatov/

2. Mineev V.G. Agrochemistry (textbook, 2nd edition, revised and supplemented) // M.: MGU Publishing House, KolosS Publishing House, 2004.
3. Yagodin B.A., Zhukov Yu.P., Kobzarenko V.I. Agrochemistry (edited by B.A. Yagodin) // M.: Kolos, 2002.