Agricultural calcium nitrate supplies both nitrogen and calcium, and its application method matters

Agricultural calcium nitrate is a water-soluble fertilizer that supplies both nitrogen and calcium. It usually appears as white granules or crystals, dissolves easily in water, and shows relatively quick fertilizer effects. Its nitrogen is present as nitrate nitrogen, which crops can absorb and use directly, while its calcium is supplied to the roots in a water-soluble form, making it a commonly used calcium supplement fertilizer in agricultural production. It is widely applied to cash crops such as vegetables, fruit trees and flowers.

In terms of nutrient properties, calcium nitrate is often regarded as a physiologically alkaline fertilizer, and applying it in acidic soil regions helps ease soil acidification. It is suitable for crops prone to calcium deficiency, such as tomato, pepper, Chinese cabbage, apple and grape, and has a positive effect on preventing physiological calcium deficiency symptoms such as blossom-end rot, tipburn and bitter pit. In protected cultivation, hydroponics and drip irrigation systems, it is also often used as a calcium source.

As for application methods, calcium nitrate can be applied with irrigation water, through drip irrigation, or diluted for foliar spraying. When used as a foliar spray, the concentration should not be too high, so as to avoid burning the leaves; the specific dilution ratio should be adjusted according to the product instructions. Because nitrate nitrogen is easily leached with water in the soil, field application is best done in small amounts but multiple times to improve nutrient use efficiency.

It should also be noted that calcium nitrate should not be mixed directly with phosphorus fertilizers such as diammonium phosphate and superphosphate, so as to avoid forming precipitates and reducing fertilizer efficiency. During storage, it should be kept in a cool, dry place and sealed against moisture to prevent hygroscopic caking. Combining it reasonably with organic fertilizer not only helps build soil fertility but also makes calcium supply more stable.