Sulfagro Ca contains two minerals needed for crops: calcium (Ca²⁺) and sulphate sulphur (SO₄²ˉ).
Chemical composition
| Nutrients | Sulfur | Calcium | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | SO₃ | Ca | CaO | |
| % (m/m) | 17 | 42,6 | 21 | 29,4 |
The pH of the product is between 7 and 8
Sulfur
- improves stress resistance
- prevents diseases caused by fungi and bacteria
- long survival during drought
- improves crop quality
- controls the assimilation process of carbon dioxide in photosynthesis
- reduces crop nitrates - improves the quality of vegetables or potatoes
- prevents dwarfing in plants
- determines protein content, improves the quality of grains (gluten)
- fat synthetizer, increases the seeds oil content
- essential for the oil synthesis of bulb crops i.e. onion and garlic
Calcium
- help the best rooting
- provides structural support to cell walls as a component of the median lamina of cells
- works as a barrier against the invasiveness of pathogens, especially fungi
- stimulates the formation and development of root rhizomes
- combined with the potassium ion K⁺ it regulates the movement of cellular stomata
- regulates the crop hormonal process
Physical properties
Crystals size
The size of calcium sulfate crystals varies from 5 to 60 µm, showing a predisposition to form a suspension in water. In the soil, forming a natural suspension, it moves in each direction of the soil profile. This is an extremely important agrochemical feature of the fertiliser as it indicates its mobility in the soil profile, leading to saturation of the fertiliser application area.
Humidity
Sulfagro Ca fertiliser’s moisture ranges from 6% to 8%. In addition to free water, the fertiliser contains water associated in chemical compounds with a fixed value of 20%.
Solubility in water
Sulfagro Ca sulfur-calcium fertiliser is a slow-acting product. The solubility in water is about 5% for the first 24 hours, after 14 days becoming almost completely dissolved about 85%. The entire dissolution is gradual depending of the water amount contained in the soil, pH value and fertiliser dosage. Sulfagro Ca forms a suspension which migrates evenly into the deep soil layers to a depth of 0.6 m, covering the entire rooting area.
Used in the fall, mixed with soil, will provide the best nourishing of calcium and sulphur to the crops.
Salt index
The salt index shows the value of the osmotic pressure produced by a certain amount of fertiliser dissolved in water, compared to the osmotic pressure exerted by the same amount of sodium nitrate. Sodium nitrate salt index is 100.
The value of salt index shows the possible danger to the crops after combining the water with the fertiliser’s salts. These salts may block the soil water and also cut the water supply to the crops. This process is the greatest danger for germinated seeds and young crops.
Sulfagro Ca is not a dangerous product and may be used with increased dosage, its salt index being lower than other similar fertilisers broadly used.
Due to its low salt index, Sulfagro Ca also acts as an improver product which can be used once every two or three years, with a dosage of 2 tons / ha. Applied on hardened soils will reduce the encrustation process providing better conditions for germination and healthy crop.
| Product | Salt index |
|---|---|
| Sulfagro Ca | 8,1 |
| MAP 11:52 | 26,7 |
| DAP 18:46 | 29,2 |
| Ammonium sulfate 21:24 | 68,3 |
| UAN 32 | 71,1 |
| Sodium nitrate 15,5 | 100,0 |
| Ammonium nitrate 34 | 104,1 |
| Potassium nitrate 60 | 120,1 |
Sursa: Mortvedt in 1999
