What is Calcium?

Calcium in Nature

Calcium is the fifth most abundant metal in the Earth’s crust (4.1%). It occurs abundantly as limestone (calcium carbonate), gypsum (calcium sulphate), fluorite and apatite. Calcium occurs naturally in water with rivers typically containing 1-2ppm calcium (up to 100ppm in limestone areas), whilst sea water contains approximately 400ppm.

Functions of Calcium

Calcium is an essential crop nutrient vital for many aspects of crop development. Calcium plays an extremely important role in the production of plant tissue and in improving plant growth. It is required for plant cell walls and membranes, contributing to the structure of cells and holding together the cell walls of plants. Calcium is crucial in activating certain enzymes and for the sending of signals that coordinate certain cellular activities.

Plant roots also require calcium, which is essential for the normal development of a healthy root system to ensure crops can take up the air, water, and nutrients they need from the soil. Calcium also increases resistance to outside attack and increases the feed value of forage crops to livestock.

Human Needs

Calcium is well known for its requirements in humans and young babies in particular. It has many important functions in, especially helping to build bones and keeping teeth healthy. Adults typically require around 0.7g of calcium a day which can be obtained from dairy products and green leafy vegetables.

Calcium in Plants & the Environment

Many soils in the UK are naturally high in calcium, however this doesn’t always mean crops will have access to sufficient levels of calcium. There are no environmental risks associated with this nutrient.