Magnesium Added to Enhance
Granular Calcium Silicate Product
Calcium Silicate Corporation's granular formulation has recently been improved
by the addition of magnesium to the original calcium silicate (CaSi02) product.
The combination of these components, formulated into a homogeneous granule, contains
31 % silica, 22% calcium, 3% magnesium and 5% sulfur. With this new formulation,
the magnesium is elemental Mg. This produces better turf color and raises the
magnesium levels in the soil more quickly and efficiently than dolomitic limestone,
magnesium oxide or magnesium sulfate. |
Calcium Silicate . . .
a Replacement for Dolomite?
Everyone knows the importance of dolomite to help raise levels of calcium and
magnesium in the soil. Unfortunately, dolomite only addresses these two
elements.
Calcium silicate not only provides the benefits of Mg and Ca, additionally, it
supplies silica and sulfur, and is more soluble than dolomite. Liming effect
is achieved more quickly, and the beneficial components are more rapidly assimilated
into the soil solution.
Applied at a rate of 1 ton per acre, calcium silicate has 75% of the liming effect
of dolomite. Priced competitively with dolomite, the Regular Grade mini-prilled,
homogeneous pellets achieve a clean and easy application on tees and greens with
very little dust and no foreign objects. |
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Why Use Silicon on Your Turfgrass
The practice of utilizing silicon in agriculture has been expanding over
the past several years as awareness of its exceptional benefits gains
more widespread
recognition. Already heavily used in the cultivation of monocots such
as sugar cane and rice, it is also proving to be a valuable nutrient
in the cultivation
most turf grasses. St. Augustine and Bermudagrass have both been proven
to readily absorb silicon and, as ongoing research at the University
of Florida is demonstrating,
the uptake of this nutrient is having very positive effects on these
and other turf varieties.
Silicon, when administered to the soil by incorporation or an over-the-top
application, is absorbed readily by the plants and it accumulates
within the plant tissue. Amassed throughout the plant, the plant
becomes more rigid and upright, hardens off more completely, and
develops an increased turgor pressure. The result? A stronger more
stress resistance plant. The benefit of silicon does not end here.
Silicon application has been shown to (1) increase leaf chlorophyll
content and therefore increase plant metabolism, (2) enhance plant
tolerance to environmental stress factors such as cold, heat and
drought, (3) mitigate nutrient imbalance and metal toxicity in plants
and (4) reinforce cell walls, increasing the plant's mechanical strength
and thereby protecting plants against pathogens and insects. Silicon
application also improves plant growth through balancing nutrient
uptake, transport and distribution.
So, why use silicon on your Turfgrass
Why not?
It is available to you in two grades:
The "Greens Grade" homogenous granules sized for tees and greens, and
the "Regular Grade" homogeneous granules, slightly larger for fairways
and sod. It is packaged in 50 LB bags for convenient handling AND
delivered to your door!
Increasing Silicon Levels Can Improve Over-seeding?
Those
cool season grasses that we use for over-seeding are all silicone
absorbers. To increase the ability of the over-seeded
grasses to benefit from the effects of silicon, an application
of calcium silicate 30 to 45 days before over-seeding is ideal.
This will allow the active silica to be available in the soil
solution for good absorption by the new seedlings. New seedlings
will harden
off faster and the silicon may aid in suppressing some of the
early disease pressures new seedlings face. Calcium silicate
will also
help increase the absorbed levels of phosphorous which is essential
for new roots to actively form.
Calcium silicate can be applied to areas that have already been over-seeded however,
application rates of 25 Ibs. to 50 Ibs. per 1,000 square feet of the granular
product may be too visible. Therefore, a regular grade, non-granulated calcium
silicate can be added and blended into the top dressing as an alternative application
method. Florida Potting Soils is currently blending this non-granular calcium
silicate into top dressing mixtures for their golf course superintendent customers.
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Why is Liming So Important?
Soil pH affects turfgrass health by influencing availability of plant nutrients
and other elements, thatch decomposition, certain turfgrass pests and pesticide
activity. Strongly acid soils ( pH greater than or equal to 5.5 ) may lead to
deficiencies in calcium, magnesium or phosphorous and increase availability of
aluminum and manganese in amounts that may be toxic to turfgrasses. Liming improves
plant nutrient availability and reduces toxicity problems in acidic soils.
Many beneficial soil microorganisms do not thrive in strongly acid soils. Some
of these microorganisms break-down certain nitrogen fertilizers, thereby releasing
the nitrogen for use by the plant. Fertilizers containing nitrogen from urea,
sulfurcoated urea, or natural organic sources are not effective unless certain
microorganisms are present in sufficient quantities.
Soil microorganisms also aid in the decomposition of thatch and grass clippings.
Thatch is the dense accumulation of organic matter on the soil surface beneath
the grass. A thatch layer restricts movement of air, water, nutrients and pesticides
into the soil. Soil pH in the range of 6.0 to 7.0 increases microbial activity
and helps reduce thatch.
Acidic soils create conditions that favor growth of certain weed species. One
of the most common and difficult-to-control weeds, algae, is more prevalent in
moderately to strongly acidic soils than in neutral or slightly acidic soils.
Although weeds cannot be controlled with lime applications, applying lime before
soils become too acidic is one means of preventing severe weed infestation. |
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What Are the Desired Levels
of Silicon in Tissue and Soil Tests?
To help determine if the proper levels of silicon have been reached following
the application of calcium silicate, measure by either tissue or soil sampling.
In tissue tests the desired percentage of Si in leaf tissue should be .80% to
1.0% by weight. In soil tests, Si content should be 5 lbs. per acre. |
Regarding Magnesium
Magnesium is an essential nutrient that is in the center of the chlorophyll molecule;
the pigment that gives plants their color. Magnesium is also involved in the
activity of several enzymes.
Deficiencies of magnesium may be induced by excessive amount of potassium. Therefore,
unless a potassium deficiency is known to exist, apply potassium at rates not
to exceed the rate of nitrogen.
Calcium and magnesium are both required by turfgrasses in amounts comparable
to phosphorous. They are every bit as essential as the primary nutrients: nitrogen,
phosphorous and potassium.
Superintendents often report that their bermudagrass does not respond to nitrogen
or iron. In such cases, soil or tissue analysis will usually verify low magnesium
levels. |
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