When a client brought a withered canola plant to the agronomists at Agri-Trends Agrology, the calcium deficiency diagnosis was unexpected.
Calcium deficiency is not generally considered a problem on the Prairies and is more often seen on weathered soil in the tropics, said Doug Penney of Agri-Trends, which worked with Alberta Agriculture to classify the problem.
The farmer who brought in the canola noticed that the plants had collapsed and had wilted tops at mid-flower. The farm is in a solonetzic soil area in east-central Alberta that is known for being hardpan with low fertility and organic matter.
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As a test, barley, peas and canola were grown in a greenhouse in soil samples taken from the field. Because soil tests had found sodium in the soil, various-sized treatments of calcium chloride were added to the samples by either side banding or dribbling on the surface. In the canola the tops withered and died, which is a visual symptom of calcium deficiency.
“Based on the visual symptoms and on the response we were getting from calcium chloride applications, this seemed to support the fact that there is calcium deficiency happening,” Penney said.
Calcium chloride is a soluble salt so farmers have to be careful with applications. Researchers found side banding the calcium treatment was most effective and the best results came from applying 36 kilograms to the acre.
When searching through past studies, Penney said there was evidence of calcium deficiencies in this soil type.
“Past work has been ignored because we have the mentality that there is plenty of calcium in our prairie soils.”
Previous research showed that adding calcium increased yield in barley tops and roots. Additional calcium increased the plant’s potassium uptake and decreased magnesium and sodium uptake.
Scientists know calcium deficiency can appear in solonetzic soil. There are an estimated 12 million acres of solonetzic soils in Alberta.
