| CATIONS |
*The “Cation” nutrients, listed above, in your soil are very vital key to healthy soil life! The Cation Balance helps regulate
the homeostasis process, or to put it simply… “That’s the crops ability to balance its total body functions. Homeostasis
should be controlled and stabilized by CALCIUM! Excess MG, or NA produces a very deadly poison within the cell body,
which can have a destructive effect upon the plant.
WHAT ARE CATIONS???
Cations are the positive charged nutrients in the soil. The most common cations are Calcium, Magnesium, Potash, Sodium
and Hydrogen. Their balance to each other and to the other negative charged nutrients is very vital. Following are some
basic truths to consider about Cations:
1. Calcium is the most important nutrient in your soil and the proper balance of it to all other nutrients is very important.
Discussed in greater detail, later on in the book.
2. A soil test is incomplete when the Sodium (NA) level is not included, which is common if you have been using a
traditional dry fertilizer program. Sodium is the salt index to your soil WATCH IT CLOSELY!!!
3. All Cation nutrients have a HOLDING or PULLING capacity that are in relationship to calcium (CA is the base nutrient
and the comparison ratios will be 1 to 1 for CA. NA the highest 1.82 to 1). This means NA has 1.82 times more pulling
capacity than CA. or it has a lot more holding power.
4. NOTICE: If other cation nutrients are not in proper balance to CA. then normally Hydrogen (H) will be out of balance.
So watch the Hydrogen percentage level in the Cation balance instead of soil pH. If all your Cation ( + ) nutrients are in
balance, both H and your soil pH is correct.
Why Are Cations So Important?
REMEMBER: The normal flow of a electric charge in nature is positive to negative! All clay and humus colloidal soil
particles carry a negative charge on their surface, which attracts desirable positive charged nutrients. If in proper balance,
they are loosely held in the soil solution, which allows a growing plant with a (-) charged root to attract and take Cation
(+) nutrients as needed.
EXAMPLE: As a plant needs calcium it removes it from the soil and it is replaced by another cation which can flow or
move easily if the soil is in proper balance. This is base exchange at work! BUT BEWARE cations go out of balance with
high usage of salty fertilization, high Mg, and heavy metal levels causing soil to tighten up with poor movement of nutrients
to the growing plants. It can even get to the point, to where there are high nutrient levels in the soil and a plant be unable to
get desired nutrients. KNOW YOUR SOIL!!!
CATION EXCHANGE CAPACITY (CEC) is the "ability of your soil" to absorb, hold and release nutrients or a measure
of the cation holding ability of clay and humus in your soil. CEC therefore, can be measured by the percentage level of each
cation in relation to 100% full base saturation. This is the critical balance we discussed earlier.
NOW REMEMBER THIS: Proper CEC balance with a healthy "soil life" which is adequate humus and biological life,
helps allow the adequate release of all nutrients in proper amounts to growing crops! A healthy vigorous plant has been fed
vital trace elements in proper amount to regulate its total metabolism!! Nutrients in least supply regulate growth and health,
not how much NPK you can add...
An excellent example to show what can happen in the root zone when Cation balance has been destroyed with heavy use of
salty fertilizers, such as 60% K20 (potassium chloride) potash base saturation can go up to 5 to 10%, sodium (salt) up to
5% and run hydrogen to zero. The Natural-Balanced pH has been destroyed by salt arc chloride (beware of soil tests that
give you a false pH reading with no % base saturation balance chart). With high levels of K & NA critical nutrients like
calcium, zinc, boron, and even K itself will become deficient to the plant.
REMEMBER: Soil clay particles and plant roots are both negative charged ( - ) and have a natural attraction of ( + ) cation
nutrients.
Therefore, as you add nutrients to the soil, it is very important you add the right nutrients to maintain proper balance. As
you add fertilizer you can help or harm your soil depending on the quality and kind of fertilizer BE CAREFUL WHAT
YOU ADD!!
the homeostasis process, or to put it simply… “That’s the crops ability to balance its total body functions. Homeostasis
should be controlled and stabilized by CALCIUM! Excess MG, or NA produces a very deadly poison within the cell body,
which can have a destructive effect upon the plant.
WHAT ARE CATIONS???
Cations are the positive charged nutrients in the soil. The most common cations are Calcium, Magnesium, Potash, Sodium
and Hydrogen. Their balance to each other and to the other negative charged nutrients is very vital. Following are some
basic truths to consider about Cations:
1. Calcium is the most important nutrient in your soil and the proper balance of it to all other nutrients is very important.
Discussed in greater detail, later on in the book.
2. A soil test is incomplete when the Sodium (NA) level is not included, which is common if you have been using a
traditional dry fertilizer program. Sodium is the salt index to your soil WATCH IT CLOSELY!!!
3. All Cation nutrients have a HOLDING or PULLING capacity that are in relationship to calcium (CA is the base nutrient
and the comparison ratios will be 1 to 1 for CA. NA the highest 1.82 to 1). This means NA has 1.82 times more pulling
capacity than CA. or it has a lot more holding power.
4. NOTICE: If other cation nutrients are not in proper balance to CA. then normally Hydrogen (H) will be out of balance.
So watch the Hydrogen percentage level in the Cation balance instead of soil pH. If all your Cation ( + ) nutrients are in
balance, both H and your soil pH is correct.
Why Are Cations So Important?
REMEMBER: The normal flow of a electric charge in nature is positive to negative! All clay and humus colloidal soil
particles carry a negative charge on their surface, which attracts desirable positive charged nutrients. If in proper balance,
they are loosely held in the soil solution, which allows a growing plant with a (-) charged root to attract and take Cation
(+) nutrients as needed.
EXAMPLE: As a plant needs calcium it removes it from the soil and it is replaced by another cation which can flow or
move easily if the soil is in proper balance. This is base exchange at work! BUT BEWARE cations go out of balance with
high usage of salty fertilization, high Mg, and heavy metal levels causing soil to tighten up with poor movement of nutrients
to the growing plants. It can even get to the point, to where there are high nutrient levels in the soil and a plant be unable to
get desired nutrients. KNOW YOUR SOIL!!!
CATION EXCHANGE CAPACITY (CEC) is the "ability of your soil" to absorb, hold and release nutrients or a measure
of the cation holding ability of clay and humus in your soil. CEC therefore, can be measured by the percentage level of each
cation in relation to 100% full base saturation. This is the critical balance we discussed earlier.
NOW REMEMBER THIS: Proper CEC balance with a healthy "soil life" which is adequate humus and biological life,
helps allow the adequate release of all nutrients in proper amounts to growing crops! A healthy vigorous plant has been fed
vital trace elements in proper amount to regulate its total metabolism!! Nutrients in least supply regulate growth and health,
not how much NPK you can add...
An excellent example to show what can happen in the root zone when Cation balance has been destroyed with heavy use of
salty fertilizers, such as 60% K20 (potassium chloride) potash base saturation can go up to 5 to 10%, sodium (salt) up to
5% and run hydrogen to zero. The Natural-Balanced pH has been destroyed by salt arc chloride (beware of soil tests that
give you a false pH reading with no % base saturation balance chart). With high levels of K & NA critical nutrients like
calcium, zinc, boron, and even K itself will become deficient to the plant.
REMEMBER: Soil clay particles and plant roots are both negative charged ( - ) and have a natural attraction of ( + ) cation
nutrients.
Therefore, as you add nutrients to the soil, it is very important you add the right nutrients to maintain proper balance. As
you add fertilizer you can help or harm your soil depending on the quality and kind of fertilizer BE CAREFUL WHAT
YOU ADD!!
5 Major Soil Cations
POTASSIUM
(K) = Expressed in ppm x 2.4 = Ibs. available K/acre. Natural Balance levels of K vary according to CEC of
soil and graduate up. Rates above this can cause problems in the soil, if achieved thru commercial fertilizers.
Also, it is not economical to maintain a higher level!.....
MAGNESIUM
(MG) = Expressed in ppm x 2 = Ibs. available MG f acre. Excessive MG is found in many areas of the USA
because of recommended dolomitic limestone and fertilizer programs. If most soils were put on a good natural
biological program, they would not need any MG for years and years.....
The biggest lesson to learn on MG is how to bring the MG level down to a desirable level, and to do it
economically. Excellent practices would be turning under green manure crops, or applying a stabilized
biological product.
CALCIUM
(CA) = Expressed in ppm x 2 = Ibs. available CA/acre.
SPECIAL NOTE: If percent saturation of cations is out of balance, or toxic residues exits (aluminum oxide,
iron oxide, NA. or mg). The above available calcium may not be exchangeable to the plant! Remember,
nutrient balances are much more important to watch than nutrient levels.
SODIUM
(NA) = Expressed in ppm x 2 = Ibs. available NA/acre. Nearly all Universities and Independent soil testing
labs do not run test on sodium! Mr. Farmer, include NA in your soil analysis, and learn how to apply its
percent saturation into a well balanced cation balance. See earlier discussion of recommended levels of
sodium.
SULFUR
(S) = Expressed in ppm x 2 = Ibs. available S/acre. (1 lb. sulphur = 3lbs. sulphate). Adequate S levels in your
soil should be 10-18 ppm or 20-36 Ibs. S/acre. EXAMPLE - In a healthy 3 % OM soil 60# S would be a very
favorable N to S ratio (2 to 1).
1. Sulphur levels can be increased to 15-25 ppm on medium to high CEC soils, while purging of heavy metals.
More sulphur is needed to help remove undesirable metals mentioned earlier as MG.
Sulphur is a vital nutrient in our Natural BALANCE PROGRAM that has been neglected in modern
agriculture. A healthy, living soil supplies adequate sulphur to crops thru decomposition of crop residue,
manures and biological activity. The problem with modern agriculture is that fertilizer products like NH 3 82
%, potassium chloride, DAP 18-46-0, ammonium polyphosphates, 10-34-0 deplete humus levels, suppress
beneficial bacteria, and create nutrient imbalance. Then the soil does not release natural sulphate into the soil
solution for crop intake.
Let's Analyze Each “Cation Nutrient"
CALCIUM (Ca) The KING of all nutrients! Proper amounts of Ca (70% and up) makes soil workable and
well flocculated, plus it has a good air-water relationship. Air and water are two "free" elements of nature that
are very vital to plant growth and production. Any nutrient that aids in a good air-water relationship is a
priceless asset and Ca is the prince of nutrients in maintaining this vital balance.
Proper levels of nutrients, organic matter, water and air makes soil productive.
Calcium helps create a healthy environment for your plants plus it is the carrier (or trucker) of all other
nutrients to the plant. As Calcium content in the plant drops so can the protein, energy level and minerals of
the plant. Calcium stimulates growth of "soil life", including nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
Calcium is sweet alkaline earth, and the opposite of true acids (Na and K) and concentrated salts products like
ammonia nitrate, and potassium chloride (0-0-60). Any product that you use that removes calcium from the
soil can be EXPENSIVE AND DANGEROUS!!! The following products require Ca, or calcium carbonate
equivalent per ton applied - anhydrous ammonia-2960#, DAP-1550#, ammonium sulphate-2200#, etc; also, 0-
0-60 K removes 23# Ca per 100# K20 applied WHAT A WASTE---. Please don't waste our "Natural
Neutralizer" Ca by using harsh fertilizers.
Did you know the following facts about CALCIUM?
1. The lower the ph (Ca level) in the soil the greater the leaching loss of K and NH4.
2. The percentage of CEC saturated with Ca is more important than the total amount of Ca in the soil (high %
Ca can stop toxic aluminum, iron and Na conditions).
3. Studies showed decrease root development was not related to ph, but to low levels of exchangeable Ca and
high levels of aluminum.
4. Soil Scientist (world-wide), which are independent of petroleum-agronomy influences, normally agree to a
Ca-MG ratio of about 7 to 1 for an ideal soil.
5. REMEMBER Ca IS AS IMPORTANT to humans as plants.. Did you know calcium is only absorbed in the
small intestines with adequate vitamin D, but excessive fat, oxalates and in-organic phosphates inhibit calcium
absorbtion. Less than 15% of the Ca in homogenized milk is used because of the heating process which kills
beneficial enzymes and makes Ca unavailable. What a shame!!! Best sources of Ca is a raw dairy products,
calcium lactate, almonds, whole grain seed and dark green leafy vegetables. EAT RIGHT'N LIVE.
6. Study after study shows Ca at the optimum level will decrease disease in most plants. With lower percent
saturation of Ca combined with high levels of MG and K; showed more disease problems, such as seedling
rots, soft rot in stored tubers, and various root and stalk rots.
7. High content calcium hay, haylage, or forage crops play a vital role in healthy, vigorous animals.. Ca is
normally associated with healthy soil full of soil life.
Plant available calcium determines the uptake of all other nutrients into the plant.
Why does calcium make so much difference? How does it release other plant nutrients in the soil to give
you, in effect, a free bonus of fertilizer? Here are some of the important facts that the soil scientists have been
discovering.
Soils generally contain large amounts of aluminum and iron. In acid soils, aluminum and iron combine
chemically with soil phosphorus and tie it up in unavailable forms. But when you lime the acid soil, this tie-up
of phosphorus is prevented from taking place, and phosphorus already tied up is released slowly!
Calcium works the other way, too, cutting down excesses of some minerals. Acid soils containing too
much soluble manganese are as harmful as soils containing too little. Growth is slowed; some plants may even
be stunted. As the soil gets more acid, more of these minerals become soluble. Add calcium, and it ties up
enough of them so they are no longer toxic to plants.
When you use calcium on acid soils, you save potash, too. When plants can't get enough calcium, they take up
more potassium from the soil. But when there's plenty of calcium, plants will use more of these nutrients and
they'll not use excessive amounts of potassium. So, on a properly limed soil you can produce good crops and
not exhaust the soil potassium supply as rapidly.
Yellow alfalfa is yellow partly because it was not getting enough nitrogen. Plants get nitrogen from three
sources: From the air, from soil organic matter, and from fertilizers. And in every case, except with some
forms of fertilizer, the nitrogen must be worked on by soil microbes before plants can use it.
Using calcium on acid soil helps these microbes which take nitrogen from the air. The present theory of
how soil acidity effects microbes is that the lime neutralizes the acids produced by the microbes while they
are converting the nitrogen to available forms.
And this affects more than just nitrogen. Before your crops can use many of the plant nutrients in the organic
matter that is returned to the soil, that organic matter must pass through a whole assembly line of soil microbes.
But before this assembly line can operate, there must be enough calcium and magnesium for these
microbes to thrive and multiply.
Too, the microbes that make streptomycin, aureomycin, penicillin, and other antibiotics which kill or make
harmless the disease-producing microbes in the soil, must have calcium before they can really thrive and work.
So, calcium indirectly helps control plant diseases because it peps up these antibiotic-producing microbes.
Why is Available Calcium So Important?
Calcium is the most important fertilizer element
Is a direct nutrient to growing plants
Neutralizes soil acidity
Improves activity of favorable soil bacteria and the decomposition of organic materials
Promotes root development
Improves soil structure
Promotes nitrogen fixation by legumes
Improves the efficiency of fertilizers and chemicals
Increases water penetration and water holding capacity
MAGNESIUM
Its percent of base saturation is second place to calcium. But nature REQUIRES A MINIMUM of 6 to 1
ratio to calcium (example Ca 72% to MG 12%). Then MG will perform its duty in photosynthesis and protein
formations. Over-saturation will hinder these vital functions...
OPTIMUM Ca to MG ratio is 7 to 1, which promotes soil life and adequate nutrient levels for growing
crops. We recommend a percent base saturation of 10 to 12% MG. Little concern should be given to MG
deficient soil because of its high holding-pulling capacity. MG deficient soil would normally be on sandy soils
with less than 6% base saturation and loam-clay soils at less than 4%! Traditional fertilizer/agronomy
personnel keep calling for MG in the form of dolomitic lime, Sul-po-mg, MG sulfate, etc. WHAT IS THE
PROBLEM??? Let us get to the bottom of the problem and not treat the symptom of the problem as most
educated traditional personnel do!
What can create a MG deficienty? Potassium, Sodium, Boron, and an unbalanced pH with heavy metals
such as aluminum, and iron. We can see real quick their own recommended fertility program has created the
problem. First 0-0-60 KCL with a salt index of 116 applied to the soil is a "bomb of K and chlorine" that
unloads undesirable sodium. High sodium releases toxic levels of aluminum and iron, this toxic combination
causes a deficienty of MG, Ca, and K.
Second: They recommend DAP (18-46-0), or NH3 to add to the MG deficiency. THE AMMONIA bomb
is dropped and soil pH can jump to nearly 10 for a short period of time. Undesirable high levels of salts are
released and "soil life" is STOPPED! MG and Ca both can become deficient.
THE BAD NEWS OF MAGNESIUM
1. If MG is out of balance, it can become a toxic poison to soil, calcium and plant life.
2. Excess MG to Ca forms a poisonous condition in the nucleus of plant (man) cells, affecting its health and
the continuing life of the plant. Nature often strikes the plant with diseases (fungi) to destroy the plant and
simultaneously nature calls for other plants to take its place--commonly called WEEDS AND GRASSES!!
3. With excess MG or Na you are on your way to producing concrete out of your soil. It resists water, it has
less air (oxygen), less soil life, more weeds (acid soil), more insects (less plant sugar), and more plant
diseases (soil acid). Weeds and grasses are nature’s soil indicator of danger... You have an imbalance in the
soil. You need a new fertilizer program, not HERBICIDES, INSECTICIDES, FUNGICIDES OR SUICIDE.
4. Excess MG means deficiency of N, P, K, and Ca. Yes, the big four go deficient! Only MG with combination
of Na, AI, and iron can make concrete out of soil, it destroys the air-water ratio necessary for soil life. SOIL
EFFICIENCY IS DESTROYED. These MG-AL-NA combinations are toxic to animals too. MG takes the
place of Ca in plant cells which produce a poor quality crop.
5. Excess MG to Ca permits crop residues to decay into toxic alcohol, which kills or suppress bacteria, it then
forms a formaldehyde, which stops crop residue decay (this means disease carry over).
6. Excess MG will not allow CA and K to move into plant cells (plant absorbtion is slowed down
considerably).
7. Excess MG to Ca causes your soil to release soil nitrogen back to the atmosphere (these are in the form of
gaseous nitrogen oxides). WHAT A WASTE.
POTASH
It makes up only 2-3% of the CEC, but potash is the #1 dry fertilizer sold to AMERICAN farmers! Why??
Has the American farmers been sold excessive K? Yes, and in a form undesirable to our soil. Who has made
the rules of manditory nutrient required to produce 150bu corn, 45bu soybeans, 60 wheat, etc.? Guidelines
and recommendations come from the National Fertilizer Institute, thru Landgrant Universities, Cooperating Co-
ops, etc.
The experts, who tell us, our crops require "specific" poundage of NPK forgot to tell us there are other
sources, than to purchase NPK from the local fertilizer dealer.
EXAMPLE: To raise 150bu corn (grain) it removes 135# N, 53# P, 40# K. They forgot to tell us that our
healthy silt loam soil can have a K reserve of over 35.000# (300 to 400 available K in balance soil). Plus
earthworms can add K to your soil fast, earthworm castings have 11 times more K than soil particles and
organic residues that run through them. WHAT A WASTE OF MONEY TO BUY UN-NEEDED 0-0-60. K is
a necessary nutrient which aids in photosynthesis, protein formations. and size n' quality of fruit. K is very
important (20,000 to 35.000# per acre.)
The #1 potash product is potassium chloride (KCL) or muriate of potash. Muriate of potash can be red or
white. Most kalium is white muriate of potash. Muriate is a salt of hydrochloric acid. Farmers on natural-
organic programs should never use killers of "soil life". Chemically K reacts in soil to release sodium (salt).
High usage of KCL adds too much NA, which prunes plant roots and will not allow water and nutrients to flow
freely to the plants. BEWARE it is approximately 47% chlorine and it can become a KILLER TO SOIL LIFE,
animals and people. It is quickly leached from the soil, or is locked up in fixed non-exchangeable K with less
than 20% actually used by the crops in many soil conditions.
MURIATE OF POTASH 0-0-60 K,20 is actually only (approx.) 51.7 % K and 47% Chlorine. Chlorine is
a gas that kill life! Research indicates Chlorine is a wild cat element and is seldom broken down, but continues
to be tax c the soil and water.
LET'S LOOK AT CHLORINE - KCL or Potassium chloride, or more commonly called muriate of potash
is 47% chlorine. Therefore, a 100# (actual K) application will add 42 to 45 ppm of chlorine to your soil,
which is about 12 times the chlorine it takes to sterilize water!
Potassium acts like Sodium
K acts like Na (two true acids). They are fast acting, and there is no need of trying to build a reserve of K
through commercial fertilizers. It will brake you financially, so don't play their game of recommended soil
nutrient levels, you can't win at their game, so do it NATURE'S WAY. Some closing thoughts on potassium:
1. A very small percentage of broadcast applied K will become exchangable during the growing season, or
even show up on a soil test. WHY?? Most commercial K is 100% water soluable on soil contact; therefore
making it is highly leachable (up to 75%) on sandy soil and most of the remaining K is fixed in the soil due to
unbalanced conditions (even the CI makes K unavailable). Most commercial K is broadcast applied in early
spring and can move out of the soil quickly with springs rains.
SAD TO SAY - A plants' need for K starts out in small amounts in a young growing plant. In corn, less
than 5% of total K needed, is used from germination to approximately 38 days after emergence (when tassel
begins to develop).
2. Most of the K that a plant will use is obtained by diffusion. That means the magnetic pull of the root draws
the K to itself as needed (K must be within % " of the root to be exchangeable). This is why direct seed
placement and foliar sprays can be very profitable at very low rates. Well floculated, aerated soil has a much
higher uptake of K by roots. Adequate moisture is required for K movement.
SODIUM
SODIUM THE OTHER TRUE ACID LIKE K!!!
Crop tissue analysis ranks sodium number 12 in amount, plus it is not essential to plant tissue. The
fertilizer empire promoters say, "sodium is of no consequence and they don't test sodium levels unless
specifically requested".
SO WHAT'S ALL THE FUSS ABOUT SODIUM (Na)... Excessive Na is an enemy to soil life, animal
and man. Someone says, "there is no Na listed on our fertilizer analysis, so this commercial fertilizer can't add
Na". The truth is "yes it can". K activates Na. Even though there is up to 25,000# of Na per acre in our soil it
is no problem, if you farm nature's way...But if you add large amounts of K you are asking for trouble, Na is
released into the soil solution and a number of harmful things can happen. (Every pound of K you add to your
soil can add up to 2% to 3 times of Na to the soil solution and soil nutrient complex).
1. Too much Na or MG can kill "soil life". EXAMPLE: desert land is sterile because of Na. An early method
to control Johnson grass was by killing the soil with the use of NaC!!! Sodium chloride is a natural killer, so is
0-0-60 if you use high rates (salt index 116.3).
2. Na produces water stress on a growing crop and actually has the pulling power to hold water from roots.
The soil can have adequate moisture and the crop actually starve for water.
3. Na has the strongest exchange capacity of any cation (1.82 times more pulling power than Ca). A small
amount of Na WILL TAKE CONTROL IN YOUR SOIL.
4. Any commercial fertilizer, with a salt index above 70 should be used with caution. Also, some man-made
products like anhydrous ammonia, or any ammoniated phosphates may show a low salt index but in the soil it
immediately creates a very alkaline (salty) reaction...A strong salty solvent solution is formed, which is
deadly to plant roots and soil life.
FIGHT SODIUM WITH NATURAL SULPHUR... Soluble Calcium, Humic Acids, and a good sugar
enzyme-biological program are all good methods to restore Na to a desired level. Most excessive Na levels
can be brought into balance within 1 to 2 years on most soil types.
5. To get a true picture of the Na balance in your soil ask for Na to be included in your cation base saturation
test, PLUS a water soluable test on Na can be very helpful. Na (salt) should NEVER exceed Sulphur on the
water soluable test.
HYDROGEN
HYDROGEN THE FREE-EXCHANGE NUTRIENT, it takes last place at the cation table.
HYDROGEN only takes an empty place at the table, if it is there! Soil that has no H (or no acid) has
nutrient limitations. Acid in soil solution is what allows most nutrients to become exchangeable to plant roots.
Most soil microbes thrive on these slightly acid conditions. So, watch your soil audit closely and monitor H
percentage base saturation. Proper soil pH will normally be 6.4 to 6.8.
OPTIMUM NATURAL LEVEL OF HYDROGEN is 6 to 10%. If the soil has over 15% H, it becomes too
acid (low pH is normal). If hydrogen is at zero, this tells you the other cations are out of balance, or over
saturation has occured with one or more cations. So, hydrogen should be watched very closely... Your "soil
life" depends on it.
NOTICE: This is why keeping a "proper balance" of nutrients is much more important than dumping
fertilizer by the ton. A few pounds of an active, over-saturated nutrient, like K, Na or MG affects the soil
much more than hundreds of pounds of calcium. Man's unnatural "true acids" and "acid-salt" fertilizers are
destroying our soil balance. Crop diseases, weeds and insects come our way as a warning that our soil is in
DANGER!
FACTS TO CONSIDER ABOUT SULPHUR.....
1. The sulphur/nitrogen balance is very important to a plants metabolism and energy level. In the
photosynthesis process sugars are combined with natural phosphorus, nitrogen, and sulphur to complete the
PROTEIN ENERGY/AMINO ACID COMPLEX. Their balance to each other is very vital, and over
saturation of N and deficiency of P or S results in poor quality crops. Actual plant tissue ratio levels (the N to
S ratio vary from 15 to 1 in young corn to 12 to 1 in silk stage). Soybeans will run fairly consistent. Balance
of sulphur in the sugar complex allows the plant to stand more stress from weather, disease, etc., EXAMPLE -
PLANTS HAVE A HIGHER FREEZING TEMPERATURE WITH PROPER S balance (more resistance to
frost in early spring).
2. Proper S levels build higher & better enzyme complex systems.
3. Did you know that proper S to N balance increases nitrogen efficiency by a plant (and so can pure corn
syrup)
4. Sulphur increases protein in grain & grasses, and controls nitrate build up (toxicities) within corn and forage
crops.
5. Sulphur can be used as a valuable tool to lower pH of alkaline soils (pH 7.2 & higher); therefore increasing
the availability of other key nutrients such as Phosphorus, Manganese, Boron, Copper, Zinc, & yes, Nitrogen!
It also, can be used to control Sodium, Magnesium, Calcium & salt build-up in problem soils. Yes, Sulphur
can be the "KEY NUTRIENT" to improve the physical condition of your soil.
Summary of the Five Cations
[CA, MG, K, NA, & H)
On any soil audit, or soil test the actual pounds of each nutrient available is not nearly as vital as the proper
balance between each other. Specifically watch their balance to Ca. Remember this important fact-high levels
of a nutrient on a soil test means nothing to a crop fighting a war against severe imbalances, which cause
nutrients to become fixed in the soil or even toxic to the plant. Therefore, watch your "balance of nutrients"
and use safe, common sense farm practices that promote balances and soil life.
POTASSIUM
(K) = Expressed in ppm x 2.4 = Ibs. available K/acre. Natural Balance levels of K vary according to CEC of
soil and graduate up. Rates above this can cause problems in the soil, if achieved thru commercial fertilizers.
Also, it is not economical to maintain a higher level!.....
MAGNESIUM
(MG) = Expressed in ppm x 2 = Ibs. available MG f acre. Excessive MG is found in many areas of the USA
because of recommended dolomitic limestone and fertilizer programs. If most soils were put on a good natural
biological program, they would not need any MG for years and years.....
The biggest lesson to learn on MG is how to bring the MG level down to a desirable level, and to do it
economically. Excellent practices would be turning under green manure crops, or applying a stabilized
biological product.
CALCIUM
(CA) = Expressed in ppm x 2 = Ibs. available CA/acre.
SPECIAL NOTE: If percent saturation of cations is out of balance, or toxic residues exits (aluminum oxide,
iron oxide, NA. or mg). The above available calcium may not be exchangeable to the plant! Remember,
nutrient balances are much more important to watch than nutrient levels.
SODIUM
(NA) = Expressed in ppm x 2 = Ibs. available NA/acre. Nearly all Universities and Independent soil testing
labs do not run test on sodium! Mr. Farmer, include NA in your soil analysis, and learn how to apply its
percent saturation into a well balanced cation balance. See earlier discussion of recommended levels of
sodium.
SULFUR
(S) = Expressed in ppm x 2 = Ibs. available S/acre. (1 lb. sulphur = 3lbs. sulphate). Adequate S levels in your
soil should be 10-18 ppm or 20-36 Ibs. S/acre. EXAMPLE - In a healthy 3 % OM soil 60# S would be a very
favorable N to S ratio (2 to 1).
1. Sulphur levels can be increased to 15-25 ppm on medium to high CEC soils, while purging of heavy metals.
More sulphur is needed to help remove undesirable metals mentioned earlier as MG.
Sulphur is a vital nutrient in our Natural BALANCE PROGRAM that has been neglected in modern
agriculture. A healthy, living soil supplies adequate sulphur to crops thru decomposition of crop residue,
manures and biological activity. The problem with modern agriculture is that fertilizer products like NH 3 82
%, potassium chloride, DAP 18-46-0, ammonium polyphosphates, 10-34-0 deplete humus levels, suppress
beneficial bacteria, and create nutrient imbalance. Then the soil does not release natural sulphate into the soil
solution for crop intake.
Let's Analyze Each “Cation Nutrient"
CALCIUM (Ca) The KING of all nutrients! Proper amounts of Ca (70% and up) makes soil workable and
well flocculated, plus it has a good air-water relationship. Air and water are two "free" elements of nature that
are very vital to plant growth and production. Any nutrient that aids in a good air-water relationship is a
priceless asset and Ca is the prince of nutrients in maintaining this vital balance.
Proper levels of nutrients, organic matter, water and air makes soil productive.
Calcium helps create a healthy environment for your plants plus it is the carrier (or trucker) of all other
nutrients to the plant. As Calcium content in the plant drops so can the protein, energy level and minerals of
the plant. Calcium stimulates growth of "soil life", including nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
Calcium is sweet alkaline earth, and the opposite of true acids (Na and K) and concentrated salts products like
ammonia nitrate, and potassium chloride (0-0-60). Any product that you use that removes calcium from the
soil can be EXPENSIVE AND DANGEROUS!!! The following products require Ca, or calcium carbonate
equivalent per ton applied - anhydrous ammonia-2960#, DAP-1550#, ammonium sulphate-2200#, etc; also, 0-
0-60 K removes 23# Ca per 100# K20 applied WHAT A WASTE---. Please don't waste our "Natural
Neutralizer" Ca by using harsh fertilizers.
Did you know the following facts about CALCIUM?
1. The lower the ph (Ca level) in the soil the greater the leaching loss of K and NH4.
2. The percentage of CEC saturated with Ca is more important than the total amount of Ca in the soil (high %
Ca can stop toxic aluminum, iron and Na conditions).
3. Studies showed decrease root development was not related to ph, but to low levels of exchangeable Ca and
high levels of aluminum.
4. Soil Scientist (world-wide), which are independent of petroleum-agronomy influences, normally agree to a
Ca-MG ratio of about 7 to 1 for an ideal soil.
5. REMEMBER Ca IS AS IMPORTANT to humans as plants.. Did you know calcium is only absorbed in the
small intestines with adequate vitamin D, but excessive fat, oxalates and in-organic phosphates inhibit calcium
absorbtion. Less than 15% of the Ca in homogenized milk is used because of the heating process which kills
beneficial enzymes and makes Ca unavailable. What a shame!!! Best sources of Ca is a raw dairy products,
calcium lactate, almonds, whole grain seed and dark green leafy vegetables. EAT RIGHT'N LIVE.
6. Study after study shows Ca at the optimum level will decrease disease in most plants. With lower percent
saturation of Ca combined with high levels of MG and K; showed more disease problems, such as seedling
rots, soft rot in stored tubers, and various root and stalk rots.
7. High content calcium hay, haylage, or forage crops play a vital role in healthy, vigorous animals.. Ca is
normally associated with healthy soil full of soil life.
Plant available calcium determines the uptake of all other nutrients into the plant.
Why does calcium make so much difference? How does it release other plant nutrients in the soil to give
you, in effect, a free bonus of fertilizer? Here are some of the important facts that the soil scientists have been
discovering.
Soils generally contain large amounts of aluminum and iron. In acid soils, aluminum and iron combine
chemically with soil phosphorus and tie it up in unavailable forms. But when you lime the acid soil, this tie-up
of phosphorus is prevented from taking place, and phosphorus already tied up is released slowly!
Calcium works the other way, too, cutting down excesses of some minerals. Acid soils containing too
much soluble manganese are as harmful as soils containing too little. Growth is slowed; some plants may even
be stunted. As the soil gets more acid, more of these minerals become soluble. Add calcium, and it ties up
enough of them so they are no longer toxic to plants.
When you use calcium on acid soils, you save potash, too. When plants can't get enough calcium, they take up
more potassium from the soil. But when there's plenty of calcium, plants will use more of these nutrients and
they'll not use excessive amounts of potassium. So, on a properly limed soil you can produce good crops and
not exhaust the soil potassium supply as rapidly.
Yellow alfalfa is yellow partly because it was not getting enough nitrogen. Plants get nitrogen from three
sources: From the air, from soil organic matter, and from fertilizers. And in every case, except with some
forms of fertilizer, the nitrogen must be worked on by soil microbes before plants can use it.
Using calcium on acid soil helps these microbes which take nitrogen from the air. The present theory of
how soil acidity effects microbes is that the lime neutralizes the acids produced by the microbes while they
are converting the nitrogen to available forms.
And this affects more than just nitrogen. Before your crops can use many of the plant nutrients in the organic
matter that is returned to the soil, that organic matter must pass through a whole assembly line of soil microbes.
But before this assembly line can operate, there must be enough calcium and magnesium for these
microbes to thrive and multiply.
Too, the microbes that make streptomycin, aureomycin, penicillin, and other antibiotics which kill or make
harmless the disease-producing microbes in the soil, must have calcium before they can really thrive and work.
So, calcium indirectly helps control plant diseases because it peps up these antibiotic-producing microbes.
Why is Available Calcium So Important?
Calcium is the most important fertilizer element
Is a direct nutrient to growing plants
Neutralizes soil acidity
Improves activity of favorable soil bacteria and the decomposition of organic materials
Promotes root development
Improves soil structure
Promotes nitrogen fixation by legumes
Improves the efficiency of fertilizers and chemicals
Increases water penetration and water holding capacity
MAGNESIUM
Its percent of base saturation is second place to calcium. But nature REQUIRES A MINIMUM of 6 to 1
ratio to calcium (example Ca 72% to MG 12%). Then MG will perform its duty in photosynthesis and protein
formations. Over-saturation will hinder these vital functions...
OPTIMUM Ca to MG ratio is 7 to 1, which promotes soil life and adequate nutrient levels for growing
crops. We recommend a percent base saturation of 10 to 12% MG. Little concern should be given to MG
deficient soil because of its high holding-pulling capacity. MG deficient soil would normally be on sandy soils
with less than 6% base saturation and loam-clay soils at less than 4%! Traditional fertilizer/agronomy
personnel keep calling for MG in the form of dolomitic lime, Sul-po-mg, MG sulfate, etc. WHAT IS THE
PROBLEM??? Let us get to the bottom of the problem and not treat the symptom of the problem as most
educated traditional personnel do!
What can create a MG deficienty? Potassium, Sodium, Boron, and an unbalanced pH with heavy metals
such as aluminum, and iron. We can see real quick their own recommended fertility program has created the
problem. First 0-0-60 KCL with a salt index of 116 applied to the soil is a "bomb of K and chlorine" that
unloads undesirable sodium. High sodium releases toxic levels of aluminum and iron, this toxic combination
causes a deficienty of MG, Ca, and K.
Second: They recommend DAP (18-46-0), or NH3 to add to the MG deficiency. THE AMMONIA bomb
is dropped and soil pH can jump to nearly 10 for a short period of time. Undesirable high levels of salts are
released and "soil life" is STOPPED! MG and Ca both can become deficient.
THE BAD NEWS OF MAGNESIUM
1. If MG is out of balance, it can become a toxic poison to soil, calcium and plant life.
2. Excess MG to Ca forms a poisonous condition in the nucleus of plant (man) cells, affecting its health and
the continuing life of the plant. Nature often strikes the plant with diseases (fungi) to destroy the plant and
simultaneously nature calls for other plants to take its place--commonly called WEEDS AND GRASSES!!
3. With excess MG or Na you are on your way to producing concrete out of your soil. It resists water, it has
less air (oxygen), less soil life, more weeds (acid soil), more insects (less plant sugar), and more plant
diseases (soil acid). Weeds and grasses are nature’s soil indicator of danger... You have an imbalance in the
soil. You need a new fertilizer program, not HERBICIDES, INSECTICIDES, FUNGICIDES OR SUICIDE.
4. Excess MG means deficiency of N, P, K, and Ca. Yes, the big four go deficient! Only MG with combination
of Na, AI, and iron can make concrete out of soil, it destroys the air-water ratio necessary for soil life. SOIL
EFFICIENCY IS DESTROYED. These MG-AL-NA combinations are toxic to animals too. MG takes the
place of Ca in plant cells which produce a poor quality crop.
5. Excess MG to Ca permits crop residues to decay into toxic alcohol, which kills or suppress bacteria, it then
forms a formaldehyde, which stops crop residue decay (this means disease carry over).
6. Excess MG will not allow CA and K to move into plant cells (plant absorbtion is slowed down
considerably).
7. Excess MG to Ca causes your soil to release soil nitrogen back to the atmosphere (these are in the form of
gaseous nitrogen oxides). WHAT A WASTE.
POTASH
It makes up only 2-3% of the CEC, but potash is the #1 dry fertilizer sold to AMERICAN farmers! Why??
Has the American farmers been sold excessive K? Yes, and in a form undesirable to our soil. Who has made
the rules of manditory nutrient required to produce 150bu corn, 45bu soybeans, 60 wheat, etc.? Guidelines
and recommendations come from the National Fertilizer Institute, thru Landgrant Universities, Cooperating Co-
ops, etc.
The experts, who tell us, our crops require "specific" poundage of NPK forgot to tell us there are other
sources, than to purchase NPK from the local fertilizer dealer.
EXAMPLE: To raise 150bu corn (grain) it removes 135# N, 53# P, 40# K. They forgot to tell us that our
healthy silt loam soil can have a K reserve of over 35.000# (300 to 400 available K in balance soil). Plus
earthworms can add K to your soil fast, earthworm castings have 11 times more K than soil particles and
organic residues that run through them. WHAT A WASTE OF MONEY TO BUY UN-NEEDED 0-0-60. K is
a necessary nutrient which aids in photosynthesis, protein formations. and size n' quality of fruit. K is very
important (20,000 to 35.000# per acre.)
The #1 potash product is potassium chloride (KCL) or muriate of potash. Muriate of potash can be red or
white. Most kalium is white muriate of potash. Muriate is a salt of hydrochloric acid. Farmers on natural-
organic programs should never use killers of "soil life". Chemically K reacts in soil to release sodium (salt).
High usage of KCL adds too much NA, which prunes plant roots and will not allow water and nutrients to flow
freely to the plants. BEWARE it is approximately 47% chlorine and it can become a KILLER TO SOIL LIFE,
animals and people. It is quickly leached from the soil, or is locked up in fixed non-exchangeable K with less
than 20% actually used by the crops in many soil conditions.
MURIATE OF POTASH 0-0-60 K,20 is actually only (approx.) 51.7 % K and 47% Chlorine. Chlorine is
a gas that kill life! Research indicates Chlorine is a wild cat element and is seldom broken down, but continues
to be tax c the soil and water.
LET'S LOOK AT CHLORINE - KCL or Potassium chloride, or more commonly called muriate of potash
is 47% chlorine. Therefore, a 100# (actual K) application will add 42 to 45 ppm of chlorine to your soil,
which is about 12 times the chlorine it takes to sterilize water!
Potassium acts like Sodium
K acts like Na (two true acids). They are fast acting, and there is no need of trying to build a reserve of K
through commercial fertilizers. It will brake you financially, so don't play their game of recommended soil
nutrient levels, you can't win at their game, so do it NATURE'S WAY. Some closing thoughts on potassium:
1. A very small percentage of broadcast applied K will become exchangable during the growing season, or
even show up on a soil test. WHY?? Most commercial K is 100% water soluable on soil contact; therefore
making it is highly leachable (up to 75%) on sandy soil and most of the remaining K is fixed in the soil due to
unbalanced conditions (even the CI makes K unavailable). Most commercial K is broadcast applied in early
spring and can move out of the soil quickly with springs rains.
SAD TO SAY - A plants' need for K starts out in small amounts in a young growing plant. In corn, less
than 5% of total K needed, is used from germination to approximately 38 days after emergence (when tassel
begins to develop).
2. Most of the K that a plant will use is obtained by diffusion. That means the magnetic pull of the root draws
the K to itself as needed (K must be within % " of the root to be exchangeable). This is why direct seed
placement and foliar sprays can be very profitable at very low rates. Well floculated, aerated soil has a much
higher uptake of K by roots. Adequate moisture is required for K movement.
SODIUM
SODIUM THE OTHER TRUE ACID LIKE K!!!
Crop tissue analysis ranks sodium number 12 in amount, plus it is not essential to plant tissue. The
fertilizer empire promoters say, "sodium is of no consequence and they don't test sodium levels unless
specifically requested".
SO WHAT'S ALL THE FUSS ABOUT SODIUM (Na)... Excessive Na is an enemy to soil life, animal
and man. Someone says, "there is no Na listed on our fertilizer analysis, so this commercial fertilizer can't add
Na". The truth is "yes it can". K activates Na. Even though there is up to 25,000# of Na per acre in our soil it
is no problem, if you farm nature's way...But if you add large amounts of K you are asking for trouble, Na is
released into the soil solution and a number of harmful things can happen. (Every pound of K you add to your
soil can add up to 2% to 3 times of Na to the soil solution and soil nutrient complex).
1. Too much Na or MG can kill "soil life". EXAMPLE: desert land is sterile because of Na. An early method
to control Johnson grass was by killing the soil with the use of NaC!!! Sodium chloride is a natural killer, so is
0-0-60 if you use high rates (salt index 116.3).
2. Na produces water stress on a growing crop and actually has the pulling power to hold water from roots.
The soil can have adequate moisture and the crop actually starve for water.
3. Na has the strongest exchange capacity of any cation (1.82 times more pulling power than Ca). A small
amount of Na WILL TAKE CONTROL IN YOUR SOIL.
4. Any commercial fertilizer, with a salt index above 70 should be used with caution. Also, some man-made
products like anhydrous ammonia, or any ammoniated phosphates may show a low salt index but in the soil it
immediately creates a very alkaline (salty) reaction...A strong salty solvent solution is formed, which is
deadly to plant roots and soil life.
FIGHT SODIUM WITH NATURAL SULPHUR... Soluble Calcium, Humic Acids, and a good sugar
enzyme-biological program are all good methods to restore Na to a desired level. Most excessive Na levels
can be brought into balance within 1 to 2 years on most soil types.
5. To get a true picture of the Na balance in your soil ask for Na to be included in your cation base saturation
test, PLUS a water soluable test on Na can be very helpful. Na (salt) should NEVER exceed Sulphur on the
water soluable test.
HYDROGEN
HYDROGEN THE FREE-EXCHANGE NUTRIENT, it takes last place at the cation table.
HYDROGEN only takes an empty place at the table, if it is there! Soil that has no H (or no acid) has
nutrient limitations. Acid in soil solution is what allows most nutrients to become exchangeable to plant roots.
Most soil microbes thrive on these slightly acid conditions. So, watch your soil audit closely and monitor H
percentage base saturation. Proper soil pH will normally be 6.4 to 6.8.
OPTIMUM NATURAL LEVEL OF HYDROGEN is 6 to 10%. If the soil has over 15% H, it becomes too
acid (low pH is normal). If hydrogen is at zero, this tells you the other cations are out of balance, or over
saturation has occured with one or more cations. So, hydrogen should be watched very closely... Your "soil
life" depends on it.
NOTICE: This is why keeping a "proper balance" of nutrients is much more important than dumping
fertilizer by the ton. A few pounds of an active, over-saturated nutrient, like K, Na or MG affects the soil
much more than hundreds of pounds of calcium. Man's unnatural "true acids" and "acid-salt" fertilizers are
destroying our soil balance. Crop diseases, weeds and insects come our way as a warning that our soil is in
DANGER!
FACTS TO CONSIDER ABOUT SULPHUR.....
1. The sulphur/nitrogen balance is very important to a plants metabolism and energy level. In the
photosynthesis process sugars are combined with natural phosphorus, nitrogen, and sulphur to complete the
PROTEIN ENERGY/AMINO ACID COMPLEX. Their balance to each other is very vital, and over
saturation of N and deficiency of P or S results in poor quality crops. Actual plant tissue ratio levels (the N to
S ratio vary from 15 to 1 in young corn to 12 to 1 in silk stage). Soybeans will run fairly consistent. Balance
of sulphur in the sugar complex allows the plant to stand more stress from weather, disease, etc., EXAMPLE -
PLANTS HAVE A HIGHER FREEZING TEMPERATURE WITH PROPER S balance (more resistance to
frost in early spring).
2. Proper S levels build higher & better enzyme complex systems.
3. Did you know that proper S to N balance increases nitrogen efficiency by a plant (and so can pure corn
syrup)
4. Sulphur increases protein in grain & grasses, and controls nitrate build up (toxicities) within corn and forage
crops.
5. Sulphur can be used as a valuable tool to lower pH of alkaline soils (pH 7.2 & higher); therefore increasing
the availability of other key nutrients such as Phosphorus, Manganese, Boron, Copper, Zinc, & yes, Nitrogen!
It also, can be used to control Sodium, Magnesium, Calcium & salt build-up in problem soils. Yes, Sulphur
can be the "KEY NUTRIENT" to improve the physical condition of your soil.
Summary of the Five Cations
[CA, MG, K, NA, & H)
On any soil audit, or soil test the actual pounds of each nutrient available is not nearly as vital as the proper
balance between each other. Specifically watch their balance to Ca. Remember this important fact-high levels
of a nutrient on a soil test means nothing to a crop fighting a war against severe imbalances, which cause
nutrients to become fixed in the soil or even toxic to the plant. Therefore, watch your "balance of nutrients"
and use safe, common sense farm practices that promote balances and soil life.
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