Calcium Concentration in the Leaf Tissue of Tall Fescue (Festuca arundinacea) after the Application of QUELANT^®-Ca

Dr. T. L. Watschke and J. A. Borger at Penn State, 1999

Materials and methods

This study was conducted with tall fescue plants harvested from the field and planted in pots in the greenhouse. The soil contained 11.0 meq of calcium/100 gm. QUELANT^®-Ca at the rate of 2 oz/1000 sq. ft. was applied on February 18, February 27, March 4, and March 11.  Tissue samples were collected the next day after treatment application and triple rinsed with distilled water to remove any remaining residue off from the surface of the leaves. Two additional tissue samples were taken on April 2 and April 16 (6 and 8 weeks after the first QUELANT^®-Ca application). Calcium levels within the tissue as well as the levels of other elements were determined from the tissue samples.

Results and Conclusions

The calcium levels increased over time for QUELANT^®-Ca treated plants as well as for untreated plants due to the high calcium level in the soil and soil moisture. However, QUELANT^®-Ca treated turfgrass showed a definite trend for higher calcium concentrations even when measured on April 16, more than 4 weeks after the last QUELANT^®-Ca application.  These results indicate that QUELANT^®-Ca could be used to correct a known calcium deficiency by providing calcium directly to the plant or to enhance calcium concentrations in the tissue throughout the growing season regardless of amounts of calcium in the soil or other adverse conditions. The tissue concentrations of other elements such P, K, Fe, Al, and Zn were also enhanced by the applications of QUELANT^®-Ca although this product does not contain any of these minerals.