How to use calcium nitrate for tomato plants
Gbenga, a tomato farmer complained to an agronomist about the diseases and pests on his tomato plants. The agronomist reviewed Gbenga’s fertilisation schedule on his farm and he recommended that Gbenga should use calcium nitrate tomatoes. Surprisingly, Gbenga noticed that after applying calcium nitrate fertiliser to his farm, the intensity of diseases and pests on his tomato plants reduced and he achieved a higher yield.
Why use calcium nitrate for tomato plants
Calcium nitrate fertiliser or its alternative calmag fertiliser is one of the most important fertilisers used in tomato farming. Though, a lot of farmers in Nigeria do not make use of this wonderful fertiliser. It can go a long way in significantly increasing the yield of tomato plants.
Calcium nitrate fertiliser when applied to tomato plants can reduce or even eradicate the incidences of tomato blossom end rot disease. Tomato end rot disease is an infection that affects tomato fruits. This infection often makes the tomato fruits unmarketable.
Tomatoes affected with blossom end rot disease appear with a brown injury like surface. It should be noted that calcium nitrate fertiliser will not cure tomato blossom end rot disease caused by poor or irregular irrigation.
Calcium nitrate fertiliser will not work well for the tomato plants if there is no adequate water for the fertiliser to dissolve and go through the plant tissues.
Calcium nitrate fertiliser also strengthens the cells of tomato plants and the tomato fruits. Tomato plants well fed with calcium have thickened leaves, stems and fruits. This makes it tougher for pests and diseases to affect the tomato plants.
During flowering and fruiting, calcium nitrate fertiliser can go a long way in increasing the number of flowers and number of fruits. It can also help in making tomato fruits appear bigger and bulkier.
The calcium in calcium nitrate enables all other nutrients the tomato plant needs to circulate around the tomato plants. Calcium is called the trucker of all nutrients. Without adequate calcium in a plant, other nutrients will not be well used by the plant.
Calcium nitrate fertiliser or its alternative calmag can be used for the prevention of some diseases. Some research have shown that calcium nitrate can prevent or alleviate the incidences of diseases like bacterial wilt, blight, blossom end rot and other fungal and bacterial diseases. Some insects also avoid plants well fed with calcium and other nutrients.
How to use calcium nitrate for tomato plants
Calcium nitrate fertiliser can be applied to tomato plants through soil or through the leaves as explained below:
Soil application
Calcium nitrate fertiliser can be applied to tomato plants through top dressing or side dressing on the soil. Granule calcium nitrate can be applied by hand to the sides of tomato plants. It can also be buried just few centimeters away from the tomato plant.
Calcium nitrate fertiliser can also be broadcast on the soil, though this is not cost effective.
This type of fertiliser can also be passed to the roots of tomato plants by drip irrigation using a venture injector or a dosing pump. This process is called fertigation.
Foliar application
Calcium nitrate can also be applied to the leaves and stems of tomato plants through sprayers like a motorized sprayer or a knapsack sprayer. This is called foliar application.
Plants use nutrients faster when applied through the leaves, though there is a limitation on the quantity of fertiliser to apply through the leaves. The leaves can get burnt if the quantity of fertiliser applied is excessive.
Calcium nitrate applied on tomato plants through the leaves can help in resolving diseases and disorder issues quickly.
Calcium nitrate is a type of fertiliser that is very beneficial to tomato plants. We strongly advise you use this wonderful fertiliser for your tomato farming venture.
Should you need calcium nitrate for your tomato plants, you can contact us through sales@veggiegrow.ng or call us on 08025141924.
