CHAPTER IX. 



LIME AND MISCELLANEOUS FERTILIZERS 



246. Calcium an Essential Element of Plant Food. 



Calcium is present in the ash of all plants, and is 

 usually more abundant in soils than phosphorus or 

 potassium. It takes an essential 

 part in plant growth, and when- 

 ever withheld growth is checked. 

 The effect of withholding cal- 

 cium is shown in the illustration 

 (Fig. 33), which gives the total 

 growth made by an oat plant 

 under such a condition. 



Plants grown on soils deficient 

 in calcium compounds, lack hard- 

 iness. They are not so able to 

 withstand drought or unfavorable 

 climatic conditions, as plants 

 grown on soils well supplied with 

 this element. Calcium does not 

 accumulate in the seeds of plants, 

 but is present mainly in the leaves 

 and stems where it takes an im- 



Oat pla,!t S grown with- P Ortallt P art in the Production 



out calcium. of new tissue. The term lime, 



used in connection with crops and soils refers to their 

 content of calcium oxid. 



