Foliar feeding with specific reference to calcium and its role in plant nutrition

Foliar feeding of plants has continued to gain attention as new foliar nutrient technology is reaching the marketplace. This interest in foliar feeding has been largely fueled due to the rapid response achieved when applying the correct nutrient to the plant The choice of the foliar feed used largely determines the success rate of the foliar feed institutional research as well as field trials has clearly demonstrated the advantages of some of this new technology. The purpose of this paper is to collate information relating to the role and function of calcium, problems associated with this element and to present a remedy to the existing problems with special emphasis on the Poly Aldonate group of chelated elements commercially know as the Max-Range. These chelates are based on aldose derivatives which have been successfully used to enhance nutrient absorption in plants. Maintaining an optimum level of calcium in the plant enhances disease resistance and deserves further attention.