A p p ly t h e 1 0 0 % S o lu b l e C a l c i u m a n d S u l f u r S o i l A m e n d m e n t Reduce the Harmful Effects of Sodium Calcium Thiosulfate 0-0-0-10S-6Ca LIQUID FERTILIZER CaTs vs. Gypsum Field Study In a recent field study comparing the performance of two soil amendments, CaTs outperformed solution grade gypsum in reclaiming salt-affected soil and increasing nutrient availability.
More Efficient than Gypsum Calcium Thiosulfate Liquid Soil Amendment CaTs is a clear, liquid soil amendment containing calcium and sulfur that reduces the harmful effects of salts, such as sodium, which are often present in low rainfall areas of the western United States. CaTs effectively conditions soils by loosening soil colloids, and increasing water infiltration. CaTs is a readily available source of calcium because it s 100% soluble. The soluble calcium in CaTs can be applied at any time during the growing season through either drip or sprinkler irrigation systems. CaTs works quickly, displacing sodium from soil exchange sites. The thiosulfate ion (S 2 O 3 ) in CaTs will slowly oxidize for two to three weeks, reacting with free lime in the soil to release additional calcium for even greater sodium removal. Comparison of CaTs and Gypsum CATEGORY CaTs GYPSUM Chemistry Profile Calcium and Thiosulfate. Calcium and Sulfate. Soil Reaction Water Solubility Nutrient Management Application Methods Improves water infiltration. Thiosulfates react with carbonates in the soil to release more calcium. 100% soluble calcium goes to work immediately. Greater control of calcium applications. Precision placement in the drip zone & over the top of beds for anti-crusting. Can be injected through most irrigation systems, surface applied or banded. No need for additional equipment. Low application costs. Improves water infiltration. Low solubility. It takes approximately 60 gallons of water to solubilize one pound of gypsum. Hard to control, with inconsistent release of calcium with each watering. Broadcasting gypsum requires additional equipment: spreader, loader, tractor and labor. Injecting solution grade gypsum requires a solution tank, silo and additional concrete pads.
PRE CaTs APPLICATION Excess salts reduce plant growth, vigor and yield by hardening the topsoil and preventing water from entering the root zone. Salts can cause ion-specific imbalances in the soil. APPLYING CaTs Once CaTs is applied, the 100% soluble calcium begins to displace sodium from the root zone while the soil colloids flocculate together, increasing the pore volume of the soil. POST APPLICATION Water and nutrients can now penetrate the soil and move directly into the root zone for quick uptake and improved plant health. Thiosulfate ions remain in the soil, reacting with free lime to release additional calcium for greater sodium removal.
CaTs vs. Gypsum Field Study A field study comparing the effects of two soil amendments CaTs and solution grade gypsum was conducted by Holden Research and Consulting to measure the products respective abilities to reclaim salt-affected soil. The reclamation of any salt-affected soil depends upon the amount of water that can be applied to move salts down below the root zone. The trials were established on three, oneacre test plots in a Ventura County, California citrus grove during a 10-week period. The irrigation water contained high levels of sodium and magnesium salts as well as high levels of chloride. TREATMENT 1: One gallon of CaTs per week was applied through the irrigation water for 10 weeks. Total CaTs applied was 10 gallons. TREATMENT 2: A total of 360 pounds of solution grade gypsum was applied in samples of 36 pounds per week dissolved in irrigation water using a gypsum injector machine for ten weeks TREATMENT 3: The control sample. No calcium was added during the 10-week test period. This represents the zero baseline in the test results. CaTs Contains More Soluble Calcium than Gypsum Comparing Actual Soluble Calcium in CaTs vs. Gypsum Gypsum contains 23% calcium by weight, but only about 0.25% is readily soluble, depending on the amount of water available. Of the 360 pounds of gypsum applied over a 10 week period, only a small percentage of calcium was readily available with the amount of water applied. The calcium in CaTs is 100% soluble, and displaces sodium as soon as it is applied to the soil. PERCENT 100 80 60 40 20 0 23% 6%.25% 100%.005% 6% %Calcium %Soluble Soluble Ca Gypsum CaTs
CaTs Displaced More Salt than Gypsum CaTs contains 75% less salt than gypsum. With less salt and 100% solubility, CaTs is more efficient at displacing sodium than gypsum. The sodium absorption ratio (SAR) is the amount of sodium present compared to the amount of calcium and magnesium in the soil. CaTs reduced the SAR by 28% below the control sample, while gypsum slightly increased the SAR. The increase in SAR by gypsum is likely due to insufficient water applications to move salts down the soil profile. Both treatments received the same amount of water during applications. PERCENT CHANGE Changes in Soil Analysis After 10 Weekly Applications of CaTs and Gypsum 20 15 10 5 0-5 -10-15 -20-25 -30 5.5% 15.3% CECCa Gypsum CaTs 10.5% -28% SAR CECCa Cation Exchange Capacity Calcium SAR Sodium Absorption Ratio CaTs Increases Nutrient Availability in the Soil In the gypsum treatment, soil levels of potassium decreased slightly between weeks 4 and 10. This is most likely due to the fact that the plant was taking up potassium. However, soluble potassium increased slightly in the CaTs treatment during the same time-frame. CaTs, having more soluble calcium, releases more potassium from clay particles, increasing availability for the crop. The amount of soluble calcium increased dramatically in the CaTs treatment, compared to the gypsum treatment. Calcium can release more magnesium from clay particles just as it does other nutrients. In this case, high levels of magnesium were already present in the soil and irrigation water. PERCENT CHANGE Changes in Soil Analysis: Potassium, Calcium & Magnesium
Technical Data CaTs Handling and Application 0-0-0-10S-6Ca PLANT NUTRIENT CONTENT WEIGHT % Calcium (Ca) 6 Total Sulfur (S) 10 TYPICAL PROPERTIES Specific Gravity ph See the CaTs Application Guide for handling instructions, crop precautions, rate recommendations by crop and timing of applications. See the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for safety and first aid information. Both are available at cropvitality.com Ask our Crop Vitality Specialists about the full range of Crop Vitality Products: 1.25 6.5-8.0 Appearance Colorless Salt-Out Temperature 32 F FORMULATION AND APPLICATION FACTORS, 68 F Density: pounds per gallon 10.4 Volume: gallons per ton 192 Pounds of Calcium per gallon Pounds of Sulfur per gallon 0.63 1.0 The manufacturing process of CaTs is patent protected. Warranty and Limitation of Damages Seller s guarantee shall be limited to the terms in the Application Guide, and subject thereto, the buyer assumes any risk to person or property arising out of use or handling and accepts the product on these conditions. Contact Information Tessenderlo Kerley, Inc. 2255 North 44th Street, Suite 300 Phoenix, AZ 85008 Telephone: 602-889-8300 Toll-Free: 800-525-2803 email: cats@cropvitality.com cropvitality.com 2003, 2010, 2013, 2015 Tessenderlo Kerley, Inc. All rights reserved. CaTs is a registered trademark of Tessenderlo Kerley, Inc. Revised: 06/2015