Alberta’s soil health has experienced many changes throughout recent year’s growing seasons. Between droughts, turbulent winds, and freeze-thaw cycles from extreme weather, prairie farmers have had to adapt to continuously evolving conditions. If your soil is suffering from issues like compaction and acidity, lime-like soil additives like cement kiln dust may help. Read on to learn more about this versatile soil amendment and why it may benefit your farmland during this upcoming planting cycle with Norstar Agriculture.
What is Cement Kiln Dust (CKD)?
Cement Kiln Dust is a byproduct of the cement manufacturing process. Various byproducts are created when cement is passed through rotary kilns with calcium carbonate and various minerals. One of these byproducts is cement kiln dust, a fine, alkaline powdery dust with soil-enhancing properties similar to agricultural lime.
At Norstar Agriculture, we offer our comprehensive liming solution, NOR-Cal, featuring cement kiln dust, calcium, and other essential nutrients. Below are five common indicators of imbalanced soil that may benefit from NOR-Cal.
Reason #1: Calcium Levels Below 60%
Calcium is a necessary macronutrient for healthy crops. It is the main component of calcium pectate, which encourages vegetative growth and is a significant component of plant cell wall development. If your field’s soil levels are below 60%, crop quality and yield may suffer.
Many common fertilizers lack calcium, and can even deplete overall calcium levels if they are ammonia-based, a process known as calcium leaching. These fertilizers release nitrogen and acidifying hydrogen ions during this process. These ions contribute to low calcium levels by interacting with calcium molecules, making them water-soluble and washing them away.
Reason #2: Low pH Levels
Generally, a healthy pH level for crops in Alberta is around the 6.0 – 7.5 range. If your soil tests as lower, it may be too acidic for healthy germination and growth. Acidic soil can deplete essential nutrients vital for crop development, such as magnesium, phosphorus, and calcium. As a result, when soil becomes acidic, you may notice crops with fewer budding flowers or leaves, slower root and stem growth, and an overall less vibrant appearance.
Cement kiln dust helps neutralize overly acidic soil and acts similarly to lime products, reacting with acidic hydrogen ions to form stable water molecules.
Reason #3: Low Yields
Harvesting fewer usable crops is a potential indicator of soil inequalities. You may also notice non-productive spots in your fields, leading to these lower-than-average yields.
Adding cement kiln dust to your fields can reintroduce more essential nutrients, leading to higher crop yields every harvest.
Reason #4: Abundance of Kochia Weed
Koshia is an invasive weed commonly found in North America. These weeds, also known as burning bush and Mexican fireweed, can be a frustrating pest for any farmer. Koshia thrives in various conditions, germinating in soil within the pH range of 2-12. These weeds can be detrimental to crops, taking up space and competing for resources like water. Farmers can lose entire acres of tillable farmland to Koshia.
Cement kiln dust can help keep Kochia weeds at bay, creating unfavourable conditions for the weed to thrive. The average Kochia plant can produce and distribute over 15,000 seeds. Farmers can utilize CKD to combat Koshia, as its high salt content makes it difficult for Kochia seedlings to germinate.
Reason #5: Compaction Issues
Consistently overcompacted soil leads to competition for resources such as water and fertilizer. When soil is over-compacted, soil molecules are packed tightly together, making it more difficult for crops to grow overall. Like agricultural lime, cement kiln dust can help combat tightly compacted soil by attaching its particles to the soil and effectively breaking it up.
Got CKD?
If you notice one or more of these symptoms in your fields, look no further than Norstar Agriculture for superior soil testing. We offer concrete agronomy solutions for soil health to help farmers’ crops and land thrive. Improving your soil health is a comprehensive process, starting before the next growing cycle. Book your soil testing with us today and discover field productivity like never before.
