CALCIUM NITRATE – YARA VS HAIFA VS AMERICAL/PURECAL

CALCIUM NITRATE – YARA VS HAIFA VS AMERICAL/PURECAL

Calcium is an important micro element that enhances yield quality and prolongs the shelf life of various crops.  With Calcium being a relatively immobile element, getting the correct levels of Calcium to your crop is a challenge best overcome by consistently providing it throughout the growing cycle.  It can make the difference between a banger harvest that boosts your reputation as a purveyor of quality produce and the inverse.  

Yara and Haifa are globally recognized leaders due to their large volume and good brand names.  Yet, that does not necessarily mean that they are equal in quality or price when it comes to Calcium Nitrate.  Also, volume is not the only story here and Purecal/Americal is a specialty product that promises superior results.   

Some of the best quality water soluble products come from Haifa.  Any product in a Haifa bag is known to be AAA+.  For example, growers ask specifically for their Haifa Potassium Sulfate as it is known to be the most soluble, cleanest, and best experience for the grower as well as the crops.

When it comes to Calcium Nitrate there is some confusion due to the various brands in the market and resellers that are repackaging the product.  Firstly, some growers believe that they cannot trust any brand other than the one they know.  When offering Yara, Haifa, Purecal/Americal, and others, it’s common to find a grower that will not switch between these products for fear of the unknown.  They believe a different provider means different contents and potentially a less comprehensive quality control process.  Additionally, there are companies re-bagging Calcium Nitrate with their own branding and calling it something else such as BASE, Part A, Part B, Calcium Plus, CORE or some other similar name.  Sometimes they are selling the exact same calcium nitrate and other times they are adding minimal or insignificant quantities of micros in an attempt to “Differentiate” the product.  These brands are praying on the customers lack of knowledge of inorganic chemistry to take what should be a very low cost commodity and change massive windfall profits.

Yes, it’s true that there are low quality options, low solubility options, and impure options, but these standout brand names are not in those categories.  Regarding the contents and quality of these products, they are essentially the same with some variation.  If you find other products with elemental content that is close to what you see on these labels you are most likely using repurposed products being resold.  A 50-Pound bag of calcium nitrate should cost between $25.00 and $35.00 depending on volume, location, and international/domestic shipping rates.

Both YaraLiva Calcinit Calcium Nitrate and Haifa Calcium Nitrate Greenhouse Grade have an NPK of 15.5-0-0 and 19% Calcium (Ca).  They are both chlorine and sodium free and are comprised of 100% nitric acid and ammonium calcium salt.  For Yara, 14.5% of the product is Nitrate Nitrogen and 1.0% is Ammoniacal Nitrogen.  For Haifa, 14.4% of the product is Nitrate Nitrogen and 1.1% is Ammoniacal Nitrogen.  These differences are nominal and most likely result from the fertilizer labeling requirements more than differences in the product.

From our hydration and crystallization tests it is clear Haifa is cleaner, more soluble, and contains less impurities.  We cannot guarantee every bag will have the same results but we repeatedly lab tested and trialed product and saw cleaner solution, reduced precipitation (fallout), and when crystalized a larger crystal was produced which is indicative of less impurities. 

Haifa has a clear complexion and resembles water even at 2-pounds per gallon.  Yara on the other hand is milky white, has more visible impurities in the bag when dry and in liquid when liquified, and had increased fallout.  

At this time both come in 50-pound bags and Haifa is approximately 10-20% more cost effective.  There were supply issues with Haifa Calcium Nitrate, but we are now importing it directly from overseas without issue and should have reliable supply for the foreseeable future.

The third Calcium Nitrate option is Purecal/Americal which is the only American mined Calcium Nitrate we are aware of.  This product is considered a boutique specialty product since it is unique and distinct in class.  It has an NPK of 13-0-0 and 18% Calcium (Ca).  It is an ammonia-free crystalline complex of 100% calcium nitrate which is in the trihydrate form [Ca(NO3)2*3H2O] containing not more than 25% water of hydration.  It is chlorine and sodium free.  It is a greenhouse grade plant nutrient that dissolves immediately into a water-white solution and leaves no residue.

Purecal/Americal, like the Haifa product, is extremely clean and pure.  There is minimal if anything in the bottom of the tank when dissolved and it’s easy to work with whether putting it through drip irrigation lines that are subject to clogging or using it for foliar applications.

In summary, Yara is the most widely available and highest volume version of calcium nitrate.  Haifa is the best price point and is competitive with Purecal/Americal in solubility and purity.  Purecal/Americal is a specialty product that is priced similar to Yara but contains no ammonia and has a lower Nitrogen (N) level (13% compared with 15.5%) that is helpful for growers looking to lower Nitrogen levels in order to push the plants generativity in production.  

Please note: For all brands of calcium nitrate can be mixed with other compatible water-soluble fertilizers except those containing phosphorus in concentrate form.  Always perform a jar test to ensure compatibility prior to use or after changing concentrations.  For best results, ensure 6.0 pH or less when dissolving calcium nitrate into liquid.

Click here to find out more information about YARA Calcinit, YARA Tropicote, Haifa Calcium Nitrate, and Americal Calcium Nitrate