`MAGNESIUM
ACRES/REAMS: The plant can take all the magnesium it needs from the air. For agricultural purposes, dolomite is a No-No. It contains 32 to 38% magnesium, and it will release nitrogen into the air pound for pound.
ACRES/REAMS: This brings us to the question of dolomites. Dolomite is a calcium oxide and magnesium oxide containing approximately 35% magnesium oxide. One of the fastest ways in the world to go out of the business of farming is to add dolomite to your soil. Never, never, never add dolomite or dolomite limestone to your soil under any circumstances.
ACRES/REAMS: Student: Another thing we're wondering about is the magnesium test. We never did that. Reams: You don't need to bother about that. Take care of your phosphate and your calcium. God will put the magnesium in. Forget about magnesium and don't ever add any. All this malarkey about magnesium is put out by the fertilizer company so they can sell you more nitrogen. Don't ever add more magnesium unless you want to burn up the nitrogen you have already applied. There are better ways of doing it.
ACRES/REAMS: Another situation represents the other extreme, that is, when the pH is around 8.0, and you are recording high ERGS readings. In this particular case a pH reading of 8.0 tells us there is plenty of lime, yet the soil analysis may read zero on calcium. This situation could be caused by magnesium or, sometimes, potassium chloride. To get the ERGS level down and back into line, we again add lime. If lime is added, the pH will often drop. This is because the magnesium is converted to a form that no longer enters into the reactions of the soil. If chlorine is causing the condition and lime is added, the chlorine will be released into the air by oxidation.
ADVANCED AG: Skow: Reams tries to keep magnesium in an insoluble form so it cannot drive out the nitrogen.
ADVANCED AG: [Excessive] magnesium is the most expensive thing to fix.
ADVANCED AG: Spray sulfuric acid to fix magnesium problems.
ADVANCED AG: Legumes are better in magnesium soils, however don't add magnesium to legumes.
ADVANCED AG: Skow: Close mowing peas (legumes) in an orchard with dolomitic soil will put a glossy sheen on the leaves by releasing magnesium to the air.
AG LECTURES: You who can get basic slag from the iron mills, it is an excellent product, even though they may use dolomite. It's perfectly alright to use it, because the heat of the red hot iron burns the magnesium out of it. Or you can buy burnt lime because anytime you burn lime you burn the magnesium out of it. So you have nothing to fear in that.
AG LECTURES: In dolomite you have your magnesium and you have your calcium. Those 2 things are together, but they are separate. They are not bonded together.
ANATOMY: Magnesium is often overused in present day agriculture. There are many publications that profess magnesium deficiency, substantiated by the fact that the symptoms disappear after magnesium application. Unfortunately this is the same logic used to justify all the accepted fertilization and pest control practices that have resulted in the fiasco of modern agriculture.
ANATOMY: Magnesium deficiency causes whitish strips along the veins and often a purplish color on the underside of the lower leaves. This symptom is, loosely speaking, a magnesium deficiency. Technically, there is a nitrogen toxicity here, and magnesium is the antidote for pulling out the nitrogen by forming magnesium nitrate that is then flushed out of the plant, making the symptoms disappear.
ANATOMY: The chlorine that does not become muriatic acid combines with calcium, magnesium, and especially sodium to form chloride salts that are also detrimental in the soil, as they cause dehydration, adverse pH changes, and salinization.
ANDERSEN SCIENCE: Reams used calcium carbonate, never dolomite. He observed that sufficient magnesium would be available if he balanced the calcium, phosphate, and microorganisms and then applied fertilizer quantities of Sul-Po-Mag.
ANDERSEN SCIENCE: Adding high-calcium lime, one in which the calcium carbonate component in extremely dominant to a high-magnesium soil might actually lower the pH. This can also happen in high-sodium soils.
ANDERSEN SCIENCE: Nutrients and compounds in the soil that are considered alkaline include calcium, magnesium, chlorine, sodium, potassium, salts, ashes, and aldehydes.
ANDERSEN SCIENCE: People often blame compaction on heavy equipment and frequent traffic across the soil. These things do cause compaction of soils with calcium-to-magnesium ratios of less than 7:1. They do not cause compaction of soils with calcium-to-magnesium ratios of 7:1 or more and less than 70 parts per million of sodium. Compaction is a phenomenon of physics (particle attraction/repulsion) and aeration.
ANDERSEN SCIENCE: [Soil strata] Carbon Strata No. 1, Magnesium Strata No. 2, Phosphate Strata No. 3, Potash Strata No. 4, Aluminum Strata No. 5, Zinc Strata No. 6, Manganese Strata No. 7, Iron Strata No. 8, Copper Strata No. 9, Calcium Strata No. 10. These rankings were given by Carey Reams in his short courses.
ANDERSEN SCIENCE: Whenever the soil test shows a narrow calcium-to-magnesium ratio (<7:1), I would add a soil conditioner to the pre emergent or first spray, or anywhere there is known soil compaction.
ANDERSEN SCIENCE: If the calcium level is less than 2,000 pounds per acre, there will be possible energy-reserve deficiencies, weakened skin and cell strength, bruising susceptibility of fruit, soil compaction—especially if there is a narrow calcium-to-magnesium ratio (7:1)—weakened stems or stalks, and grass-weed problems.
BEDDOE BI: Magnesium is the enemy of nitrogen. This is important to remember. Every pound of magnesium available in soil chemistry will release a pound of nitrogen.
BEDDOE BI: Excesses of magnesium can cause soil compaction and loss of aeration.
BEDDOE BI: Tomatoes do best when there is a minimum of available nitrogen. When nitrogen gets too high, excessive anionic growth (vegetative growth) will develop. Magnesium sulfate can be used around the tomato plants so the excessive nitrogen can be reduced by its reaction with the magnesium in the Epsom salt.
BEDDOE BI: When buying lime, the farmer has to be on guard against buying dolomitic lime. Some states allow the packaging of dolomite under the label called "Agricultural lime." So be careful what you purchase. For a lime to be acceptable, it is best to have a magnesium content less than 5%.
BEDDOE BI: Excess magnesium can be reduced by liming to keep it in an oxide form so it is insoluble.
BEDDOE BI: Yes, magnesium is a necessary mineral in the function of the plant, but the plant can usually get all the magnesium it needs just from the atmosphere when the TDN is at an adequate level.
BEDDOE BI: Another example where magnesium could be applied to the soil is where there is an excess amount of nitrogen in the soil of an orchard in the spring time. This excess nitrogen will make the sap of the trees thicker [thinner?] so that it will not flow as easily, which makes the tree more susceptible to freezing.
BEDDOE BI: Many assume that it is necessary because magnesium is used in the making of plant chlorophyll, and many see a response when they add it to the soil. So it may be difficult for some to accept the fact that the problem with magnesium is usually that it is used in excessive amounts in soil applications. Yes, magnesium is a necessary mineral in the function of the plant, but the plant can usually get all the magnesium it needs just from the atmosphere when the TDN is at an adequate level.
BEDDOE NOURISH: Magnesium, again in the form of Epsom salts, can be used here to remove the excessive nitrogen and reduce the freezing sensitivity.
BEDDOE OT: Magnesium aids phosphorous uptake, oil formation and starch translocation.
ENERGY RESEARCH: The result of magnesium application is that magnesium will replace the carbon in the sugars, thus destroying them which makes it possible for the nitrogen and oxygen to combine and leach which gives off energy which results in free nitrogen which may result in nitrate toxicity.
ENERGY RESEARCH: Common electrolytes are iron, aluminum, copper, and one of the other ones that you will see a lot written about is magnesium and they get a wonderful response. Now the only reason they get a response is that the plant is constipated. And if any of you have had that problem you know that if you can get it moving again, that you feel better. So there is a time and a place once in awhile, where it is beneficial, where a crop stunned or not doing well and looks like it isn't growing satisfactory, and this is particularly important if you have some herbicide damage and you want to flush it out.
ENERGY RESEARCH: One must also stop applying muriated fertilizers (those containing chlorine ), magnesium fertilizers, and those containing heavy metals namely lead.
ENERGY RESEARCH: They [many farmers] get an A&L test back indicating magnesium that they are worried about. 99.97% is actually unavailable, period. Soil laboratories use acid to dissolve the magnesium, which shows up in the test. There is no such acid out in the soil so the lab report is superfluous information. It is of no value whatsoever.
FOLIAR SEMINAR 1983: Magnesium is a no-no because plants get all they need from the air and it is such an enemy of nitrogen.
FRANK: On the clay colloid [see note below] is adhered a certain amount of calcium, some potassium, some magnesium, and some sodium.
FWTK: Furthermore, healthy plants take a large part of the trace elements they need from the air. They supply magnesium, manganese, zinc. cobalt, copper, sulfur and boron in this way. Soil must contain proper mineral levels for this process to take place.
FWTK: Therefore, iron IS heavier than aluminum, manganese IS heavier than magnesium, and iron will float on boiling lead.
PLANT FEED 1976: Dolomite is a calcium oxide and magnesium oxide [mixture] containing approximately 35% magnesium oxide. One of the fastest ways in the world to go out of the business of farming is to add dolomite to your soil.
PLANT FEED 1976: Here's a rule with no exception. In the North temperate zone, from the 20th of July each year until about Sept. 15th, trees take in potassium in the form of Sul-Po-Mag. (sulfate of potash magnesia). Do not under any circumstances use the sulfate of potash and sulfate of magnesium mixture.
PLANT FEED 1976: Student: Yesterday you said that the plants breathed their magnesium from the air—which carries the most magnesium, hot air or cold air? Reams: It doesn't make a lot of difference. Maybe I can answer your question by asking one. Which air carries the greater electrical charge, hot or cold? The cold air does. Does that answer your question?
PLANT FEED 1976: All plants can take all the magnesium they need out of the air. You do not have to add magnesium to any crop that I have seen, anywhere in the world. Unless the farmer had added so much nitrogen he had to add Epsom Salts in order to release the nitrogen to keep it from burning the roots.
PLANT FEED 1976: Reams: Suppose you have too much nitrogen on the ground. There are 2 or 3 ways to prevent it and handle the situation. What. is the most economical way? Student: Add magnesium? Reams: Well, yes, that will get it down immediately, but is that the wisest thing to do? Add more water. The nitrogen content of the soil is in direct ratio to the amount of moisture that the soil contains at all times.
REAMS/SKOW COOK: Red beets have something besides calciums, they are quite high in magnesium. So is watercress. Watercress has high magnesium in it, and so do some mangoes.
SKOW: The other key to the success of this spray program is the use of magnesium sulfate which speeds up metabolic processes and helps make sure there is enough magnesium for the chlorophyll molecule to keep the process of photosynthesis rolling to produce simple sugars. NOTE: Skow is calling for magnesium supplementation contrary to Reams. I did not uncover the reason.
SKOW: An unbalanced equilibrium of calcium and magnesium permits organic residues to decay into alcohol, a sterilant to bacteria; and into formaldehyde, a preservative of cell tissue.
SKOW: Clay soils high in magnesium and low in calcium cement together tightly, are subject to compaction and clodding, crust over easily and prevent the insoak of water and the recovery of capillary water during the dry periods of the season. NOTE: See SODIUM and COMPACTION as Reams differs as to cause of compaction.
SKOW: A soil high in magnesium and low in calcium can test above 6.5, but will be entirely inadequate for the growth of alfalfa, for the growth of legume bacteria, and above all, for maintenance of an environment necessary to decay organic crop residues into humus.
SKOW: For every pound of water-soluble magnesium in the soil, one pound of nitrogen is released straight into the air.
SKOW: My formula follows: Put in water, a humate, calcium hydroxide, magnesium sulfate, Bo-Peep [ammonia], a special amine compound, Castor oil, sodium carbonate and water—it has to be distilled water or good reverse-osmosis water—and seaweed extract.
SUCROSE: An oversupply of water-soluble magnesium displaces carbon in the protein molecule and converts nitrogen into a gas, thus decreasing the probable protein molecule count which decreases sucrose yield.
SUCROSE: During the summer months, see to it that the phosphate, copper, and magnesium join. This union keeps the outer skin of the sugar cane growing and prevents it from becoming hard and woody and retarding growth.
SUCROSE: Some things that will decrease yield: not enough potash. Also an oversupply of nitrogen salts, potash salts, magnesium salts, calcium, sulfur, boron, and others.
WHEELER: Magnesium is antagonistic to nitrogen as seen in the use of Epsom salts as a treatment for nitrate poisoning in cattle or an Epsom salt spray on fruit trees to stop apple drop due to nitrate-weakened stems. When the magnesium releases from dolomite, it can cause nitrogen to release as a gas.
WHEELER: What lime do I use? The first choice, in most situations, would be a fine grind of a high-calcium lime with as little magnesium as possible.
WHEELER: Depending upon magnesium levels, dolomitic lime can often cause more harm and trouble, however, than its initial cost. Excess magnesium is associated with soil stickiness, crusting, compaction, reduced aeration, and releasing nitrogen from the soil pound for pound. It can also cause both phosphorus and potassium deficiencies, lower the availability of calcium, allow organic matter to form aldehydes which kill beneficial soil bacteria and take the place of calcium in plants and soils which causes poor quality crops.
WHEELER: Calcium, boron, iron, magnesium and molybdenum tend to remain in the leaf after they are absorbed and have little tendency to translocate.
WHEELER: Magnesium, like calcium, is now being considered as a primary nutrient. It is an integral part of chlorophyll making it essential for photosynthesis.
WHEELER: A soil left undisturbed will stabilize from the top down in the following layers: carbon, magnesium, phosphate, potash, sulfur, aluminum, manganese and calcium.
WHEELER: A combination of sulfur with the magnesium results in a leachable compound called Epsom salts.
WHEELER: Correct magnesium deficiency problems using Epsom Salts or chelated forms of magnesium either broadcast or foliar applied. When soils are low in magnesium and in low-CEC soils, consider using dolomite in the prill-lime form. NOTE: It is doubtful that Reams would approve this.
NOTE: Magnesium sulfate is highly soluble in water whereas calcium sulfate (gypsum) is only moderately soluble in water. It is important to remember this when listening to Reams talk about the necessity of liming dolomitic soils (i.e., high magnesium). He is trying to help the student understand how to let nature (via rain) remove some of the excess magnesium.
NOTE: Reams constantly explained that magnesium caused nitrogen to lower and should be avoided. This concept is woven throughout his teaching.
ACRES/REAMS: The plant can take all the magnesium it needs from the air. For agricultural purposes, dolomite is a No-No. It contains 32 to 38% magnesium, and it will release nitrogen into the air pound for pound.
ACRES/REAMS: This brings us to the question of dolomites. Dolomite is a calcium oxide and magnesium oxide containing approximately 35% magnesium oxide. One of the fastest ways in the world to go out of the business of farming is to add dolomite to your soil. Never, never, never add dolomite or dolomite limestone to your soil under any circumstances.
ACRES/REAMS: Student: Another thing we're wondering about is the magnesium test. We never did that. Reams: You don't need to bother about that. Take care of your phosphate and your calcium. God will put the magnesium in. Forget about magnesium and don't ever add any. All this malarkey about magnesium is put out by the fertilizer company so they can sell you more nitrogen. Don't ever add more magnesium unless you want to burn up the nitrogen you have already applied. There are better ways of doing it.
ACRES/REAMS: Another situation represents the other extreme, that is, when the pH is around 8.0, and you are recording high ERGS readings. In this particular case a pH reading of 8.0 tells us there is plenty of lime, yet the soil analysis may read zero on calcium. This situation could be caused by magnesium or, sometimes, potassium chloride. To get the ERGS level down and back into line, we again add lime. If lime is added, the pH will often drop. This is because the magnesium is converted to a form that no longer enters into the reactions of the soil. If chlorine is causing the condition and lime is added, the chlorine will be released into the air by oxidation.
ADVANCED AG: Skow: Reams tries to keep magnesium in an insoluble form so it cannot drive out the nitrogen.
ADVANCED AG: [Excessive] magnesium is the most expensive thing to fix.
ADVANCED AG: Spray sulfuric acid to fix magnesium problems.
ADVANCED AG: Legumes are better in magnesium soils, however don't add magnesium to legumes.
ADVANCED AG: Skow: Close mowing peas (legumes) in an orchard with dolomitic soil will put a glossy sheen on the leaves by releasing magnesium to the air.
AG LECTURES: You who can get basic slag from the iron mills, it is an excellent product, even though they may use dolomite. It's perfectly alright to use it, because the heat of the red hot iron burns the magnesium out of it. Or you can buy burnt lime because anytime you burn lime you burn the magnesium out of it. So you have nothing to fear in that.
AG LECTURES: In dolomite you have your magnesium and you have your calcium. Those 2 things are together, but they are separate. They are not bonded together.
ANATOMY: Magnesium is often overused in present day agriculture. There are many publications that profess magnesium deficiency, substantiated by the fact that the symptoms disappear after magnesium application. Unfortunately this is the same logic used to justify all the accepted fertilization and pest control practices that have resulted in the fiasco of modern agriculture.
ANATOMY: Magnesium deficiency causes whitish strips along the veins and often a purplish color on the underside of the lower leaves. This symptom is, loosely speaking, a magnesium deficiency. Technically, there is a nitrogen toxicity here, and magnesium is the antidote for pulling out the nitrogen by forming magnesium nitrate that is then flushed out of the plant, making the symptoms disappear.
ANATOMY: The chlorine that does not become muriatic acid combines with calcium, magnesium, and especially sodium to form chloride salts that are also detrimental in the soil, as they cause dehydration, adverse pH changes, and salinization.
ANDERSEN SCIENCE: Reams used calcium carbonate, never dolomite. He observed that sufficient magnesium would be available if he balanced the calcium, phosphate, and microorganisms and then applied fertilizer quantities of Sul-Po-Mag.
ANDERSEN SCIENCE: Adding high-calcium lime, one in which the calcium carbonate component in extremely dominant to a high-magnesium soil might actually lower the pH. This can also happen in high-sodium soils.
ANDERSEN SCIENCE: Nutrients and compounds in the soil that are considered alkaline include calcium, magnesium, chlorine, sodium, potassium, salts, ashes, and aldehydes.
ANDERSEN SCIENCE: People often blame compaction on heavy equipment and frequent traffic across the soil. These things do cause compaction of soils with calcium-to-magnesium ratios of less than 7:1. They do not cause compaction of soils with calcium-to-magnesium ratios of 7:1 or more and less than 70 parts per million of sodium. Compaction is a phenomenon of physics (particle attraction/repulsion) and aeration.
ANDERSEN SCIENCE: [Soil strata] Carbon Strata No. 1, Magnesium Strata No. 2, Phosphate Strata No. 3, Potash Strata No. 4, Aluminum Strata No. 5, Zinc Strata No. 6, Manganese Strata No. 7, Iron Strata No. 8, Copper Strata No. 9, Calcium Strata No. 10. These rankings were given by Carey Reams in his short courses.
ANDERSEN SCIENCE: Whenever the soil test shows a narrow calcium-to-magnesium ratio (<7:1), I would add a soil conditioner to the pre emergent or first spray, or anywhere there is known soil compaction.
ANDERSEN SCIENCE: If the calcium level is less than 2,000 pounds per acre, there will be possible energy-reserve deficiencies, weakened skin and cell strength, bruising susceptibility of fruit, soil compaction—especially if there is a narrow calcium-to-magnesium ratio (7:1)—weakened stems or stalks, and grass-weed problems.
BEDDOE BI: Magnesium is the enemy of nitrogen. This is important to remember. Every pound of magnesium available in soil chemistry will release a pound of nitrogen.
BEDDOE BI: Excesses of magnesium can cause soil compaction and loss of aeration.
BEDDOE BI: Tomatoes do best when there is a minimum of available nitrogen. When nitrogen gets too high, excessive anionic growth (vegetative growth) will develop. Magnesium sulfate can be used around the tomato plants so the excessive nitrogen can be reduced by its reaction with the magnesium in the Epsom salt.
BEDDOE BI: When buying lime, the farmer has to be on guard against buying dolomitic lime. Some states allow the packaging of dolomite under the label called "Agricultural lime." So be careful what you purchase. For a lime to be acceptable, it is best to have a magnesium content less than 5%.
BEDDOE BI: Excess magnesium can be reduced by liming to keep it in an oxide form so it is insoluble.
BEDDOE BI: Yes, magnesium is a necessary mineral in the function of the plant, but the plant can usually get all the magnesium it needs just from the atmosphere when the TDN is at an adequate level.
BEDDOE BI: Another example where magnesium could be applied to the soil is where there is an excess amount of nitrogen in the soil of an orchard in the spring time. This excess nitrogen will make the sap of the trees thicker [thinner?] so that it will not flow as easily, which makes the tree more susceptible to freezing.
BEDDOE BI: Many assume that it is necessary because magnesium is used in the making of plant chlorophyll, and many see a response when they add it to the soil. So it may be difficult for some to accept the fact that the problem with magnesium is usually that it is used in excessive amounts in soil applications. Yes, magnesium is a necessary mineral in the function of the plant, but the plant can usually get all the magnesium it needs just from the atmosphere when the TDN is at an adequate level.
BEDDOE NOURISH: Magnesium, again in the form of Epsom salts, can be used here to remove the excessive nitrogen and reduce the freezing sensitivity.
BEDDOE OT: Magnesium aids phosphorous uptake, oil formation and starch translocation.
ENERGY RESEARCH: The result of magnesium application is that magnesium will replace the carbon in the sugars, thus destroying them which makes it possible for the nitrogen and oxygen to combine and leach which gives off energy which results in free nitrogen which may result in nitrate toxicity.
ENERGY RESEARCH: Common electrolytes are iron, aluminum, copper, and one of the other ones that you will see a lot written about is magnesium and they get a wonderful response. Now the only reason they get a response is that the plant is constipated. And if any of you have had that problem you know that if you can get it moving again, that you feel better. So there is a time and a place once in awhile, where it is beneficial, where a crop stunned or not doing well and looks like it isn't growing satisfactory, and this is particularly important if you have some herbicide damage and you want to flush it out.
ENERGY RESEARCH: One must also stop applying muriated fertilizers (those containing chlorine ), magnesium fertilizers, and those containing heavy metals namely lead.
ENERGY RESEARCH: They [many farmers] get an A&L test back indicating magnesium that they are worried about. 99.97% is actually unavailable, period. Soil laboratories use acid to dissolve the magnesium, which shows up in the test. There is no such acid out in the soil so the lab report is superfluous information. It is of no value whatsoever.
FOLIAR SEMINAR 1983: Magnesium is a no-no because plants get all they need from the air and it is such an enemy of nitrogen.
FRANK: On the clay colloid [see note below] is adhered a certain amount of calcium, some potassium, some magnesium, and some sodium.
FWTK: Furthermore, healthy plants take a large part of the trace elements they need from the air. They supply magnesium, manganese, zinc. cobalt, copper, sulfur and boron in this way. Soil must contain proper mineral levels for this process to take place.
FWTK: Therefore, iron IS heavier than aluminum, manganese IS heavier than magnesium, and iron will float on boiling lead.
PLANT FEED 1976: Dolomite is a calcium oxide and magnesium oxide [mixture] containing approximately 35% magnesium oxide. One of the fastest ways in the world to go out of the business of farming is to add dolomite to your soil.
PLANT FEED 1976: Here's a rule with no exception. In the North temperate zone, from the 20th of July each year until about Sept. 15th, trees take in potassium in the form of Sul-Po-Mag. (sulfate of potash magnesia). Do not under any circumstances use the sulfate of potash and sulfate of magnesium mixture.
PLANT FEED 1976: Student: Yesterday you said that the plants breathed their magnesium from the air—which carries the most magnesium, hot air or cold air? Reams: It doesn't make a lot of difference. Maybe I can answer your question by asking one. Which air carries the greater electrical charge, hot or cold? The cold air does. Does that answer your question?
PLANT FEED 1976: All plants can take all the magnesium they need out of the air. You do not have to add magnesium to any crop that I have seen, anywhere in the world. Unless the farmer had added so much nitrogen he had to add Epsom Salts in order to release the nitrogen to keep it from burning the roots.
PLANT FEED 1976: Reams: Suppose you have too much nitrogen on the ground. There are 2 or 3 ways to prevent it and handle the situation. What. is the most economical way? Student: Add magnesium? Reams: Well, yes, that will get it down immediately, but is that the wisest thing to do? Add more water. The nitrogen content of the soil is in direct ratio to the amount of moisture that the soil contains at all times.
REAMS/SKOW COOK: Red beets have something besides calciums, they are quite high in magnesium. So is watercress. Watercress has high magnesium in it, and so do some mangoes.
SKOW: The other key to the success of this spray program is the use of magnesium sulfate which speeds up metabolic processes and helps make sure there is enough magnesium for the chlorophyll molecule to keep the process of photosynthesis rolling to produce simple sugars. NOTE: Skow is calling for magnesium supplementation contrary to Reams. I did not uncover the reason.
SKOW: An unbalanced equilibrium of calcium and magnesium permits organic residues to decay into alcohol, a sterilant to bacteria; and into formaldehyde, a preservative of cell tissue.
SKOW: Clay soils high in magnesium and low in calcium cement together tightly, are subject to compaction and clodding, crust over easily and prevent the insoak of water and the recovery of capillary water during the dry periods of the season. NOTE: See SODIUM and COMPACTION as Reams differs as to cause of compaction.
SKOW: A soil high in magnesium and low in calcium can test above 6.5, but will be entirely inadequate for the growth of alfalfa, for the growth of legume bacteria, and above all, for maintenance of an environment necessary to decay organic crop residues into humus.
SKOW: For every pound of water-soluble magnesium in the soil, one pound of nitrogen is released straight into the air.
SKOW: My formula follows: Put in water, a humate, calcium hydroxide, magnesium sulfate, Bo-Peep [ammonia], a special amine compound, Castor oil, sodium carbonate and water—it has to be distilled water or good reverse-osmosis water—and seaweed extract.
SUCROSE: An oversupply of water-soluble magnesium displaces carbon in the protein molecule and converts nitrogen into a gas, thus decreasing the probable protein molecule count which decreases sucrose yield.
SUCROSE: During the summer months, see to it that the phosphate, copper, and magnesium join. This union keeps the outer skin of the sugar cane growing and prevents it from becoming hard and woody and retarding growth.
SUCROSE: Some things that will decrease yield: not enough potash. Also an oversupply of nitrogen salts, potash salts, magnesium salts, calcium, sulfur, boron, and others.
WHEELER: Magnesium is antagonistic to nitrogen as seen in the use of Epsom salts as a treatment for nitrate poisoning in cattle or an Epsom salt spray on fruit trees to stop apple drop due to nitrate-weakened stems. When the magnesium releases from dolomite, it can cause nitrogen to release as a gas.
WHEELER: What lime do I use? The first choice, in most situations, would be a fine grind of a high-calcium lime with as little magnesium as possible.
WHEELER: Depending upon magnesium levels, dolomitic lime can often cause more harm and trouble, however, than its initial cost. Excess magnesium is associated with soil stickiness, crusting, compaction, reduced aeration, and releasing nitrogen from the soil pound for pound. It can also cause both phosphorus and potassium deficiencies, lower the availability of calcium, allow organic matter to form aldehydes which kill beneficial soil bacteria and take the place of calcium in plants and soils which causes poor quality crops.
WHEELER: Calcium, boron, iron, magnesium and molybdenum tend to remain in the leaf after they are absorbed and have little tendency to translocate.
WHEELER: Magnesium, like calcium, is now being considered as a primary nutrient. It is an integral part of chlorophyll making it essential for photosynthesis.
WHEELER: A soil left undisturbed will stabilize from the top down in the following layers: carbon, magnesium, phosphate, potash, sulfur, aluminum, manganese and calcium.
WHEELER: A combination of sulfur with the magnesium results in a leachable compound called Epsom salts.
WHEELER: Correct magnesium deficiency problems using Epsom Salts or chelated forms of magnesium either broadcast or foliar applied. When soils are low in magnesium and in low-CEC soils, consider using dolomite in the prill-lime form. NOTE: It is doubtful that Reams would approve this.
NOTE: Magnesium sulfate is highly soluble in water whereas calcium sulfate (gypsum) is only moderately soluble in water. It is important to remember this when listening to Reams talk about the necessity of liming dolomitic soils (i.e., high magnesium). He is trying to help the student understand how to let nature (via rain) remove some of the excess magnesium.
NOTE: Reams constantly explained that magnesium caused nitrogen to lower and should be avoided. This concept is woven throughout his teaching.