The US sod industry is worth over a billion dollars, with nearly 350,000 acres grown every year. Increasing at about 5% per annum, this specialty crop represents an important market in southern states such as Florida, Alabama, and Georgia. To maximize profitability, the quality and speed of turf growth are crucial. Brinkley Roberson, Market Development & Innovation Manager for Omya Inc says calcium is one nutrient that growers should focus on for strong, healthy turf.
“It takes around a year to grow turf ready for harvesting, depending on the grass variety used,” he says. “During production, the turf must develop the strength to remain intact during harvest and to recover and establish quickly when laid. Calcium plays a vital role in achieving this.”
Calcium is a key component of cell walls and membranes. It is important for photosynthesis, which provides energy for growth, and it helps turf absorb essential nutrients like nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. Without sufficient calcium, growth will slow down, leaving turf unable to recover effectively after cutting and affecting its appearance and resilience.
Calcium also supports root development by enabling deeper penetration into the soil, ensuring better access to water and nutrients. In sodic soils or areas with high salt content, calcium improves the turf’s ability to tolerate these challenging conditions.
Mr. Roberson recommends Omya Top Flow Ca to support turf health. “Delivering calcium directly to the plant is the best way of supporting turf grass during the crucial growing period. Omya Top Flow Ca is a liquid calcium solution that provides readily available calcium to turf grass, helping to improve turf growth and quality. It can be applied by spraying, mixed with overhead irrigation, or integrated with other inputs such as fertilizer, pesticides or fungicides, making it the most versatile option for calcium application. Growers using Omya Top Flow Ca have noted more even growth before and after harvesting.”
Omya Top Flow Ca offers particular benefits in certain circumstances, for example when turf growth is slower than expected despite there being sufficient nutrients available it can improve nutrient uptake by the plants. Mr. Roberson says soil testing is a useful exercise to help diagnose issues such as low calcium or low pH. “If growers find their soil is acidic then Omya Top Flow Ca will provide quick adjustment as well as adding calcium nutrition. It is also beneficial for sodic soil, or irrigation systems using water with high salt content because the calcium prevents the sodium ions from attaching to the soil colloid and forces them into the soil solution where they leach away.”
Manufactured in the USA at Omya’s facility in Sylacauga, Alabama, Omya Top Flow Ca is the result of over 140 years of mineral processing innovation. It offers growers a flexible, effective way to deliver calcium exactly where it’s needed and can be combined with other applications to minimize traffic across the field. Turf managers worldwide can rely on Omya Top Flow Ca to help produce turf that’s strong, healthy, and ready for the next harvest.
To learn more about how Omya Top Flow Ca can benefit your sod farm, connect with us for further insights and updates.