General notes
Calcium cyanamide is much more than an ordinary nitrogen fertilizer. Because of the special way it works increased attention is required when using it. To be able to take full advantage of its additional benefits without impairing the crops you should observe the following instructions:
Waiting period:
If calcium cyanamide is to be spread before sowing or before planting the crops then the sowing or planting must wait until the fertilizer nitrogen in the soil is present in the form of urea or ammonium. Conversion will only happen when conditions are moist. Incorporating the calcium cyanamide to a shallow depth in the topsoil can speed up conversion.
Rule of thumb for the waiting period: 2 - 3 days per 100 kg/ha
That would require, for example, a waiting period of 8 - 12 days if you are using 400 kg/ha PERLKA®. If you are not sure please do a cress test(germination of cress seeds in a soil sample)!
Top dressing:
With certain crops top dressing is also an option. Exactly when this should be done depends on the growth and development stage of the plants, and differs from crop to crop. For more precise details please refer to the recommendations for use with particular crops.
General rule:
When the plants are stressed (drought, heat, frost, etc.) no calcium cyanamide should be applied to the stock! Always use the granulated PERLKA® for the top dressings with calcium cyanamide. During application of the fertilizer the crop plants should be dry but the soil needs to be moist, so that the fertilizer can convert.
Applying:
To ensure good plant compatibility and optimal use of the positive side effects the fertilizer should be spread evenly. PERLKA® (=pearled calcium cyanamide) can be spread using any conventional spreader. Working widths of up to 32 meters can be used, depending on the fertilizer spreader. Please contact the manufacturer to enquire about the appropriate settings on the fertilizer spreader. Several companies, such as Amazon, Rauch and Bogballe provide this information online.
Safety distance:
If there are other crops close by that are in a sensitive development stage you should ensure that they are not impaired when the calcium cyanamide is spread.
Water Protection:
Calcium cyanamide may be used in water protection areas. Of course, in this case the amount of N should be adapted to the requirements of the crop and in compliance with existing regulations on nitrogen fertilization. The amount of N has to be adapted to the requirement of the crop. When calculating the demand for fertilization please take into account the soil’s contents of mineral nitrogen (Nmin). All applications of calcium cyanamide PERLKA have to be in compliance with the existing regulations on nitrogen fertilization.
Contract farming / extensification programs:
Even with some cultivation programs where chemical pesticides must be omitted in part or entirely, calcium cyanamide may still be used to take advantage of its phytosanitary additional effects aimed at maintaining the health of the crops, in addition to its fertilizing effect.
As with any N-fertilizer the application rate of calcium cyanamide depends on the nitrogen requirements of the plants and the nitrogen supply in the soil.
Please observe the safety instructions when working with calcium cyanamide.