Industries / Agriculture
Aragonite for Agriculture.
A natural calcium carbonate for soil-test-driven pH, calcium, blending and handling requirements.
Agriculture brochure
What it is
A natural marine calcium carbonate, sized for agricultural programs.
Oolitic aragonite is a naturally precipitated, marine-origin form of calcium carbonate. It occurs as rounded, layered ooids and is the orthorhombic aragonite polymorph, distinct from the calcite common in quarried limestone. Composition is 96.17% CaCO3 with 38.51% elemental calcium.
Reactivity under acidic conditions
Aragonite can dissolve more readily than calcite under comparable acidic test conditions. Soil pH, particle size, moisture and placement affect field response.
Liming value in acidic soils
As a carbonate, it supplies alkalinity and can buffer acidic soils. Soil testing, neutralizing value, particle size and field conditions should determine the program.
Grade-specific handling
Flow, dust, blending behavior and application rate depend on the supplied particle distribution, moisture and handling system.
Marine origin
Naturally formed and mechanically prepared through collection, drying, screening and sizing without chemical synthesis or calcination.
Why aragonite
Mineral form and particle architecture — performance factors.
Mineral structure, particle distribution, surface area and soil conditions all affect amendment performance.
Grade-specific surface area
Representative analysis gives > 1.7 m2/g. Use the grade-specific value when comparing materials or calculating a trial.
Condition-dependent reactivity
The aragonite polymorph can be more soluble than calcite under comparable acidic conditions; particle size and field conditions also matter.
Handling by delivered grade
Particle distribution, moisture and intended equipment shape dust, flow and blend uniformity.
What matters to an agriculture buyer
The specifications that define performance.
These documented properties define performance for a soil-amendment carbonate.
Purity & calcium content
Composition is 96.17% CaCO3 with 38.51% elemental calcium.
Particle size & surface area
Available grades span 20–325 U.S. mesh, with a representative surface area of > 1.7 m2/g. Use grade-specific sizing and surface data.
Grade consistency
Product specifications and analytical documentation define chemistry and sizing for each supplied grade.
Formulation performance
Formulation inputs — built around soil conditions.
Grade properties, soil testing and crop requirements establish application fit and rate.
pH response
Buffering response depends on starting soil pH, reserve acidity, particle distribution, rate, moisture and contact time.
Nutrient formulation
Evaluate compatibility, calcium contribution, pH response and physical blending in the complete formulation.
Calcium-sensitive crops
For calcium-sensitive specialty crops such as peanuts, soil-test-driven and crop-specific calcium programs support pod development.
Material comparison
Aragonite, limestone and gypsum — a documented comparison.
A practical decision-factor comparison for agricultural calcium sources.
| Decision factor | Oolitic aragonite | Calcitic limestone | Gypsum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polymorph | Natural marine aragonite CaCO3 | Quarried calcite CaCO3 | CaSO4 — calcium, no liming effect |
| Reactivity | Condition-dependent; compare delivered grade | Condition- and grade-dependent | Soluble but does not neutralize acidity |
| pH effect | Supplies alkalinity, buffers acidic soils | Supplies alkalinity | None |
| Handling | Grade- and moisture-dependent | Grade- and moisture-dependent | Grade- and moisture-dependent |
Application focus
A calcium source for high-value programs.
Where it fits. A natural calcium carbonate for programs balancing reactivity, blending, handling and delivered economics.
Program design. Particle distribution, chemistry, neutralizing value and soil conditions guide rate and placement.
Crop fertilizer listing avw-23214 and livestock feed-material listing avw-23215.
Where to go next
Specify a grade for this application.
Discuss a soil, crop and blending program.
Tell us about your soil, crop and target response so we can match the grade, volume and delivery plan.