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Canadian Wollastonite is a calcium silicate mineral that comes from the world class Saint Lawrence Wollastonite Deposit near Kingston Ontario.
The mine came in production in 2012 and has since found a loyal agricultural following within North America who have realized its benefits to their operations.
Wollastonite is a high-grade calcium silicate mineral containing 27% silicon, 16.5% calcium, and 4% magnesium.
Carbon-neutral Calcium:
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration considers calcium silicate to be “Generally Recognized as Safe.” The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers calcium silicate to be exempt from the requirement for a residue tolerance level if used in accordance with good agricultural practices when applied to both growing crops or raw agricultural commodities after harvest and animals.
The mine came in production in 2012 and has since found a loyal agricultural following within North America who have realized its benefits to their operations.
Wollastonite is a high-grade calcium silicate mineral containing 27% silicon, 16.5% calcium, and 4% magnesium.
Carbon-neutral Calcium:
- Wollastonite which breaks down into calcium and silicon while limestone breaks down into calcium and carbon dioxide.
- At the microscopic level, wollastonite has an acicular (needle-like) crystal structure. Recent field trials and ongoing research show that when wollastonite is applied as a soil amendment, it reduces grub pressure in turfgrass.
- Cucurbits (squash, pumpkins, cucumbers, melons): delayed onset/reduced severity of powdery mildew, increased yields
- Cereal grains: reduced lodging, higher protein, increased yields
- Corn: increased stalk strength, reduced corn borer feeding
- Soybeans: reduced incidence of downy mildew & increased resistance to stem canker
- Wheat: delayed onset/reduced severity of powdery mildew, increased yields
- Tomatoes: reduced severity of Fusarium disease and bacterial wilt, increased sucrose content
- Grapes: increased Brix (sugar/mineral content), reduced fungal disease
- Turfgrass: increased yield and quality, reduced powdery mildew
- Flowers: decreased bract edge burn, increased shelf-life in poinsettia; decreased powdery mildew in zinnia, sunflower, and phlox; enhanced flower size of gerbera; increased resistance to metal toxicity and fewer aphids in zinnia.
- The silicon in wollastonite is in an amorphous form, meaning that in the presence of water, it is available to plants as silicic acid.
- Although silicon is abundant in the soil, a very small percentage is plant-available, and continual cropping can reduce this amount.
- Silicon strengthens cell walls, reducing lodging, increasing drought resistance, discouraging the feeding activity of sucking and biting insects, and resisting infection by fungal pathogens.
- Studies have also demonstrated wollastonite’s ability to adsorb water-soluble phosphorus and immobilize heavy metals; indicating further potential for this soil amendment to enhance soil and water quality.
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration considers calcium silicate to be “Generally Recognized as Safe.” The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers calcium silicate to be exempt from the requirement for a residue tolerance level if used in accordance with good agricultural practices when applied to both growing crops or raw agricultural commodities after harvest and animals.