Field Trial: Calcium-Fortified Ash Tea Improves Nitrogen Efficiency and Yield in Organic Cilantro
In a recent commercial field trial in Hollister, California, Nitricity partnered with an organic grower to evaluate whether Calcium-Fortified Ash Tea fertilizer could replace conventional in-season organic nitrogen inputs in cilantro, while maintaining, or even improving, crop performance. The results showed that it’s possible to grow more cilantro with significantly less nitrogen while improving key soil nutrient conditions that support long-term crop productivity.
Trial Overview
Location: Hollister, CA
Crop: Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum)
Product: Nitricity Calcium-Fortified Ash Tea
Application Method: Sprinkler fertigation
Total Nitrogen Applied: 292 lb N (Nitricity treatment applied 24% less N than control)
Trial Design
The trial was carried out in a commercial cilantro field under organic management. Both the Nitricity treatment and the farmer’s standard practice received identical pre-plant fertilization using chicken pellets. After planting, the two treatments diverged:
Farmer’s Standard: Continued in-season nitrogen applications using a chicken pellet and soy blend.
Nitricity Treatment: Replaced in-season organic nitrogen inputs with Calcium-Fortified Ash Tea applied through sprinkler fertigation across approximately two acres.
Notably, the Nitricity plot received only 76% of the total nitrogen applied in the farmer’s standard treatment, providing a clear test of nitrogen use efficiency.
Yield Results
Despite the reduced nitrogen input, the Nitricity-treated cilantro outperformed the farmer’s standard in total yield:
Nitricity: 10,887 lbs/acre
Farmer’s Standard: 10,500 lbs/acre
Fig 1: Nitricity treatment outperformed Farmer's Standard treatment in terms of total yield, obtaining 10,887 lbs/acre compared to 10,500 lbs/acre
This represents a ~3% yield increase while using 24% less nitrogen, demonstrating substantially improved nitrogen efficiency under commercial growing conditions.
Soil Nutrient Dynamics
Soil analyses reinforced the tissue results. Compared to the farmer’s standard, soils in the Nitricity plot showed:
Higher nitrate availability during the growing season, supporting steady nitrogen uptake by the crop
Increased calcium levels in the soil, improving cation balance
Reduced accumulation of competing salts such as sodium and chloride, which can disrupt nutrient uptake
These soil improvements indicate that Calcium-Fortified Ash Tea helps maintain a healthier soil nutrient profile, improving nitrogen availability and enabling the crop to take up and utilize nutrients more efficiently throughout the growing cycle.
Improved Plant Nutrient Balance
Weekly leaf tissue analyses revealed consistent differences in nutrient dynamics between treatments:
Higher Nitrogen (N): Nitricity-treated plants maintained higher leaf N concentrations throughout the season, indicating more efficient uptake and availability despite lower total N application.
Higher Calcium (Ca): Calcium levels were consistently elevated in the Nitricity treatment, reflecting the contribution of soluble Ca from the Ash Tea.
Lower Sodium (Na) and Chloride (Cl): Nitricity-treated plants accumulated significantly less Na and Cl, reducing the risk of ionic stress and improving overall cation balance.
These nutrient patterns suggest that Calcium-Fortified Ash Tea supports healthier plant nutrition by enhancing beneficial nutrient uptake while limiting the accumulation of salts that can impair growth.
Fig 2: Leaf calcium concentration: Higher Ca levels observed in Nitricity-treated plants throughout the season.
Fig. 3. Leaf chloride (Cl) concentration: Nitricity treatment consistently maintained lower Cl levels than Farmer’s Standard, with up to 47% reduction by Day 41.
Fig 4: Leaf sodium (Na) concentration: By Day 49, Farmer’s Standard showed nearly 40% higher Na levels than Nitricity, indicating significantly reduced Na accumulation with Nitricity treatment.
Key Takeaways
24% less nitrogen applied, yet higher yield achieved
Improved nitrogen and calcium nutrition throughout the season
Reduced sodium and chloride accumulation in plant tissue
Enhanced nitrogen use efficiency and soil nutrient balance
This cilantro field trial demonstrates that Nitricity’s Calcium-Fortified Ash Tea fertilizer can significantly improve nitrogen management efficiency in organic production systems. By delivering readily available nitrogen alongside soluble calcium, the Nitricity treatment supported stronger nutrient status, improved ionic balance, and higher yields, even with substantially reduced nitrogen inputs.
The results highlight a clear link between enhanced N and Ca nutrition and overall crop productivity, while also pointing to broader soil health benefits through calcium enrichment and reduced salt accumulation. For organic growers looking to improve nitrogen efficiency and maintain high yields, Calcium-Fortified Ash Tea is an effective in-season fertilizer solution.
