The ST Biologicals mentors successfully restored a long-abandoned field with sodic soil in northwest Minnesota using a targeted remediation program centered around Calcine and regenerative practices. Over several years, soil health improved dramatically, reducing salt levels and bringing the land back into profitable crop production.
Helping farmers improve soil health, productivity, and profitability is what gets the ST Biologicals mentors out of bed in the morning. Nothing is more satisfying than turning a field a farmer has written off for years as unproductive and transforming it into productive acreage.
Calcine is one of the most powerful tools in our toolkit to improve soil health in poor soils, particularly sodic or saline soils. Below is the story of a field in northwest Minnesota. It had been unproductive for decades before the farmer reached out to us for help. In just a few years, we took it from unproductive to profitable.
Trialing Calcine on Saline Soil in Northwest Minnesota
Between 2017 and 2023, we had the opportunity to trial Calcine on a farm in northwest Minnesota. Before treatment, the farmer reported not growing anything on the land for at least a decade due to its poor condition.
Our Remedial Program with Calcine
Our remedial program started with Calcine as well as beet lime. We asked the farmer not to work the field until spring after tillage. After that, we asked the farmer to rotate through wheat, sugar beets, and soybeans to help us monitor soil health improvements over time.
In just 9 months, soil analysis proved our program had decreased the levels of several salts.
| Nutrient | Change |
| Sulfur (lbs) | -46 |
| Magnesium (ppm) | -1453 |
| Calcium (ppm) | -1002 |
| Sodium (ppm) | -664 |
| Soluble salts | -3.2 |
Between 2018 and 2022, we continually dropped salts and magnesium levels. In the worst areas, we retreated with Calcine. Ove the next 13 months, the calcium and magnesium levels continued to drop in these areas.
After Treatment with Calcine
With our treatment program that included Calcine, the ST Biologicals mentors were able to transform a chronically non-performing field into productive acres. We solved a problem that took decades to create in just six years and $100 an acre in amendments.
The farmer reported that the field we remediated was the cheapest land he ever brought back. When we started, it was producing nothing, and after $100/acre and six years in our remediation program, it is now producing soybeans.
About Our Remedial Program for Problem Soils
When you’re remediating unproductive acres, no product is a silver bullet (don’t trust anyone who claims there is). At ST Biologicals, we build a custom program for your specific challenges using our decades of experience and regenerative ag and soil biology expertise.
It’s not just about Calcine or any other soil amendment or product. It’s about biology and providing the right environment for Mother Nature and her army of soil microbes do their work improving soil health.
At ST Biologicals, we don’t believe there is any soil we can’t recover. All it takes is time, patience, and the right regenerative ag tools. Whether you’re dealing with saline soil, sodic soil, or other soil challenges, we are here to help you succeed. Get in touch with our mentors today. When soil speaks, we listen.
Saline Soil FAQs
What problem was the field experiencing before treatment?
The field had severe sodic soil conditions, with high salt and mineral levels that prevented crops from growing for over a decade.
How did Calcine help improve the soil?
Calcine helped displace sodium, reduce soluble salts, improve soil structure, and increase plant-available nutrients, creating a better environment for crops and soil microbes.
How long did it take to restore the field?
Significant improvements began within 9 months, and the field was fully restored to productive use over about six years.
Is Calcine a standalone solution for problem soils?
Successful remediation requires a comprehensive program that includes soil testing, crop rotation, and biological management alongside products like Calcine.
