05 Jul Tue 2011
Composting and the INORGANIC Soil Ammenmendts-Part ii
There are more of INORGANIC Ammendments to add to our list of ORGANIC Ammendments, such as :
1-Mica /Perlite/Vermiculite:Those volcanic minerals can store more than double their size of water.They are best for the S.Florida organic soil to keep the moisture, cooling off the roots nad distressing the plants from the heat factor!
2-Dolomite-Lime stone gounds: This is a rich source of calcium and trace minerals like magnesium and potasium.It is an inevitable source to keep the soil alkaline.Please :Always check with an experienced educated gardener/farmer before you add minerals to the soil , and ask for the for the right amounts.
3-Epsom Salt/Sea Salt:A vital food for the growth of plants especially need by the plant root system.
4-Borax: A great trace mineral source for Boron , necessary for maintaing a healthy plant immune system .Also plays an importanmt role in the assimilation and absorption of vital nutrients to the plants.
5-Phosphouros Rock Grounds:Phosphouros is an essential nutrient for the roo system .It encourages plant growth and helps the plant cell MITOCHONDRIA manufacture ADP or Adino Tri Phosphate (Energy).
6-Gluconite:Msainly known for GREEN SAND:This mineral is rich in POTASSIUM.
7- Wood Ash:Excellent source for trace minerals like potassium,calcium,magnesium and more..
8-Natural Iron:Much needed to strengthen the plant immune system and carry oxygen molecule in the PHOTOSYNTHESIS PROCESS.When you notice a pale leaf color then this is a sign of ANEMIC PLANT,generally speaking.
9-Natural Copper:Helps fend off fungus .
10-Most periodic table trace minerals like Sinc,Magnesium,Manganese etc..in minute ammounts ,are significant for maintaing the health of plants.
Usually salts and minerals fall into the INORGANIC category that s why we separated them from the Top TEN Organic Ammendments Top Ten.Minerals is the new wave to use in the Organic Garden.
MINERALS ,not just NPK is the new wave YES!Why? Because the soil has been depleted by MUCH of tropical rain devoiding the soil of most precious electrolite minerals through out time .The soil has been instead saturated with chemical fertilizers that poisoned and killed much of the beneficial worms.organuism and good bacteria in the soil.Long time ago the top soil was lost/depleted and the HUMUS disappeared after the intropduction of the machinary and chemiclfertilizers into HORTICULTURE by the BIG AGRI BUSINESS.
Minerals now are needed to replenish the soil and ammend it more than anything else(Examople:Nitrogen).The HYDROPONIC way of agriculure now is using JUST THAT.MORE OF MINERALS like:IRON-CALCIUM-MAGNESIUM-TRACE MINERALS :ZINC-COPPER-BORON etc..
SOME ammendmenrts could be added directly to the soil ,and sometimes to the compost.Talking about compost , it is important to differentiate between two kinds of Organic Matter thaty we add into the compost bin:
A-Green Manure, mainly rich in nitrogen, organic matter: 1-Kitchen Scrappings.2-Coffee/tea grounds.3-Grass clippings.4-Horse/chicjen manure.5-Seaweed.6-Blood meal .7-Fish emulsion.8-Cotton seed meal.
B-Brown Mnaure, mainly rich in carbon, organic matter: 1-Untreated wood saw dust.2-Yard leaves .3-Bark.4-Peat moss.5-Untreated wood chips.6-Paper /Newspaper shreds.7-Pine straw.
Composting the “Lasagna Way” will discuss how to alternate layers of Green and Brown Manure in the COMPOST BIN:
ANEAROBIC-THE CLOSED COMPOST MACHINE(CCP) .Especially preferred by those who live in gated communities/neighborhoods ‘It is considered by some as the best way to compost in the city.It deters animals/pests and controls odors .Another way to prevent odor is to add sprinkle a dash of BAKING SODA.
AEROBIC: Especially preferred by those who live in the country and or have physical disabilities or prefer not to turn the compost, a second Open Compost Pile (OCP) is suggested (no cover top). It is the second stage (AEROBIC) process that receives compost from the ANEAROBIC CLOSED BIN (Compost Machine) and adds it into the Open Compost pile.
In S.Floida it is worth mentioning that the PERFECT TIME TO COMPOST IS ;SUMMER.
Why?Because the four elements :AIR-EARTH-WATER-FIRE culminate into a PEAK of abundance .More of rain ,humidity-heat happen during the summer to cook and produce more COMPOST.So , get your compost bin ready and start recycling all that kitchen scrapps and yard leaves that were clogging the garbage collecting system.You save on the environment fcarbon foot print.tax payers recycling bill and at the same time you save on the garden center bill by producing your own soil.
Supplementing your S.Florida soil with TOP TEN Organic Ammendments-Part I
Most new comers to S.Florida productive urban farming fall into the trap of the beach sandy soil in their back and front yard.
They end up in the garden center spending fortunes on chemical fertilizers and pesticides.For those who are familiar with organic gardening the case is not so.
Recently many research studies have revealed that pesticides and chemical fertilizers are harmful for the earth soil population ,plants and humans that comnsume vegetables contaminated with synthetic chemicals.Check out the following web sites for more info about pestyicides contamination of food :
http://www.organicconsumers.org
What are the alternatives to Chemical fertilizers and pesticides?
In Europe there has been a trend to ammend the soil different than we usually do in the US.Europeans are steering clear from Genetically Modified Organisms crops and Synthetic chemicals.
Here are some suggestions of what we can use from the perspective of Organic and Bio-dynamic Natural Farming.
1) Peat Moss:Some call it Sphagnum.It is an organic matter that has a fluffy texture , perfect to hold moisture.It tends to be neutrasl slightly acidic.
2)HUMUS /Worm castings ,not just cow manure saturated with hormones-antibiotics etc
3)Shredded newspapers/papers,a good food source for worms.
4)Composted Acceptable Manures:I personally prefer to use composted horse manure and home grown FREE RANGE chiken manure.Both manures from the above are free from hormones,antibiotics and other chemical contaminents.
5)Organic Coffee /TEA Grounds:Rich in organic nitrogen.A great food source for worms.
6)COTTONSEED MEAL:Rich in organic Nitrogen-Phosphorous and Potassium.Add directly to soil.
7)Blood Meal:Rich in organic nitrogen.Add directly to compost.Add as tea or diredctly to soil
8)Bone Meal:Rich in phosphouros.Add directly to soil or as tea.
9)Fish Emulsion:Rich in organic Nitrogen.Add directly to compost or as tea to soil.Also some use as spray to deterr garden pests .
10)Alfalfa Meal:Rich in Minerals and nitrogen.Add directly to soil or as tea.
There are more INorganic Ammendments to be revealed in the following part -II .