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Oklahoma State Record Holder

Somebody posted this on another site and I need help to determine if this correct or not.

The filler in fertilizer is called Ballast. It is inert, usually CLAY.
If the EC of your soil is 0, your plants cannot take up nutrients. Nutrients must be in soluble form for the plants to utilize them and to be soluble in water, they must be a salt. The problem with chemical fertilizers is because they are so soluble, they evaporate and/or run off into streams and lakes. Manures can also cause run off.

Now to the statement you made about salt killing microbes. That's not true either. Texas A & M has done extensive research on microbial activity in heavily fertilized soils and guess what??? There are millions of microbes in all soil, even soils with heavy chemical fertilizer applications! Microbes need carbon and the best place for them to find carbon is around the plant's roots so a well fed plant also feeds the microbes. Microbes die because they grow fast. Microbes feed on the dead microbes. They recycle everything.

Too much fertilizer, whether organic or synthetic is bad for the environment, but not because it might harm the microbes. It is bad because it runs off into streams, invades ground water and eventually ends up in the oceans and lakes where it does major damage to the ecosystems there.

I garden organically, my gardens are healthy, my soil is loaded with microbial activity. I don't use manure (which can have a very high salt index and also causes run off and can damage the environment), but let the microbes break down organic plant matter. I also add sea water to my garden. The plants love it if used correctly. You see, sea water contains many of the trace elements that plants use (in salt form).
Here is an article you might want to read by a real scientist called "The truth about microbes." http://www.plantanswers.com/microbes.htm

5/22/2009 10:20:26 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

I would say like most articles there is a little bit of truth. I would not water my pumpkin patch with salt water though.

5/23/2009 7:50:35 AM

Eastern Washington State

All they mean by 'salt' wihtt reference to minerals is that the metals are in their positively charged ionic form. I could see that if your soil is really lacking some sort of trace mineral then even seawater might improve things. However, seawater contains quite a bit of sodium and chloride, which are very bad. Unless you live in a rainforest the sodium and chloride will build up until the soil is permanently ruined. Like forever. There are much safer organic ways to get the minerals you need, like what you're already doing with plant matter.

5/23/2009 10:30:53 AM

[email protected]

Salt is the term used by organic growers to describe any synthetic.

Filler here in the US is really fertilizer grade limestone.

5/23/2009 2:22:48 PM

Minnesota

www.seaagri.com sea-90 is sea water dried. It has 90 some minerals in it. A teaspoon per gallon of water every 7-10 days, I'm exparementing with it this year. 10 pounds for 25 dollars delivered. (if you want more info on sea water)

5/23/2009 3:00:09 PM