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Old 12-27-2006, 12:35 PM   #2
Profound
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Mary Jane

I have posted some imformation here on 3 of the listed microbial and soil stimulants or unputs as the people in the industry would call them, they are as follows.


Humic and Fulvic Acid

You have probably herd of Fulvic acid and wondered what it is and what it does ?

This is what they are derived from.

Humic Acid is a structure less colloidal material that has gone through decomposition . Humic Acid is Derived mainly from plant residue and manure. They are highly biodegraded and compressed remains of ancient plant and animal materials. Simply put, Humic Acid are highly decomposed organic materials that have fossilized over a period of millions of years.

Here is what Fulvic acids do

Stimulate metabolism

Give positive effect on RNA & DNA

Act as a catalyst in respiration

Increase metabolism of proteins

Increase activity of multiple enzymes

Enhances the permeability of cell membranes

Enhance cell division and cell elongation

Aid chlorophyll synthesis

Increase drought tolerance, and prevent wilting

Increase crop yields

Assist denitrification by microbes

Buffer soil pH

Contribute electrochemical balance as a donor or an acceptor

Synthesize new minerals

Chemically weather inorganic substances

Decompose silica to release essential mineral nutrients

Detoxify various pollutants (pesticides, herbicides, etc.)

As you can see it is mighty handy stuff to have in your soils


How are they formed?

Fulvic acid is a derivative of microbial degradation of humic substances. Microorganisms are essential to the process. Each gram of healthy top soil has in excess of four billion microorganisms that participate in manufacturing bio-chemicals essential to healthy plants and animals. If they were to fail our lives would cease. A better perspective of their importance can be gained by looking at the work they do. Microorganism activity in preparing one acre of top soil, expends the equivalent energy of 10,000 people doing the same amount of work in the same amount of time.

Interesting stuff hey

Scientists claim organic substances stimulate plant cellular growth and division, including auxin type reactions. They enhance plant circulatory systems and promote optimum plant respiration and transportation systems. They decrease plant stress and premature deterioration. They dramatically improve seed germination and promote greater fibrous root growth.


High molecular weight humic substances serve as food stock for microorganisms. . .which in turn break them down into smaller units of high energy substances called fulvic acid. Humic substances of high molecular weight, including humic acids, alter the physical characteristics of the soil while low molecular weight fulvic acids are involved in biochemical reactions that influence the plant's metabolic process. Both are indispensable.

Fulvic acid chelates and binds scores of minerals into a bio-available form use by cells as needed. These trace minerals serve as catalysts to vitamins within the cell. Additionally, fulvic acid is on to the most efficient transporters of vitamins into the cell.
Fulvic acid will in all probability, be found to be one of the key factors of enzyme reactions with all living cells.



Sources of humic and fulvic acids
Brown coal
Black coal
Leonardite
Worm castings


The forms of humic acid is either in solid format such as powder or crystals or even liquid when you buy it from a supplier.

As you can see this material is invaluable and helps in so many areas for not only soil, plant health but also animal and human health.

KELP

What is Kelp

Kelp is a form of salt water seaweed, there are many types that can be used and the following is what they will do for your Plants and add to the soil health.

MINERALS AND ELEMENTS
Boron
Calcium
Magnesium
Manganese
Cobalt
Copper
Iodine
Nitrogen
Iron
Phosphorus
Potassium
Selenium
Sodium
Sulphur
Zinc
Alginates

VITAMINS
A
B1
B2
B3
B6
C
E
Choline
Pantanene
Carotene

CYTOKININS AND AUXINS (responsible for cell division and elongation and root Growth also initiating bud sites )

Trans Zeatin
Isopentenyl Adenosine
Trans Zeatin
Isopentenyl Adenine


So you can start to see how valuable all these items are for strong healthy growth of not only plants but also soil and soil structure.

Sources of Kelp

You can go and find kelp at the ocean no doubt but if you are going to do this the best forms are Bull Kelp and very cold waters seems to be the best source area, if you do this you will need to dry it and then wash it many times to get the majority of sodium out.

But if you do not have the time nor inclination to do so then you may buy this product from suppliers, usually is a powder or granulated form and a liquid form also


I trust this has given you all a little more to think about, I shall edit or update this thread with more information soon. See what you've created Outdoors !!!

Please feel free to add information or to ask questions, this will assist me in updating this post, If time permits I shall do so every week.
__________________

Foxfarm Ocean Forest Soil, Foxfarm Happy Frog, Coco Coir, Worm Castings, Blood Meal, Bone Meal, Greensand plus, Neptunes Harvest Fish Fertilizer, Crab Shell, 100% pure Ascophyllum Nodosum Sea Kelp, Dolomite Lime, perlite, vermiculite, Mexican Bat Guano and Jamaican Bat Guano teas, Ξarth Juice's Grow, Bloom, Meta K, Microblast with Bio-Genesis Synergy and a touch of Molasses
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