Soil mineralzation myths debunked

testiclees

testiclees

Well-Known Member
Suggesting soil testing as a starting point is definitely good advice. If you've been "blindly" applying compost or rock dust you could be poisoning your soil.
 
Rrog

Rrog

Well-Known Member
backtracker said:
this guy is an idiot who just like to talk.
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This is exactly correct. He's an idiot who is simply criticizing a government document, which is fine.

He then goes a bit conspiracy on us and says if that document is not scientific then there's no reason for remineralization.

Anyone here can argue all they want but I mineralize my soil, and support initiatives to return minerals to the soil
 
Rasta Roy

Rasta Roy

Well-Known Member
Rrog said:
This is exactly correct. He's an idiot who is simply criticizing a government document, which is fine.

He then goes a bit conspiracy on us and says if that document is not scientific then there's no reason for remineralization.

Anyone here can argue all they want but I mineralize my soil, and support initiatives to return minerals to the soil
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He's criticizing a government document that uses a Cosmopolitan article from the Great Depression era as it's research. That's a pretty poor credential, and it's the information people point to when they want to sell their products but at this point it is very much false advertising.

That's not to say you shouldn't mineralize your soil...just saying you should test your soil before buying products you don't need and dumping them on your soil. He says this, he doesn't say don't do it. He says get your soil tested.
 
Dr. Who

Dr. Who

Well-Known Member
As an organic farmer, I can say this guy is exactly correct!
That point aside. I'll start here -
First off, we (most of us here) build our own soils from scratch - right? When we build, we usually add a SRP or a RP. Along with some of us adding garden gypsum - correct?
Many of us then reuse or recharge our soil after use. Say adding a bit of compost or some EWC and maybe even each in some ratio, along with normal nutrient fortification - right?

In the farm world we spread manure, maybe some other things are done organically to the soil in spring and fall for fields dedicated to Veggies of certain types over just spreading on grain fields.

The point is that all of these things we do - re-up (if you will) any mineral content lost in the growing season to the plants!

The only time we, as organic farmers, have to come in and actually apply any mineralization to a field. Is when the field has sat unused for farming for years and years, and you test it and adjust the soil to the things lacking in a specific way!....There is usually plenty to be done to bring such a field back to quality farming practice! To convert to organic is a 3 year process and involves plenty of soil testing!

Rotation of crops is not just for macro nutrient health either! Yet, any mineral depletion whether specific or broad spectrum,,,is rare!
I find myself worrying more about heavy metal build ups from in farm and outside source's.....Everything is closely monitored and controlled, right down to feed source's to not increase metal contents of the soil!

If you don't add compost or EWC when you recharge/reuse soils. You would be wise to consider adding a handful of SRP between about 1.25 and closer to 1.5 years of use to that soil. Personally. I can't see not using a compost or some EWC in there somewhere. I mean, come on now. The soil structure it's self is getting kinda weak by a year of use anyway.

NICE posting Rasta !!!!
 
Rrog

Rrog

Well-Known Member
It would be wise to initially amend your soil with a complex of rock powders. If you are doing no-till, you'll want this, and after 12 or so generations, you may add more.

The microbes will take what the plant wants, so I'm not in the "this could be toxic" camp by a long shot.
 
backtracker

backtracker

Well-Known Member
Dr. Who said:
As an organic farmer, I can say this guy is exactly correct!
That point aside. I'll start here -
First off, we (most of us here) build our own soils from scratch - right? When we build, we usually add a SRP or a RP. Along with some of us adding garden gypsum - correct?
Many of us then reuse or recharge our soil after use. Say adding a bit of compost or some EWC and maybe even each in some ratio, along with normal nutrient fortification - right?

In the farm world we spread manure, maybe some other things are done organically to the soil in spring and fall for fields dedicated to Veggies of certain types over just spreading on grain fields.

The point is that all of these things we do - re-up (if you will) any mineral content lost in the growing season to the plants!

The only time we, as organic farmers, have to come in and actually apply any mineralization to a field. Is when the field has sat unused for farming for years and years, and you test it and adjust the soil to the things lacking in a specific way!....There is usually plenty to be done to bring such a field back to quality farming practice! To convert to organic is a 3 year process and involves plenty of soil testing!

Rotation of crops is not just for macro nutrient health either! Yet, any mineral depletion whether specific or broad spectrum,,,is rare!
I find myself worrying more about heavy metal build ups from in farm and outside source's.....Everything is closely monitored and controlled, right down to feed source's to not increase metal contents of the soil!

If you don't add compost or EWC when you recharge/reuse soils. You would be wise to consider adding a handful of SRP between about 1.25 and closer to 1.5 years of use to that soil. Personally. I can't see not using a compost or some EWC in there somewhere. I mean, come on now. The soil structure it's self is getting kinda weak by a year of use anyway.

NICE posting Rasta !!!!
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Beans are high in potassium when you sell the beans you are selling your potassium along with other minerals and if you don't bring in potassium from off the farm you will eventually deplete the soil of potassium so how do us organic farmers get that potassium back on the farm.
 
Rrog

Rrog

Well-Known Member
There needs to be an ample mineral base in the soil, and since you're not going to do harm with too much (within reason) rock powder, why not add it up front, right?

Then of course you are re-amending minerals when top dressing.

Mineralization is always a good thing
 
Rasta Roy

Rasta Roy

Well-Known Member
backtracker said:
Beans are high in potassium when you sell the beans you are selling your potassium along with other minerals and if you don't bring in potassium from off the farm you will eventually deplete the soil of potassium so how do us organic farmers get that potassium back on the farm.
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You definitely need to reamend your soil. It's just that if you're already doing your own compost and castings you might already be adding enough. Soil testing is just a way to know for sure.
 
backtracker

backtracker

Well-Known Member
Rasta Roy said:
That's my dude, he's not in the wrong. Soil testing to make sure what you do or don't need to add is just something to consider.
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When making a dry fertilize mix incorporating rock dust into that mix can do no harm I have been doing it for a long time with excellent results. Like the guy in the video says there are many things going on in soil and they have an effect on what ever you put into the soil.
 
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