FEED YOUR SOIL

The key for a good mixture to make Super Soil and Compost Tea is choosing the best raw materials.

Lurpe Natural Solutions shares a list of ingredients and the agronomic properties of each one, to help you understand what your soil and plants need. From the knowledge that we have been acquiring with practice, our greatest recommendation is patience and observation.

Ingredients and Properties

This is a reference list for the knowledge of ingredients and to show the great diversity of natural elements that we have at our disposal. The use of all the ingredients mentioned is accepted in Organic Agriculture.

VEGETABLE RAW MATERIALS

  • Alfalfa (Medicago sativa)

    Alfalfa is the best plant source of nitrogen. Alfalfa has roots that normally drop about 50 cm into the soil and absorbs calcium, sulfur, magnesium, boron, iron, and zinc. Powdered, it is used to nourish plants and create a barrier against soil diseases. It is very rich in natural sugars and when these sugars are broken down they create an alcohol called triacontanol. The main benefit of triacontanol is that it activates all organisms in the soil, improving the performance of the soil food web. It is a natural source of vitamins A, C, E and K4.

  • Nettle (Urtica Diotica)

    Nettle is very rich in chlorophyll and nitrogen, which makes it an ideal food for plants throughout their growth cycle. In addition, the nettle contains large amounts of vitamins A, C, B2, B5, folic acid, trace elements, amino acids, iron, potassium, manganese and calcium that help plant health. Nettle tea used in foliar application strengthens plants against pests and diseases.

  • Horsetail (Equisetum arvense)

    This plant serves to prevent most of the fungal diseases of the plant world. Its action is based on the high amount of
    silicic acid that it produces and concentrates in its tissues.
    But also, it is effective as a repellent of insects and mites, like the red spider and the aphid.

  • Rhubarb root (Rheum officinale)

    Rhubarb contains high amounts of easily assimilable potassium, in addition to easily assimilable nitrogen and natural silica. It also helps plants absorb more fluids, which helps in dry areas. Contains assimilable vitamin C that helps strengthen the cell wall of plants.
    Applied in the soil it is a complete food source for the soil trophic network.

  • Burdock Root (Arctium lappa)

    Burdock root contains high amounts of easily assimilable potassium, in addition to vitamins and trace elements. It is
    a natural immune support, which helps plants fight pathogens. A group of these components are phytosterols,
    which help to strengthen the walls of plant cells.
    The natural sugars it contains feed the soil food web.

  • Kelp (Ascophyllum nodosum)

    Kelp is especially rich in iodine, calcium, chlorophyll, iron, and a wealth of vitamins. It also contains phytohormones
    that help root expansion, fruiting and flowering. It has been shown to have a biostimulant action that helps to
    overcome periods of biotic and abiotic stress, such as water stress or stress due to low temperatures. The main
    components that give it these exceptional qualities for crops are: betaines, mannitol, alginic acid, polyphenols,
    fucans and laminarin.
    As an amendment, kelp improves the moisture retention capacity of the soil, due to its high fiber content. It also
    promotes the activity of beneficial microorganisms.
    The most recommended is to use Kelp from very clean waters, such as those above the Arctic Circle.

  • Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis)

    Spirulina is an algae that contains very high amounts of nitrogen, vitamins and trace elements that are easily
    absorbed.
    It acts as a stimulant of the immune system, helping to prevent diseases.
    As an amendment, it is a great activator of microbiology.

RAW MATERIALS OF PLANT ORIGIN

  • Hydrolyzed Kelp

    Hydrolyzed kelp is a highly soluble extract obtained by alkaline hydrolysis.
    This process concentrates the different beneficial elements of kelp while increasing their availability. The kelp
    hydrolyzate is a strong concentrate of vitamins, iron, iodine, trace elements, phytohormones, growth regulators,
    and other compounds typical of kelp. It also contains a variable percentage of potassium according to the extraction
    process. In summary, it concentrates most of the benefits of kelp.
    It can be used both in irrigation and in foliar application.

  • Cane molasses

    Molasses is rich in minerals, particularly potassium, trace elements, and vitamins. Molasses provides the
    carbohydrates that microorganisms need to feed, so it is recommended to use it when making compost teas.

  • Unrefined cane sugar

    There are different types of sugar that have not gone through chemical refining processes. Different qualities can be
    found depending on the processes to which the sugar cane broth is subjected (evaporation, centrifugation …)
    Like molasses, it provides the carbohydrates that microorganisms need to feed, so it is recommended to use it at
    time to make the compost teas. It also provides different trace elements for easy assimilation.

  • Leonardite

    Leonardite is a humidified vegetable substance, very rich in organic matter, in an intermediate state of
    transformation between peat and lignite (coal). It has its origin in the burial of plant materials for millions of years
    and is usually found in the upper layers of open-cast lignite mines.
    The Leonardite does not have defined and equal characteristics and riches. Its wealth varies depending on its
    content in organic matter and on the type of vegetation that gave rise to it, and also on the position or depth with
    respect to the soil that remained.

    Consequently, the percentage of organic matter, its degree of humification, the composition of humic and fulvic
    acids, the content of silicon and microelements, vary depending on the origin of the leonardite.
    The characteristics of leonardite make it ideal for use as an amendment, improving the physical-chemical
    characteristics of the soil, and providing chelated microelements due to the action of humic acids.

  • Humic and fulvic acids

    Humic acids, as understood in agriculture, encompass the humic acids and fulvic acids. The provenance can be
    diverse, but the most of the humic acids on the market are obtained from Leonardite, which due to their
    characteristics are considered the best and highest quality agronomic properties. Humic acids, from the agronomic
    point of view, are used to improve soil structure. Its molecular structure is larger than that of fulvic acids, their
    decomposition by agents microbiological is slower, which gradually improve the capacity soil physics (water
    retention), chemical properties (ability to cation exchange) and biology (increase in bacterial population).
    Fulvic acids are used to stimulate root development. They are less complex molecular structures and can be
    absorbed by plants (humic acids cannot be absorbed).
    Humic and fulvic acids can be applied throughout the growing cycle.
    Its properties endow it with a great capacity to improve all types of soils: it improves aeration in clay soils; increases
    the water retention capacity in sandy soils; and helps to recover the structure of eroded soils.

  • Vegetable Compost

    Vegetable compost is obtained through the decomposition of plant remains carried out naturally by
    microorganisms, favored by temperature, humidity and aeration in a more or less prolonged time depending on
    conditions. The result is a product rich in nutrients and other compounds that, when contributed to the soil,
    activates indigenous microorganisms, favoring biogeochemical cycles and, with it, the health of the soil. This
    contributes to the plant developing with greater vigor and resistance against pests and diseases. Vegetable compost
    is used as a base product in the elaboration of compost tea.

RAW MATERIALS OF MINERAL ORIGIN

  • Volcanic ash

    Volcanic ash serves to provide a wide variety of minerals. It can be used as an amendment or by irrigation.
    One of the most widely used trademarks is Azomite ®. Azomite ® is a micronized product, and is basically made up
    of silicon compounds from underwater volcanic eruptions, containing more than 70 different mineral varieties.
    Azomite® increases root development and gives the plant greater resistance against diseases and pests.

  • Basalt

    It is a volcanic stone, with a high content of silicon, magnesium and trace elements. It is recommended to apply it in
    micronized form to accelerate its assimilation.
    Silicon increases the natural ability of the plant to fight parasites and diseases. Among its properties is to retain
    nitrogen and prevent its loss due to excess water. Gives very good results on clay soils.

  • Phosphoric Rock

    The phosphoric rock provides a very concentrated supply of calcium and phosphorus, slow release. It has an
    inhibitory effect on the loss of nitrogen that occurs when the nitrogen in the soil reacts with lime and is transformed
    into ammonia.
    Recommended for a correct vegetative and root development, and a correct absorption of nutrients.
    It is a natural alternative to conventional contributions of phosphorus..

  • Epsom salt

    It is a natural product that is used to correct magnesium deficiencies, a basic element for chlorophyll in the
    photosynthesis process.
    It is a very soluble product that allows you to correct magnesium deficiencies quickly.

RAW MATERIALS OF ANIMAL ORIGIN

  • Bone-meal

    Slow release natural nutrient, with lots of phosphorus and calcium, and some nitrogen.
    Stimulates rooting, growth, nutrient absorption, and flowering of plants.
    Fruit set increases. It enhances vigor and strength against pests and external negative factors.

  • Earthworm humus

    Earthworm humus, or vermicompost, is obtained from worm droppings reared among organic debris at the right
    conditions. This product improves soil structure by facilitating aeration and moisture retention, promotes the
    growth of beneficial microorganisms and contains active substances that regulate plant growth. All this means that
    the contribution of humus to the soil improves the yield and health of the crop. Like compost, earthworm humus is
    also used as a base product in the elaboration of compost tea.

BENEFICIAL MICROORGANISMS

  • Mycorrhizal fungi

    The symbiosis formed between plant roots and certain soil fungi is called mycorrhiza.
    These fungi provide the plant with better and greater access to the nutrients and water available in the soil thanks
    to its extended mycelium. In exchange, the plant provides the fungus with energy and all the substances derived
    from photosynthesis (carbon in the form of sugars).
    From an agricultural point of view, the positive effects that can be seen in crops are:

    -Increased growth and vigor, for having more nutrients and water available.
    -Increased resistance to biotic and abiotic stress.
    -Increased resistance to soil pathogens, such as root diseases and nematodes.
    -Increased content of phytochemicals in plants (vitamins, polyphenols, …)
    Arbuscular mycorrhizae (endomycorrhizae) penetrate the living cells of the root cortex, enabling the exchange of
    nutrients. This class of mycorrhizae are the most widely used in agriculture, specifically Rhizophagus intraradices
    (formerly called Glomus intraradices) and Funneliformis mosseae (formerly called Glomus mosseae).
    Rhizophagus intraradices are proven to provide nitrogen and phosphorus to plants in exchange for carbon.

  • Rhizobacteria

    The group of bacteria most used in agriculture are PGPR (known by its acronym in English, plant growth promoting
    rhizobacteria, or plant growth promoting rhizobacteria). Rhizobacteria are root-associated bacteria that form
    symbiotic relationships with plants. There are multiple genus, species and strains within this group of rhizobacteria,
    each with different effects. Although the biostimulatory effect is appreciated in most of them.

  • Azotobacter salinestris

    Azotobacter salinestris are gram-negative, normally mobile bacteria.
    They are part of a special group of nitrogen fixing microorganisms, since they are the only ones that are single celled
    and can fix nitrogen under anaerobic conditions. Nitrogen fixation is produced by the activity of the nitrogenase
    enzyme, which, as it is rapidly inhibited by oxygen, must always act under anaerobic conditions, Azotobacter
    salinestris is capable of generating this micro-anaerobic environment through its high respiration rate, which
    consumes oxygen in the environment of the bacteria.

  • Bacillus amyloliquefaciens

    Bacillus amyloliquefaciens is a bacterium with a very interesting protective effect against pathogens. It produces
    antagonistic metabolites that cause pores in the membrane of pathogenic fungi, which directly inhibit the advance
    and growth of these diseases. It also synthesizes surfactins, which have antibiotic effects, which protect plants from
    bacterial diseases. Other of its capabilities is the synthesis of cellulases and biofilm that allows them to colonize the
    root as well as the advance and permanence in the rhizosphere, improving its protection against pathogens.

  • Bacillus licheniformis

    Bacillus licheniformis is a bacterium that improves the mobilization and solubilization of minerals and nutrients, and
    has a protective effect against adverse conditions. It is able to solubilize inorganic K through the production of
    organic acids and to release protons as a result of the assimilation of NH4 +. It also produces exopolysaccharides
    and a biofilm that allows it to colonize the rhizosphere, which helps the plant to overcome periods of stress.

  • Bacillus megaterium

    Bacillus megaterium is a Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria (PSB). Its action is based on the production of organic acids
    and phosphatase enzymes, which are capable of solubilizing the phosphorus of the immobilized soil in organic or
    mineral form.

  • Bacillus subtilis

    Bacillus subtilis is a bacterium with multiple positive effects for plants. Through the production of siderophores (iron
    chelating compounds), it generates competition for the available iron, limiting the growth of phytopathogenic fungi.
    It is also a major producer of ACC deaminase, which reduces the synthesis of ethylene in response to stress
    situations, resulting in increased tolerance to stress situations such as salinity and drought. Another noteworthy
    feature is the production of auxins, mainly indoleacetic acid (IAA), which promotes the development of lateral and
    adventitious roots.

  • Trichoderma spp.

    The trichoderma genus are fungi, facultative anaerobes, found in most natural soils. Multiple beneficial effects for
    plants have been proven, such as:
    – Control of pathogenic microorganisms.
    – Stimulation of the growth of the aerial part and the root.
    – Stimulation of colonization of the rhizosphere by other beneficial organisms.
    – Improvement of the response of the defense mechanisms of the plants.
    The efficacy of different Trichoderma species against phytopathogenic fungi has been demonstrated. Its preventive-
    curative action is due to different natural mechanisms:
    They can act indirectly. Competing for nutrients and space; modifying the environmental conditions or promoting
    the growth and defense mechanisms of plants.
    Or it can act directly, with mechanisms such as mycoparasitism. Trichoderma koningii and Trichoderma harzianum
    are the most widespread in agricultural use.

LIMESTONE AMENDMENTS

  • Dolomite lime

    Dolomite is a limestone amendment, which provides calcium and magnesium. It has the properties of lime, which
    helps to correct pH in acidic soils, and provides slow-release magnesium.
    Stimulates the life of the substrate, favoring the appearance of beneficial microorganisms and bacteria, improving
    the processes of development and absorption of nutrients.

  • Diatomaceous earth

    Diatomaceous earth are a loamy limestone amendment, of plant origin, formed by the sedimentation of algae on
    the seabed. It has large amounts of silicon and calcium.
    This product has a very low density, increasing the nutritional characteristics of the soil and protecting plants
    against pests.
    It does not produce resistance in insects, since it acts physically and mechanically, crossing the keratin of the shell of
    insects that come into contact with it.
    Preserves the seeds of fungi, bacteria and insects such as weevils.

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