Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Kelp
Kelp contains over 70 minerals, vitamins, chelating agents and amino acids. Perhaps
more importantly, it's an excellent source of cytokinins and auxins, both natural plant
growth hormones. The cytokinins are said to improve soil tilth, regulate cell division and
cell wall formation, increase photosynthesis and chlorophyll production, improve root and
shoot growth, and extend the growth season in the fall. The auxins are said to regulate cell
elongation, stimulate rooting, and promote fruit development.
This is one of the least expensive, yet most highly beneficial products out there. Certain
varieties of kelp can be sustainably harvested because they grow as much as two feet per
day and get well over 100 feet long. Recently, however, I heard Arden Andersen say that
there's a worldwide shortage due to overharvesting, so I'm just starting to rethink my use
of kelp. What follows is still my glowing account of the benefits.
For the best quality, kelp should be processed quickly at cool temperatures to preserve
all of the benefits kelp has to offer. Kelp meals are less processed than powders. Kelp is a
staple in any foliar feed and is often applied with microbial inoculants and other biostimu-
lants. Definitely pick this one up if you're applying a microbial product such as EM. It's
also great for starting seeds.
In the soil, the benefit of using kelp meal and fresh kelp from the beach is that you get a
huge amount of nutrients, ready to be used by plants and microbes. Using kelp meal as a
micronutrient fertilizer, we apply 3-10 pounds per 1,000 square feet. A 50-pound bag costs
between $50-$80, while you can find 10 pounds for $20-$30. Kelp from the beach can go
on the soil as a mulch layer where it will disappear quickly, or it can go into the compost.
Either way, there's no need to wash off the salt.
Liquid kelp has the same nutrients, but we use it for its natural plant growth hormones,
those cytokinins and auxins that stimulate many processes in plants. It's used as a foliar
spray, where we apply perhaps only four teaspoons per 1,000 square feet. Although the nu-
trients are beneficial, at this small amount it's really all about the hormones. They have the
final say as to how your plants will grow, reproduce and die. It's $10-$25 for a quart, which
is all most people need.
