The post Nature’s Fertilizer: Boost Soil Microbial Activity & Increase Crop Yields With Rock Dust appeared first on Cascade Minerals.
]]>At the most basic biological level, legumes attract soil-dwelling bacteria called rhizobia to their roots and ‘invite’ them inside the plant. Once inside, the bacteria begin to form nodules inside the host plant’s roots where they produce nitrogen compounds that help the plant grow and compete with other plants. In exchange, the plant provides the bacteria with the carbon that it needs to live and breed.
It may not be too far-fetched to say that legumes have evolved to farm themselves. After domesticating the wild bacteria, the legume plants let them back out to forage in the soil where they kill rival bacteria and fix nitrogen deficiencies. When they are done, the bacteria are allowed back into the plant where they are safe and well-fed.
As explained in this paper by molecular biologists at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, there are still many unanswered questions when it comes to the role of nitrogen-fixing bacteria in helping improve worldwide crop yields.
But one thing is clear: Everything comes down to microbial activity in the soil.
One of the most effective ways to boost microbial activity in the soil is to add minerals—minerals that have been depleted from many of the world’s soils yet which can be readily introduced through remineralization with rock dust.
Soil remineralization with rock dust is the process of returning minerals to the soil by mimicking the Earth’s own natural methods. Instead of glaciers and volcanoes, however, remineralization is the process of adding finely crushed rocks to soil that has been depleted of minerals over the course of decades either through natural weathering or by over-farming. Silicate rocks like basalt, in particular, contain the broadest spectrum of minerals and trace elements that are essential to plant health and nutrition, including calcium, magnesium, manganese and iron.
What might you expect? Here’s one potential scenario:
Cascade Minerals is committed to the restoration and remineralization of our earth’s depleted soils. Our all-natural Remineralizing Soil Booster is made from massive basalt stones from Central Oregon’s legendary Cascade Mountains. Rocks are crushed to produce a finely milled, 100% natural product that is approved for organic production and releases the essential minerals and trace elements that plants and humans need to flourish.
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]]>The post Can Volcanic Rock Dust Protect Against Little Cherry Disease? appeared first on Cascade Minerals.
]]>The disease does what its name suggests: it causes stunted fruit growth resulting in small, unripe cherries with lower sugar content (producing fruit that doesn’t taste very good). Unfortunately, the disease doesn’t make itself apparent until harvest time—when it’s already too late. Farmers are forced to burn trees or bulldoze them before starting over. However, replanting an orchard has its own risks as the virus can come back through the roots.
Spread Through Insects
Little cherry disease almost wiped out British Columbia’s cherry industry back in the 1930s and 1940s when over 60,000 cherry trees had to be destroyed. It is spread primarily through insects, and recent studies in Washington State show that two different species of mealybug—apple and grape—are at work, making it even more difficult to control through spraying.
Scientists say that the situation with little cherry disease in Washington and Oregon will get worse before it gets better. Entomologists and fruit growers are working together to find ways to manage the disease and to minimize crop damage.
Unfortunately, mealybugs are difficult to detect. They are also notoriously hard to control with insecticide sprays. Growers are advised to be aggressive in removing infected trees and to replant with trees that have been certified as virus-free.
Rock Dust & Other Innovative Approaches to Pest Management
Unfortunately, cherry growers are not alone in their battle against predatory pests. Commercial growers of agricultural crops everywhere seek innovative solutions that go beyond harmful (and increasingly ineffective) chemicals. These include biological controls such as the use of natural predators, and pheromones that disrupt insect mating patterns.
Increasingly, growers are integrating all-natural rock dust into their pest management plans. Tso-Cheng Chang is an organic farmer in Amherst, Massachusetts who grows a wide variety of vegetables including asparagus, bok choy, string beans, bean sprouts, bitter melons, and green peppers. He applies rock dust to his crops annually to help boost their resistance to aphids and Japanese beetles.
Volcanic basalt is particularly effective as it is high in soluble silicon (Si), a key component of cell walls that improves plant structure and increases resistance to pests and disease. Plants that don’t have access to soluble silicon in the soil are stressed out, weak, and unable to resist injuries causes by insects and pests.
Bob Wilt is the owner of Sunset Valley Organics, a family farm in Oregon that uses Cascade Minerals Remineralizing Soil Booster (made entirely of volcanic basalt) to grow nutrient dense organic berries that require minimal processing. Unlike many other berry growers, Sunset Valley Organics’ blueberry crops haven’t been affected by the dreaded spotted wing drosophila (SWD). Bob has never had to spray against the insect and believes that rock dust helps grow healthy plants that are pest and disease free.
Can Cascade Minerals Remineralizing Soil Booster help in the battle against little cherry disease? While we haven’t conducted any controlled trials, we are convinced that the healthier plants and higher yields observed in other crops show that volcanic rock dust can be part of an effective, integrative and non-chemical approach to managing pests and preventing further damage to our region’s precious crops.
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References:
“Little cherry disease is spreading: Both apple and grape mealybug, vectors of the virus, were recently found in cherry orchards,” Good Fruit Grower, 11/18/13
“The promise of new technology for regional control of navel orangeworm,” Western Farm Press, 1/22/15
“How rock dust boosts plants’ resistance to aphids and other pesky pests,” Cascade Minerals Blog, 4/4/15
“Sunset Valley Organics makes Cascade Minerals part of its healthy soils program,” Cascade Minerals Blog, 8/6/15
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]]>The post Oregon Christmas Trees Shine During the Holidays appeared first on Cascade Minerals.
]]>It’s mid-December, but the Christmas season has been well underway for several weeks already here in Oregon. With about 530 licensed growers, our state is the #1 producer of Christmas trees with tree farmers expecting to harvest and sell just over 7 million trees in 2015. Here in the U.S., almost 1 out of every 4 Christmas trees in homes will be from Oregon.
The rest of Oregon’s Christmas trees (nearly half of which are Doug firs) will be exported to places like Hawaii, Mexico, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and the Philippines. (Fun fact: The largest international market is Mexico which takes about 1 million, or 12%, of Oregon’s trees.) Before the trees can cross any borders, however, they must be inspected by the Oregon Department of Agriculture to make sure that they are free of pests and disease. Thanks to tight quality controls, Oregon’s Christmas trees are recognized worldwide for their top-notch quality.
Inspectors begin their work in the late summer and the early fall when they look for signs of potential problems, including insects, foliar diseases, root rot, and needle loss. This year’s hot and dry summer was stressful for trees, especially younger ones whose root systems are not yet fully developed (and thus have less capacity to retain water).
Fortunately, the 2015 tree harvest has been decent with fall rains coming just in time to give mature trees some much needed hydration. And while it is hard to predict what future weather patterns will be like (or what consumer preferences will be), Christmas tree farmers in Oregon continue to stay on the cutting edge by practicing good soil management and experimenting with new tree varieties.
Sources: Oregon Department of Agriculture and Pacific Northwest Tree Growers Association
Good Soil Management with Rock Dust
Christmas trees—like all commercial crops—benefit from good soil management practices. One of those soil management practices is remineralization with rock dust. Not all rock dust is alike, however. Volcanic basalt stands out for the following reasons:
Restores essential minerals to the soil. Basalt is rich in essential micronutrients like calcium, iron, magnesium and manganese. It continues to deliver a steady flow of nutrients over time, even as it decomposes. The slow-release benefits of crushed volcanic basalt make it an effective way to minimize deficiencies, particularly with fast-growing commercial crops that experience periods of rapid nutrient uptake.
Boosts crops’ resistance to pests and disease. Basalt contains soluble silicon which contributes to the strength of cell walls and makes agricultural crops more resistant to pests and disease. Not only does silicon make it easier for plants to ward off plant-eating insects, but it also improves plant resistance to leaf and foliar diseases and makes them stronger in the battle against environmental and climate stress.
Improves soil porosity and helps plants conserve water. One of the best defenses that plants have in drought-like conditions is the ability to grow deep roots, i.e., roots that can penetrate deep into the soil to access water and other nutrients. To do so, they need rich, porous soil. Basalt acts as the fuel that feeds the beneficial microbes that improve the structure of the soil and give thirsty plant roots a chance to stretch.
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Information for Growers: When applying a soil amendment made of volcanic basalt, look for a high-quality product that is listed by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) for use in organic production. One product that meets this criteria is Cascade Minerals Remineralizing Soil Booster which is made entirely in the USA from all-natural volcanic basalt from Central Oregon and which has been approved by the Oregon Department of Agriculture.
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]]>The post Silicon in Rock Dust Can Help Boost Stress Tolerance of Crops Worldwide appeared first on Cascade Minerals.
]]>Environmental stress limits crop yields and farmer livelihoods around the world. The stress that causes pests, disease, and decreases plant health and vitality, comes in a variety of different forms:
Jian Feng Ma of the Faculty of Agriculture at Kagawa University (Japan) describes silicon’s role in enhancing the resistance of plants to physical and biological stressors in a well-written piece published back in 2004 (see citation, below). Supported by extensive research, he concludes that “silicon is probably the only element which is able to enhance the resistance to multiple stresses.”
Ma’s paper also concedes that the beneficial effects of silicon are dependent on a plant’s ability to accumulate silicon in its shoots (i.e., stems, leaves and buds). The more silicon in a plant’s shoots, the better its ability to resist stressors like those listed above.
That shouldn’t be hard, right? After all, silicon is the second most abundant element in the earth’s crust after oxygen. Yet, if there is an abundance of silicon in the soil, why do so many crops suffer from the effects of silicon deficiency?
The problem—and the potential solution—lies with the form of silicon that can be absorbed by plants. Only a small fraction of silicon in our agricultural soils is soluble and plant-ready. That’s why it’s so important to supplement the soil with an all-natural and soluble source of silicon, i.e., one that is readily available for plant growth.
One of the best sources of such silicon is volcanic basalt, the rock that you’ll find in every bag of Cascade Minerals Remineralizing Soil Booster. Compared to other volcanic rock dust, basalt weather quickly which means it breaks down readily in soil. Adding silicon back to soil that has been depleted of this essential element not only makes it easier for plants to ward off plant-eating insects, but it also improves plant resistance to leaf and foliar diseases (like downy mildew) and makes them stronger in the battle against environmental and climate stress.
Just think about the possibilities: By improving stress tolerance in crops, we can help feed the world!
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Citation: Jian Feng Ma (2004) Role of silicon in enhancing the resistance of plants to biotic and abiotic stresses, Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, 50:1, 11-18, DOI: 10.1080/00380768.2004.10408447
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]]>The post Remineralizing Soil Booster With Basalt Used to Treat Iron Chlorosis in Pear Trees appeared first on Cascade Minerals.
]]>Frequently, iron chlorosis can be found in plants growing in soils that have a pH level greater than 7.0 (alkaline) and are rich in lime. Interestingly, while there may be sufficient iron in the soil itself, the high pH levels create a reaction that ties up the iron and makes it unavailable to plant roots—hence, iron deficiency.
Bicarbonate is also a frequent cause of iron chlorosis, particularly in irrigated soils throughout the West. High bicarbonate levels in irrigation water react with calcium to form calcium carbonate, or lime. Bicarbonate ties up essential nutrients and makes them unavailable to plants (not to mention that it plugs up sprinkler heads and is the leading cause of crusting of soils).
In the following video, agronomist Rich Affeldt explains how high bicarbonate in irrigation water contributed to iron chlorosis in a pear orchard in California and how mineral-rich Cascade Minerals Remineralizing Soil Booster is being tested as a way to treat its symptoms:
As evident in the video, iron chlorosis is a phenomenon that varies from one tree to the next. In fact, it is not uncommon to see individual branches of a tree showing symptoms of iron deficiency while the rest of the tree appears normal. Left untreated, iron chlorosis can stunt plant growth and, in the case of fruit-bearing trees, lead to smaller fruits with bitter flavors.
While there are many different iron compounds available for treating iron chlorosis, university studies have shown that the iron in all-natural volcanic basalt is more effective at correcting deficiencies than synthetic iron products. Made entirely of volcanic basalt and approved for organic production, Cascade Minerals Remineralizing Booster is being used in a variety of situations—such as the pear orchard in California—whose growers are looking for safe and effective ways to deal with iron chlorosis.
Stay tuned as we share additional findings and results.
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Cascade Minerals is committed to the restoration and remineralization of our earth’s depleted soils. Our all-natural Remineralizing Soil Booster is made from massive basalt stones from Central Oregon’s legendary Cascade Mountains. Rocks are crushed to produce a finely milled, 100% natural product that is approved for organic production and releases the essential minerals and trace elements that plants and humans need to flourish.
The post Remineralizing Soil Booster With Basalt Used to Treat Iron Chlorosis in Pear Trees appeared first on Cascade Minerals.
]]>The post Volcanic Rock Dust Remineralizes Organic Cranberry Crop appeared first on Cascade Minerals.
]]>“Ours is only the second cranberry farm in the state to transition to organic. As part of that process, I ran a small-scale study using Cascade Minerals Remineralizing Soil Booster (RSB). Compared to the control group, the plot that was treated with RSB was noticeably different—not just during the growing season, but also during the fall and the winter. The plot never went dormant and stayed green throughout the year. Now, in prime growing season, the vines are weeks ahead of schedule compared to where they were in years past. I’ll be conducting a larger study this year, but I know that RSB works and I’m confident that it has the potential to double yields and prove that growing cranberries organically is not only possible but also profitable.”
After posting Nick’s testimonial on our Facebook page, we received several comments and questions—it seems like we all love to eat cranberries between Thanksgiving and Christmas, but many of us don’t really know much about them or how they grow!
A few cool cranberry facts:
Contrary to popular belief, cranberries do not grow in water. The cranberry plant is a low-growing, woody vine that grows in beds layered with sand and other organic matter. Called “bogs,” these beds are typically flooded at harvest time (and during the winter to provide protection from the elements).
From late June to early July, bees pollinate the cranberry flowers and fruit begins to form—this is the period when the cranberries acquire most of their minerals, including magnesium, phosphorous, potassium and calcium.
However, much like other agricultural soils, cranberry soils can become depleted of essential minerals. Minerals that are missing are just that—missing. No amount of organic matter will replace them. And synthetic fertilizers are just temporary fixes—they give plants a quick rush of food but they don’t do anything to rebalance the health of the soil.
One of the best ways to replace missing minerals is with all-natural volcanic rock dust. Rock dust mimics the earth’s own slow manner of regenerating the soil through geological activities such as volcanoes and glaciers. It is Mother Nature’s own way of making minerals available to plants in the balanced form they need to develop stronger roots systems; build resistance to pests and disease; and deliver higher yields.
For one organic cranberry farmer in Washington, the “proof is in the bog!”
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About Cascade Minerals Products
Our all-natural Remineralizing Soil Booster is made from massive basalt stones from Central Oregon’s legendary Cascade Mountains. Rocks are crushed to produce a finely milled, 100% natural product that is approved for organic production and releases the essential minerals and trace elements that plants and humans need to flourish.
The post Volcanic Rock Dust Remineralizes Organic Cranberry Crop appeared first on Cascade Minerals.
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