Nutrient Primer
In the world of fertilizer, there is a lot of misinformation about what nutrients are, how they function, and how a plant uses them to produce the products we are trying to farm. Yield and quality are the main two measuring tools for a harvest. So, how do we maximize these two things equally without negatively affecting either the soil or the product itself?
First and foremost, it is important to consider where your nutrients come from. Many traditional fertilizers are a waste product of the petroleum refining process. Others are rocks mined from the earth. Some consist of things like bug and animal guanos, composted plant matter, fermented food products and even (as we’re about to discuss) from other plants! In our opinion, the cleaner and more sustainable source, the better; both for the plant and the planet! If you can get these essential nutrients from a source in which we all benefit, then WHY NOT do it?!?
Next, it is important to understand the different categories of nutrients, what they mean, and why they are important. There are three different categories of nutrients: Â Primary Nutrients, Secondary Nutrients, and Micronutrients. These are not listed in order, of importance, but rather in order of the amount required/allowed to produce healthy plant growth. Tune in over the next 6 weeks for a closer look at Primary and Secondary nutrients, how they affect plants and even expose some misconceptions about how to measure, quantify and apply these nutrients.
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