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Cologne / Germany

I just discovered a good and cheap source for vulcanic granulate in my area. It´s used in winter as well to dust the sidewalks and has a good abiltity to store water. Some people say it even helps as a fertilizer.
I´d like to mix it into my soil next year. Anyone tried it before?

12/10/2004 11:08:35 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

It's probably rich in potash & metallic micronutrients. Does the seller post the guaranteed nutrient analysis on a website? The volcanic residues sold as soil amendments here in the US vary in analysis quite a bit. But I've never heard a bad thing said about a one.

My only consern would be of solubility.

12/10/2004 1:40:17 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

While reseaching volcanic amendments I found this http://www.attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/altsoilamend.html at a great website full of details, reports, test studies and papers. Check it out at http://www.attra.ncat.org/

12/12/2004 7:12:03 PM

Taber, Alberta

I started last year putting in a product called zeolite, which I think is the same idea as what we are talking about here. I'll have to dig through my garden shed to find a leftover bag, but the garden centres that sell it around here swear by it.
Alan

12/12/2004 7:53:56 PM

Cologne / Germany

Thanks for your answers. Of course it should have been "volcanic":)
Nutrient analysis is not usual for that stuff. It´s just certified for soil and garden use and I like the idea it stores water and heat and keeps the soil loose. Alternative would be "perlite" if you know it but it´s more expensive here.

12/13/2004 12:39:22 PM

Utah

Azomite is just crushed volcanic rock ... it is a good source of metallic micronutrients but like Steve said ... I bet volcanic residues can vary alot.

http://www.azomite.com

12/13/2004 1:04:03 PM

Puyallup, WA

Azomite is $25 a bag! Mighty expensive crushed rock!

12/13/2004 2:21:54 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

I thought the same thing Stan. But then Azomite is also sold as an animal feed supplement. So perhaps there are more stringent quality or sanitation standards for feed additives??? Not likely.

12/13/2004 3:05:11 PM

Western NY

i've used azomite before. probably won't in 2005 because of money, but if i can get a bag or two, i will. oh, and i also gave some to tim bailey, joe pukos, and i think maybe alan nesbitt. i really like the stuff. i did about a bag per plant the first year, then half of that eack following year. i don't think that stuff will leach out in a long time.

12/13/2004 3:37:27 PM

Utah

People complaining about $25 ... ? lot of comments on a previous thread about how this hobby costs money ... that's just that way it is... just like every other hobby ... and $575 for a seed lot and lots of OK's and justification with that... but $25 for a 44 lb bag of rocks is too much ? Well if you think you need it ...and you haven't found any other options then what do you suggest ?

what is my alternative...
that I mine and crush it myself ? :)

how much is Ironite ? I thought it had high heavy metals and was a no no ?

geez thanks for the postive replies. sorry for trying to make a comment and give an other possible option for people to consider. One line negative wonders, with out any other option or comment, never cease to amaze me. thanks for you help... :P !

12/13/2004 5:24:36 PM

Atlanta, Georgia

Floh,
"A good and cheap source"....I like that!
They have the green containers at the bottom of
most steep hills here in Germany....hummmm!
LOL!

12/14/2004 4:17:40 AM

Cologne / Germany

Agree about the containers Mike but I don´t know if it´s the same stuff. Could be made from construction waste also.

12/14/2004 9:48:06 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Stan, no worries as we get all that nice volcanic ash (especially Washington State)from all the recent action from our mountains. That must be the secret in the Pacific Northwest and all you growers in Washington and Oregon!!

That is my theory/Glenn

12/16/2004 12:07:19 AM

Puyallup, WA

Well....the thought has passed my mind that I ought to take my pick-up down to Castle Rock and fill up a few big containers of some Mt. St. Helens "rock". :>)

12/16/2004 2:02:07 AM

Cologne / Germany

We also live in a volcanic area here along the river Rhine, but it was all quiet for a few thousand years. So no volcanic ash ...how bad:)

12/16/2004 4:49:47 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

The ash is usually picked up pretty quickly but contains very few micronutrient minerals. Indeed the Vesuvius ash (as an example) was disposed of by adding it to concrete of the day. Those structures still stand since the ash filled the micropores that would normally allow concrete to permit water.

Volcanic rock once molten lava that cooled, was collected as fines or ground into powder. There could still be volcanic elements in the Rhine region. But probably not in a way that is economically feasible to extract.

Is Azomite really volcanic? Now that I think about it, I believe Azomite is a Montmorilinite clay based material. Also used as an aid to animal digestion. I think.

12/16/2004 7:37:30 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Might be worth it Stan, and it is free!! Save that $25.

12/17/2004 1:14:59 AM

Montoursville, PA

From the Fertrell catalog: Azomite is a trace mineral fertilizer, a complex of naturally occuring minerals which contains essential elements (micro-nutrients) for plant growth. Azomite can improve soils that have been depleted of important minerals and micronutrients. It is 100% natural containing no additives, synthetics or fillers. Suggested retail 2004 was $13.79 per 44 lb. bag.

Granular Ironite and Greensand from Texas or New Jersey could make similar claims. The applied rate suggestion is 20 lbs or half a bag per 1000 sq.feet for all of the above mentioned products. Very little is needed in any case. There is iron in all of the products. The total contents of all the products is of greater value than any single element being featured. The labels indicate the contents.

12/17/2004 2:12:45 PM

Cologne / Germany

20 lbs per 1000sq.feet? Well the stuff I was talking about is 20 gal for 1 cubic yard of soil. Looks we talk about different stuff doing different things here.

12/17/2004 6:41:47 PM