Kelp Meal As A Soil Conditioner

Kelp meal is really just dried seaweed. And seaweed does not have the same rigid plant structure of land plants, the organic composition is quite different. Cellulose is the main oganic constituent of land plants, seaweed are mainly composed of alginic acid and simple sugars such as mannitol. These compounds found in seaweed break down much more rapidly than the cellulose based plants. this makes kelp an excellent source of organic matter.

Soil organic matter and associated soil algae, bacteria and fungi play an important role in soil fertility and plant nutrient uptake. By putting kelp in your soil, you are conditioning the soil by stimulating microbial activity. Nutrients that might otherwise be leached from the soil are chelated through the decomposition of the kelp and aggregation of soil particles.

This means an increase in soil fertility and benefits soil organisms which, in turn, act as soil conditioners and a renewable source of Nitrogen (N). Good soil structure improves aeration, available moisture and makes the soil easier to work with.

Repeated use of kelp helps to maintain soil fertility and structure that would otherwise be depleted through the utilization of nutrients by plants.

Kelp is an amazing thing. It is also a great source of Iodine, which keeps your thyroid working properly. This is a good thing to consider placing in your pastures this spring, at a rate of 200-400 lbs per acre. Or, like me, I spread it wherever, whenever.

Kelp is a great source of fertilizer that is completely natural and organic, with over 80 trace minerals. In fact, Kelp is found in most organic fertilizers on the market. In your garden, use 3 lbs per 1000 ft.

I hope this helps, thanks for stopping by.