B.Y.O.R.B

AZOMITE® tests have reported positive results in many plant species including: wine grapes, table grapes, sugarcane, potatoes, rice, watermelon, tomatoes, melons, cantaloupes, onion, garlic, papaya, lemons, oranges, cocoa, coffee, mango, oaks, pines, peaches, chilies, berries, eggplant, tobacco, ornamentals, wheat, corn and many others. AZOMITE® is uniquely capable of nourishing most plant life as it provides the trace elements that the native soil is often lacking.

Remineralization is the utilization of natural broad elemental spectrum rock dust materials for the purpose of renewing the mineral content of soils and other growing media.

Gradation means the size and distribution of the particles in the sieve analysis. We refer to three basic gradations in common terms. More technical specifications can be applied to these common terms as well. The “grits-to-dust” is typically any rock dust with a course fraction in the particle size. The largest particle for our purposes can be passing through a 1/4″ screen with the dust included or it can be finer, i.e., 1/8″-0 and finer still. The premium BrixBlend gradation is typically 10 mesh (2mm) to dust with about 50% of this passing 200 mesh screen. The 200 mesh and passing is referred to as the Microfine gradation and the Stone Flours. 200 mesh is .0029″ (.074mm), i.e., dust. There can be some small variations within these materials depending on the source and the way the materials are produced. Generally the Microfines will be the finest, the Stone Flours may contain a slightly larger particle, more like flour than pure dust. A Silt gradation is typically a very fine sand with a high fraction of stone flour mixed together. This is generally a damp material derived from pond dredging or dewatered slurries.

For direct to ground top dressing of hay land, lawn or turf; 2 – 5 tons/acre of a 50% micronized material can be utilized (100% passing 2 mm screen and 50%+ passing 200 mesh screen such as the Pioneer Valley Basalt “BrixBlend”) That converts to 10 – 25 lbs/ 100 square feet.

For maintaining foundation fertility after initial remineralization; Very low rate foliar applications or fertigation of 5-25 lbs/acre of the highly micronized gradations will provide nutrient and energy loads once or more times per season. 1 – 2 tons/acre can be used as a top dressing or incorporated during tillage every 1 to 3 years depending on production and crop rotation. That converts to 5 – 10 lbs./100 square feet. Seven year rotation cycles can also be integrated with rock dust applications over fallowed ground.

We strongly recommend the use of aqueous solutions of micronized minerals and inoculants for foliar, fertigation and drenching during the growing season.

The pH is about 7.9. That may seem high, but basalt has a limited effect on pH in the soil. Most rock minerals are neutral when they dissolve because for the most part they do not take away hydrogen ions (H+). A well-known example of this is gypsum (CaSO4), an amendment which does not modify soil pH. The main exception among rock minerals of course is limestone (CaCO3); as it dissolves it steals 2 H+ ions from the soil to form Ca++, H2O, and CO2. When basalt dissolves in the soil it releases Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, and several other ions that interact with exchange sites in the soil. Some of the silicon that held those ions is also dissolved and will attract H+ ions, but not to the extent that occurs with limestone.

 

Calcium carbonate equivalent (CCE) is a measure of liming potential on a scale from 0 to 100. Typical agricultural grade lime has a CCE of about 90. Cascade Minerals Remineralizing Soil Booster has a CCE of about 9, so our basalt is not much of a liming material.

On a different note, basalt is an excellent source of iron in high pH soils. Several university studies have shown that the iron in basalt is better at alleviating iron chlorosis in plants than the synthetic chelated iron products. Keep in mind that Cascade Minerals Remineralizing Soil Booster is a naturally mined mineral, so it’s 100% Organic. Furthermore, the silicon that hydrolyzes to produce that pH 7.9 in lab tests is a good thing because it’s an indication of plant available silicon (silicic acid). Available silicon in Cascade Minerals Remineralizing Soil Booster is one of the key features that makes it so beneficial for plants regardless of the pH of your soils.

Field Crops:
Use 1,000 to 4,000 pounds per acre.

Compost:
Mix 2 Cups per Cubic Foot.

Trees & Shrubs:
Use 1 cup per 1 inch of trunk diameter.
Spread evenly across rooting area. Rake or lightly till minerals into soil if possible, and water in thoroughly.

Vegetable Gardens & Flowers:
Use 10lbs per 100 square feet and till in at the time of planting.
Use 5lbs per 100 square feet as a top dress during the growing season. Lightly rake in and water thoroughly.

Lawns:
Top dress 10lbs per 200 square feet of lawn.
Use 5lbs per 200 square feet of lawn after aeration.
Water in thoroughly after application.

Container Plants:
Use 1 cup per cubic foot of potting soil.
For best results mix with potting soil blends prior to planting.
For surface application use 1 tsp per every inch of pot diameter.
Lightly stir into the top of the soil and water thoroughly.