Msg # 5151 Date: 03 May 93 20:36:00 From: Jeff Burns To: Anyone Interested Subj: Plant Accumulators ____________________________________________________________________________ AREA:SUST_AG MSGID: 1:346/16.0 2be5ba8c Well I feel like writting and since I haven't recieved any mail lately (yeah I know I have to write to recieve), I thought I would put out some more information. Hope it helps. Plant Accumulators A plant accumulator is a crop that is grown specifically to take nutrients out of the soil or the air and make them avalible for future crops. The following list are in order of plants that "fix" the most amount of the nutrient to the least amount of the nutrient. I.E. Alfalfa fixes more nitrogen than Sweet Clover. Nitrogen: (All legumes should be innoculated with proper rhizobial bactrium). Alfalfa Sweet Clover fenugreek clovers pea vetch sweetpea lentil beans lupines serradella soybean cowpea lespedeza crotalaria kudzu peanut lima bean Zinc: Corn ragweed horsetail, scouring rush vetch alfalfa Phosphorus: hemp mustard flax alfalfa sweet clover lupin swedes, rutabaga turnip mustard buckwheat millet henbane jimson weed Chrysanthemum segetum field sorrel horseradish German chamomile plantain knapweed parsnip Calcium: melon lambs quarter dandelion alfalfa burnet plantain buckwheat broom (grows in very acidic soil) oak nettle horseradish German Chamomile cactus yarrow onion broom shrub English daisy foxglove yellow locust dock mustard flax poppy hemp --- Maximus 2.00 * Origin: King Morpheous BBS - Dedicated to the Family Farm - (1:346/16) SEEN-BY: 105/200 334 138/112 346/10 16 352/11 409 410 777 PATH: 346/16 10 105/200 334 138/112 352/11 409 410 Msg # 5152 Date: 03 May 93 20:55:00 From: Jeff Burns To: All Subj: plant accumulators part 2 ____________________________________________________________________________ AREA:SUST_AG MSGID: 1:346/16.0 2be5bef8 Boron; soybean sweet potato sunflower alfalfa clover vetch muskmelon Sodium seaweed lettuce shepards purse Silicon horsetail rice-hulls Spanish Moss foxglove dandelion Chrysanthemum seqetum dock yarrow stinging nettle Urtica urens fern moss onion wheat Iron: Stinging nettle cleavers (goosegrass, bedstraw, sweethearts) parsley Spanish Moss oak Acacia cebil pine salsify parsnip beet radish Potassium Sweet clover beet german Chamomile yarrow rice-hulls comfrey tea braken fern flax Manganese foxglove grape tea Lead hard fescue Randia dumetorum Magnesium beet European beech birch Prunus maple heather Scrophularia nodosa potatoe (just for the memories) chickenweed (chickweed) holly Herniaria glabra Spiraea ulmaria Chrysanthemum segetum dock seaweed fir almond cotton flax corn Copper oats broadbeans barley wheat rye and finally potatoes. --- Maximus 2.00 * Origin: King Morpheous BBS - Dedicated to the Family Farm - (1:346/16) SEEN-BY: 105/200 334 138/112 346/10 16 352/11 409 410 777 PATH: 346/16 10 105/200 334 138/112 352/11 409 410 Msg # 5153 Date: 03 May 93 21:09:00 From: Jeff Burns To: All Subj: Phosphorus ____________________________________________________________________________ AREA:SUST_AG MSGID: 1:346/16.0 2be5c266 Sources of Phosphrus (greater than 1%) Ground bone, burned 34.70 Bone meal 21.00 Animal tankage 20.00 Fish Scrap (red Snapper) 13.00 Dog manure 9.00 Tankage 8.00 Incinerator ash 5.15 Lobster shells 3.52 Activated Sludge 3.00 Dried Blood 3.00 Cottenseed meal 2.50 Hoof and horn meal 1.75 Hen Manure (fresh) 1.54 Castor pomace 1.50 Wood Ashes 1.50 Greensand 1.50 Bloodmeal 1.30 Coca shell dust 1.49 Cottonseed 1.25 Mineral Rock: Rock Phosphate 30-50% Colloidal Phosphate 18-30% --- Maximus 2.00 * Origin: King Morpheous BBS - Dedicated to the Family Farm - (1:346/16) SEEN-BY: 105/200 334 138/112 346/10 16 352/11 409 410 777 PATH: 346/16 10 105/200 334 138/112 352/11 409 410 Msg # 5154 Date: 04 May 93 08:06:00 From: Jeff Burns To: All Subj: More stuff ____________________________________________________________________________ AREA:SUST_AG MSGID: 1:346/16.0 2be65c3c Summary of Roles of Mineral Elements in Plant Nutrition Primary Nutrients Element: Nitrogen Function in Plants: Synthesis of amino acids, proteins, chlorophyll, nucleic acids and coenzymes. Forms in the soil: Organic compounds, nitrites, nitrates, and ammonium (soluble forms). Deficiency Symptoms: Stunted growth, thin stems, delayed maturity, light green leaves: lower leaves turn yellow and die (chlorosis). Losses from soil: Erosion, leaching, crop removal. Organic Fertilizers: Legume crops; animal manures, crop residues, animal waste. Natural sources: Organic matter; atmospheric nitrogen fixed by microbes; small amounts disolved in water. Deficiency may be induced by excess of: Carbon, phosphorus Excess may induce a deficiency of: Phosphorus ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Element: Phosphorus Function in plant: Used in proteins, nucleoproteins, metabolic transfer processes, ATP, ADP, photosynthesis, and respiration. Component of phospholipids. Forms in the soil: Organic compounds; soluble phosphates; insoluble compounds of iron, aluminum, manganese, magnesium, and calcium. Deficiency symptoms: Purplish leaves, stems, and branches; reduced yeils of seeds and fruits, stunted growth, stunted roots. Losses from soil: crop removal, fixation in soil. Reversion to unavailable form in soil. Natural sources: Organic matter; mineral powders; some parent materials, animal manures. Deficiency may be induced by excess of: Calcium, nitrogen, iron, aluminum, manganese. Excess may induce a deficiency of: Zinc, copper, nitrogen. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Element: Potassium Function in plant: Sugar and starch formation, synthesis of protiens. Catalyst for enzyme reactions, neutralizes organic acids, growth of meristemtic tissue. Forms in soil: Available as K+ on cation exchange sites or in soil solution. (less than 1% of total soil K+ is in avalible form). Deficiency symptoms: Reduced yields; mottled, spotted or curled older leaves; marginal burning of leaves; weak root system, weak stalks. Losses from soil: Crop removal. Soil fixation, leaching. Natural sources: Feldspars; mica; granites; certain clays. Deficiency may cause an excess of: Magnesium, calcium, ammonium. Excess may induce a deficiency of: Magnesium, boron ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- --- Secondary Nutrients Element: Calcium Function in plant: Cell walls, cell growth and division; nitrogen assimilation. Cofactor for some enzymes. Forms in soil: Most is present as Ca++ ion on cation exchange sites, or in soil solution. Deficiency symptoms: Deformed terminal leaves, reduced root growth. Some plants turn black, dead spots in midrib in some plants. Failure of terminal bud. Losses from soil: leaching, crop removal. Natural sources: Dolomite, calcite, apatite, calcium feldspars. Deficiency may be induced by excess of: Aluminum Excess may induce a deficiency of Magnesium, potassium, iron, manganese, zinc, phophorus, boron. --- Maximus 2.00 * Origin: King Morpheous BBS - Dedicated to the Family Farm - (1:346/16) SEEN-BY: 105/200 334 138/112 346/10 16 352/11 409 410 777 PATH: 346/16 10 105/200 334 138/112 352/11 409 410 Msg # 5155 Date: 04 May 93 22:23:00 From: Jeff Burns To: All Subj: More stuf part 2 ____________________________________________________________________________ AREA:SUST_AG MSGID: 1:346/16.0 2be72514 Secondary Nutrients (cont.) Element: Magnesium Function in Plant: Essential in chlorophyll, formation of amino acids and vitamins. Neutralizes organic acids. Essential in formation of fats and sugars. Aids in seed germination. Forms in soil: Present as Mg++ ion on cation exchange sites, or in soil solution. Deficiency symptoms: Plants usually chlorotic (interveinal yellowing of older leaves); leaves may droop. Losses from soil: Leaching, plant removal, and erosion. Some losses by fixation to unavailable form in acid peaty soils. Natural Sources: Mica; hornsblende; dolomite; serpintine; certain clays. Deficiency may be induced by excess of: Calcium, potassium, ammonium. Excess may induce a deficiency of: Potassium, zinc, boron, manganese. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Element: Sulfer Function in plant: Essential ingrediant in amino acids and vitamins. Flavors onions and cruciferous plants. Necessary for oil formation and nitrogen fixation by legumes. Forms in soil: Organic compounds; soluable sulfates, sulfites, and sulfides. Deficiency Symptoms: Light green leaves, reduced growth, yellowing of leaves. Weak stems. Similar to Nitrogen deficiency. Losses from soil: Erosion, leaching, crop removal. Natural sources: Organic matter, atmospheric sulfer fixed by microbes; pollutants in rain water. Deficiency may be induced by an excess of: Carbon, Nitrogen ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- --- Maximus 2.00 * Origin: King Morpheous BBS - Dedicated to the Family Farm - (1:346/16) SEEN-BY: 105/200 334 138/112 346/10 16 352/11 409 410 777 PATH: 346/16 10 105/200 334 138/112 352/11 409 410 ========================================================================= PLANTING BY MOON PHASE ========================================================================= Planting seeds by the phase of the moon is a controversial aspect of the biodynamic/French intensive gardening method. Short and slow germinating seeds are planted two days before the New Moon, when the first significant magnetic forces occur, and up to seven days after the New Moon. Long germinating seeds are planted at the Full Moon and up to seven days afterward. Seedlings are transplanted at the same time. Both planting periods take advantage of the full sum of the forces of nature, including gravity, light, and magnetism. The greatest sum of increasing forces occurs at the New Moon. The lunar gravitational pull which produces high tides in the oceans and water tides in the soil is very high. During the first seven days of the New Moon, the lunar gravitational pull decreases and the amount of moonlight increases, causing plants to undergo a period of balanced growth. The decreasing lunar gravity (and the corresponding increase in earth gravity) stimulate root growth. At the same time the increasing amount of moonlight stimulates leaf growth. Phases and their actions: 2 days before New Moon Plant short and extra long germinating seeds (most vegetables and seeds) New Moon (first seven days) Balanced increase in rate of root and leaf growth. Moonlight + Lunar Gravity - First Quarter (second seven days) Increased leaf growth rate. Moonlight + Lunar Gravity + Full Moon Transplant seedlings from flats into beds and plant long germinating seeds (most flowers) into flats or beds. Full Moon (third seven days) Increased root growth rate. Moonlight - Lunar Gravity - Fourth Quarter (fourth seven days) Balanced decrease in rate of root and leaf growth (resting period). Moonlight - Lunar Gravity + =========================================================================