Introduction of Greensand
Greensand is a great organic soil amendment that provides more than 30 minerals needed in sandy Florida soil.
It is intended to supplement our plant nutrition as a whole and will not use it on its own, since it does not have the balance of NPK elements.
Greensand is used in agriculture as a soil amendment. It has many benefits when added to the soil, because it contains nutrients and improves water retention and soil structure.
Greensand is flexible because it can improve both soil boundaries. It can bind sandy soil (which is really sweet) or loose clay soil (which is usually too much). Although greensand is not a complete fertilizer, it contains a lot of potassium. Greensand is often used as a source of potassium in agriculture.
Greensand releases its potassium slowly, over the course of the year. So if your plants need a quick potassium boost, look elsewhere – the potassium in greensand will not be available to all plants at once.
Greensand also has other applications including water purification. It is often used as filter media in water treatment systems.
The demand for greensand has increased, due to its increasing use in organic farming and water systems. The price of green sand has risen.
Where does it come from?
Greensand is mined from a sedimentary rock called “Glauconite”, a deposit of sediment from ancient wetlands. Think kelp, seaweed, seaweed, and ancient fossils of sea life, which have been decaying for centuries. It is olive green in color and turns gray to green when wet. When dry, it has a sandy texture and mixes easily with other organic soil movements.
Glauconite deposits have been found all over the world, but especially in the United States and Great Britain. In the United States, it is operated in PA/NJ, Texas and Arkansas. It is also found in Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. Even Florida had mines in the early 20th century.
Why Greensand is useful
Greensand is a soil amendment that helps level the soil. It works to loosen soil and is especially good for improving compacted soil or heavy clay. Things sink into the ground and push heavy objects away. This warms the soil, which allows the roots to grow and air to circulate in the soil.
Surprisingly, it is also a nutrient for sandy soil. Sand does not absorb water easily, allowing it to pass through. This is good for water, but it also means that nutrients are pumped out. Green sand absorbs up to 10 times more water than regular sand, without waterproofing.
In fact, in a study conducted at Rutgers University, researchers planted potatoes in sandy soil that had been amended with green grass. They found a 16% increase in fruit yield compared to the garden in the untreated soil. Greensand also contains important nutrients – it contains about 3% potassium (that’s the “K” in NPK). It also contains 30 minerals including iron, magnesium, calcium and phosphorus.
An easy way to use Greensand?
Greensand will not be followed by water and will crumble into the ground. You should put it in the soil without mixing it with water.
It should be used during the spring, either as an all-purpose fertilizer or as a soil amendment. The amount of greensand depends on how and where you want to use it.
Also, it depends on how each manufacturer does it. Some add sand to the Greensand mixture, which can affect the strength of the product as a whole.
In addition, the height of the land should be taken into account before determining how much Greensand fertilizer to use. Greensand is sometimes used in the following ways:
Plants and crops – Add two cups of greens to the soil from the field and crops
Indoor plants and container gardens – add two tablespoons for every gallon of compost you use
Bushes – mix 1/3 cup for each bush when planting or planting
Lawns – mix 16 pounds of green sand for every 1,000 square feet
Vegetables and flower gardens – add 30 kilos for every 1000 m². toe
Spreading work – use about 50 to 100 pounds of greensand for 1,000 square feet of soil.
After the soil amendment with Greensand in the first 12 months, you need to reduce the frequency. It is best to use 1-2 pounds per 100 square feet if the soil still needs modification. This means that adding greensand to the soil you use is a waste of money and time.
Greensand can be used for tender crops and heavy fertilizers because it is lightweight and does not damage the crops. Excessive exposure to Greensand is not a cause for concern because it does not get hot enough to cause a fire.
You can also use it for crops, but it is only useful for improving soil conditions. Its slow release mode will not be fast enough to increase potassium in plants.
It is best to add vermiculite, perlite or coir to your garden plants for best results.
Benefits of Greensand
Greensand is a good soil conditioner, improving water retention in the soil, because it can absorb water 10 times more than most soils. It loosens hard soil, binds sandy soil and helps release other nutrients.
We also know that mineralization can improve soil health by increasing certain bacteria that can slowly digest weak mineral nutrients, making them more viable.
Although the pH ranges from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, it has little effect on the pH balance of the soil.
