Recycled Organic Living Soil (ROLS) and No Till Thread

DonPetro

DonPetro

Well-Known Member
st0wandgrow said:
In addition to. I use oyster shell flour for liming, and in addition to that 3-4 cups per cf of rock fines. Minerals/trace elements are mostly absent in the soils we put together unless we add them.
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Greensand and the rock phosphates are loaded with trace elements as with the kelp. Was thinking we had that covered. Would still like to source some glacial rock dust regardless.
 
st0wandgrow

st0wandgrow

Well-Known Member
DonPetro said:
@st0wandgrow
Have both actually. Micronized and granular. I know that stuff takes awhile to break down. Also have a cup of crushed eggshells in there.
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You can only add so much SRP for obvious reasons and its slow to break down. Greensand is probably bio available quicker, but still slow..... and again, probably not something that you want to be applying at 3-4 cups per cf. rock dusts can be applied liberally bringing those trace minerals and also increasing the cec of your soil.

There are enough people that have been at this for quite a while that strongly recommend this, so it is info that you can take to the bank IMO. I would say next to your source of compost, rock dusts would be second in line in order of importance.
 
DonPetro

DonPetro

Well-Known Member
st0wandgrow said:
You can only add so much SRP for obvious reasons and its slow to break down. Greensand is probably bio available quicker, but still slow..... and again, probably not something that you want to be applying at 3-4 cups per cf. rock dusts can be applied liberally bringing those trace minerals and also increasing the cec of your soil.

There are enough people that have been at this for quite a while that strongly recommend this, so it is info that you can take to the bank IMO. I would say next to your source of compost, rock dusts would be second in line in order of importance.
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Right on man. So lets see if this makes sense...
So we been rocking pretty good without the addition of these rock dusts...what affect does the availability of trace minerals and a higher cec have on overall plant health? Will we see an increase in yield?
 
st0wandgrow

st0wandgrow

Well-Known Member
DonPetro said:
Right on man. So lets see if this makes sense...
So we been rocking pretty good without the addition of these rock dusts...what affect does the availability of trace minerals and a higher cec have on overall plant health? Will we see an increase in yield?
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Anecdotal evidence only, but I noticed improvements in vigor, yield and health of the plants when I followed coots advice and added rock dusts. My first couple batches of soil went without it because I was still focusing solely on NPK. Subsequent soils had the rock dusts included and I could see the benefits, particularly when you get in to the 2'nd and 3'rd runs of that same bucket .

If you have a rock quarry close by you could take a 5 gallon bucket up there and ask the owner if he'd mind giving/selling you some. Places that carve headstones, or custom install granite counter tops are also good places to check with. If worse comes to worse you can order it online. There's a place in the states here called rock dust local that I ordered from before stumbling on a rock quarry close to my house. I want to say I paid $70'ish for the stuff online and it lasted quite a while. 80lbs worth for that price, and you get roughly 3 cups per lb. That would give you enough to amend 80cf of soil. :shock:
 
DonPetro

DonPetro

Well-Known Member
st0wandgrow said:
Anecdotal evidence only, but I noticed improvements in vigor, yield and health of the plants when I followed coots advice and added rock dusts. My first couple batches of soil went without it because I was still focusing solely on NPK. Subsequent soils had the rock dusts included and I could see the benefits, particularly when you get in to the 2'nd and 3'rd runs of that same bucket .

If you have a rock quarry close by you could take a 5 gallon bucket up there and ask the owner if he'd mind giving/selling you some. Places that carve headstones, or custom install granite counter tops are also good places to check with. If worse comes to worse you can order it online. There's a place in the states here called rock dust local that I ordered from before stumbling on a rock quarry close to my house. I want to say I paid $70'ish for the stuff online and it lasted quite a while. 80lbs worth for that price, and you get roughly 3 cups per lb. That would give you enough to amend 80cf of soil. :shock:
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Yea i've noticed its pretty cheap cost wise so it only makes sense to use it. Does it bring in added cal and mag as well? Im just wondering about toxicity.
 
foreverflyhi

foreverflyhi

Well-Known Member
I bought a 60lbs bag of glacial rock 2 years ago, still have half bag!

Is rock dust the same as Dolomite or shells high in ca, they aren't suppose to be put in water feedings ir top dress? Not soluble right? Or am i wrong?

I remember reading some where that a fungi dominated tea with rock dust can be beneficial because the fungi uses the rock to attach to and multiply?
 
Pattahabi

Pattahabi

Well-Known Member
DonPetro said:
Link please!
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You know it! Highly recommend This One.

st0wandgrow said:
Ohh snap! You can post up some microbe porn now. :-)
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Dude, I'm so siked! I need to get a camera and adapter, but that will be happening shortly. Just checking out the DVD's is already blowing my mind. I mean, we all know this is a living soil, but DAMN! Already threw some of the homemade yogurt on a slide lol! It's been a couple hours, I'm hooked!

Going to make some soil/EWC slurries now! :)

P-
 
O

OutofLEDCloset

Well-Known Member
Does anyone put everything (minerals neem kelp ect.) into the compost pile then feed to the worms? Does this make everything more available? Waste of time? Would be cool to just add the castings to the peat and aeration of choice.
 
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