... mixing compost with rock dust will help prevent leaching of
the nutrients in the compost. Micronutrients in the dust will
nourish the bacteria and fungi in the compost creating new
nutrient cycling, tieing up some NPK in the compost by those
microorganisms which then release them to your trees while
significantly enriching your soil mix with substances (chitin)
that contribute to tilth and water and nutrient holding capacity.
That alone should increase total nutrient availability to your
trees. I would use 50/50 rockdust/compost...
Have you considered applying enhanced compost tea? ...
I prefer the addition of a generous amount of compost each year,
as I am primarily interested in the constant build-up of organic
and humic matter at the base of the trees, and its interaction
with the soil.
The primary function of compost tea is not to enhance the soil's
fertility but rather, to increase the presence, activity and
diversity of soil microorganisms that generate growth stimulating
phyto-hormones and substances with antibiotic activity against
pathogens.
IOW: Although soil organisms are also responsible for capturing and
facilitating the assimilation of nutrients by plants, compost tea is
used as a means to provide resistance to pests and disease to a
greater extent than compost, since it adheres to the plant's foliage
- something compost doesn't do.
One is mainly directed toward soil improvement, the other toward
crop protection.
...
I live in Israel, ... It would probably be cheaper for you to get
your Barhis from the west coast (they grow them there, right?).
Not on the coast, in the desert - the Imperial and Cochella Valleys,
and the Sonora Desert.
Anyhow, if anyone on the list is interested in this kind of
bartering, we grow medjool, deglet-noor, barhi and zahidi
varieties.
What's your soil like? Zahidi's tend to do better than Deglet's in
heavier soils, while Deglet's do better in powdery ones.
--
Douglas
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