Biostimulant Method of Soil-Plant Mineral Exchange
Biostimulants, like Mineral MAX AG, work on the principle that energizing and encouraging the natural processes within plant metabolisms increases their nutrient uptake and improves the health and fertility of the soil. This leads to healthier, more nutrient-dense plants, larger harvests, the ability of plants to better manage stresses such as poor weather and pests, and healthier and more fertile soil.
Nutrient Exchange Between Soil and Plants
For proper soil biology to occur, nutrients (sugar, carbon, carbohydrates, and enzymes) need to be accessible to the soil from the plant roots. The soil forms a holding capacity for these nutrients and allows them to be released slowly into the rhizosphere. The many soil subsections encourage foraging for nitrogen, phosphorus, and other nutrients. Mycorrhizal fungi break down these nutrients into soluble forms that can be utilized as they travel back to the plants through capillary action (by way of hyphae). The soil microbes, mycorrhizal fungi, and rhizobacteria form a strong part of this exchange.
The root exudates (compounds that feed microbial life and drive soil regeneration) influence the soil. Amino acids, sugars, enzymes, and other acids increase soil organic matter and structure. This acts as a “microbial” inoculant. The addition of fish emulsion, extra sea kelp, or plant tea extracts can also be beneficial. Ultimately, the farmer’s decisions will decide the best path forward.
Plant Nutrition
These minerals are, of course, important to plants and soil, but heavy dosing of them is not the only method of getting nutrients to plants and soil. We believe that administering nutrients in a manner that provides and encourages nature’s processes to activate the plant roots and soil biology to gather the materials needed and transport them back to the plants through their roots. Nutrition in the soil helps “solubilize” certain minerals that plants need to grow and thrive.
Plant roots provide sugars, carbon, and enzymes to the soil. Soil returns nutrients to the expanding and growing roots (both laterally and vertically). This process encourages the soil to collect weathered rock, decomposed plants, and a host of nutrients and other materials to return to or “exchange” with the plants. In this way, there is a kind of communication that goes back and forth between soil, plants, and roots.
Mineral MAX AG Biostimulant Role in the Nutrient Exchange
Mineral MAX AG can be a part of this process because feeding both the plants and soil is a seamless process that occurs. The Blue-Green algae in Mineral MAX AG sequester nitrogen from the air. It contains high quantities of minerals, amino acids, and natural growth hormones. Icelandic kelp (Ascophyllum nodosum) has a similar nutrient profile and is especially high in potassium.
The presence of humates (Humic and Fulvic acids), Azomite™, and biochar carbon derived from coconut shells act as a sponge that holds water and releases it more efficiently as needed into the subsoil. They also create a “home” for the soil biology to utilize. This leads to less overall water use and a greater conservation of nutrients. We can then observe the results.