Liquid Kelp Extraction

I dont know if it is the norm but obviously someone is trying this method with some type of results. The Carrageenan is a polysaccharide found in seaweed. It is basically a vegan form of gelatin. Actually the brand of aloe I use has carrageenan listed in it. Well the non preservative version does not the exact one I use.

 

SkunkPatronus

USDA NOP Rules include a section on synthetically extracted processes for aquatic plants.

Here's the overall rule:

As plant or soil amendments…Aquatic plant extracts (other than hydrolyzed)—Extraction process is limited to the use of Potassium Hydroxide or Sodium Hydroxide; solvent amount used is limited to that amount necessary for extraction.

Here's the rules from USDA NOP on Sodium Hydroxide:

May be used as both an adjuvant or inert ingredient in combination with active pesticidal ingredients [excluding 25(b) exempt pesticides]. See also INERTS – LIST 4. May also be used to produce aquatic plant extracts; solvent amount used is limited to that amount necessary for extraction.

NOP Rule: 205.601(m) & 205.601(j)(1)

Potassium Hydroxide falls under NOP Rule 205.105(a)

Factor in my senility and you're probably good to go with the above info!

LD

 

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhVXsBn1pOw]The Velvelettes - Needle In A Haystack - YouTube[/ame]

 

none of this suprises me at all. just another reason to not use bottled fertilizers.

 

Hate to admit it but this thread is waaaay over my head lol.. Should I not be using the grow more brand liquid kelp extract? I guess I can also throw my other kelp/ seaweed ? out there. Is the Acadian seaplants liquid kelp more preferable, than the kel pak brand? Haha while I'm at it, is there a far superior kelp meal product/ brand I can look for? I'm almost out of my algamin from maxi crop.

Ok no more 20 questions.. Any help is much appreciated!!!!

 

You can probably sort out most of those questions for yourself if you sat down and thought about it a bit. Might have to do a bit of reading here and there. This book will be of a lot of help if you really want to know why (and which, brown kelp basically) seaweed is so helpful. http://www.acresusa.com/books/closeup.asp?action=search&prodid=83&catid=&pcid=2

Here is a clue on the other stuff.

So back to, do you have to replace everything. No, you don't. It's really up to you. 1st step is to see what you have and how it was extracted. Then just consider the pros and cons (for you specifically of course) of each decision (use or don't use) and weigh them against each other.

 

Ok in doing a quick search from my cell, it sounds like I would be hard pressed to find anything better than a kelp meal, right? It has versatility as far as being used in my act as well as making a great addition to a fpe? This is all super new to me so I apologize for just sitting here and asking questions!! I'm not home and doing all this from my phone or I'd be more apt to do a little research! Just looking for a few tips from all you gurus..
E

 

kelp meal (brown kelp, either from Nova Scotia or Norway)
use it
about .5 cup per cubic foot of your soil. Don't over do it.

 

Kelp meal is simply solar-dried kelp fronds that are chopped, sized and bagged - i.e. minimally processed.

Seaweed extract (the powder products that would include Maxicrop, Acadian Seaplants, Ltd., et al) are processed as I described in my first post. I actually lifted the information on the Certificate of Analysis (CoA) filed with Oregon Tilth for both powdered products. While Maxicrop comes in a liquid form it's just powder that was shipped to their facility where it's mixed with water, some bogus 'Soluble Potash' is added in order to bump up the K numbers.

Yay!

In the area of true liquid seaweed extracts, i.e. those which are not simply powdered seaweed extract mixed with water are pretty limited. The main ones are as follows:

KELPAK - manufactured in South Africa and were it not for the addition of the compound IAA, this is the best liquid product from one perspective. KELPAK uses a mechanical extraction method where the 'juice' of the fresh kelp fronds is pressed out of the plant material.

KELPGROW - manufactured in British Columbia. This product is unique in that it is fresh kelp fronds which have been ground down to a specific size, water is added to make a slurry and a fermentation arresting agent is added to stabilize this true liquid kelp. This is not a retail product at all. The minimum pack size is 4 gallons and only sold through wholesale agricultural suppliers.

Eco-Nutrients - manufactured in Northern California and they use a fermentation process that uses enzymes derived from both pineapple and green mangoes. This product is probably not available outside the West Coast because the company is only about 2 years old and they're in the stages of getting distributors and retailers to carry their product line which includes a fish hydrolysate product as well.

And to Skunk P - I have quit using any and all seaweed extracts. Besides the Potassium Hydroxide factor, the simple fact is that kelp meal @ $1.00 per lb. gives me far more punch for the dollar than seaweed extracts ever can.

For example if I use a cup or whatever amount and make 5 - 10 gallon of kelp tea then I have that material which still retains up to 50% of the elements and Secondary Metabolites still intact meaning that it's time for a trip through the worm bins where it will be completely decomposed and the benefits distributed throughout the worm castings.

Win-Win

LD

 

Thanks WD.. I could pick your brain all night! Although I better just lurk and do my reading before i start to be "that guy" who just wants answers all the time!

 

You're welcome.

 

Ld!

I think that's cleared up exactly what I was asking! I know my original ? was all over.. It's the start of my vacation and I may have been pulling questions out of my ass as I am quite stoned at the moment. Anyway, you guys ( weedeoid, chunk , ld, and miw) continually blow my mind with all your knowledge and I'm just happy you're willing to take the time to explain it, I'm sure it gets old repeating yourselves

Talk to u guys soon
E

 

[quote name='"WeeDroid"']

You're welcome. [/quote]

Sarcasm? I'm sorry if I'm just wasting your time here, I just figured instead of trial and error on my part I could ask what you guys are using Since u seem to have it all dialed in.

 

Your kewl dude. It was sarcasm, as LD's advice is so much more cured than mine. A bit more robust as well methinks.
I don't mind answering questions when I can, if someone genuinely wants to know.

For a real robust tea, throw some comfrey in there with your kelp meal tea mix.

 

Hahaa, no worries sarcasm is always good, sometimes hard to decipher over the Internet w my feeble mind!
As far as teas go, I don't have access to comfrey as far as I know but I will do a little research.
Right now I'm just using some kelp, alfalfa, ewc, and a little aloe juice. Any possible tweaks i need to make? Are u guys still using the fish hydrosylate? I know that can go into a tea brew, but can I use it raw as a foliar spray? (diluted of course)

 

Why would you use the fish? Do try to find some comfrey and grow it. Outdoors, in the ground.

 

That was somewhat of an afterthought mainly because we were talking about bottled kelp, I tend to ramble and as things pop into my head i just ask ask ask lol..Right now having 2 ft of snow on the ground is the real reason I probably won't get around to throwing the comfrey in until the spring. I read it can handle colder climates but I assume freezing temps will kill it off just like everything else right?