Trace Minerals and Soil
The benefits of rock powder

adapted from several articles by David Yarrow
by J. Roylance for the Biodynamic Vineyard Conference 11-14-03

In the past soils were mineralized by annual spring flooding. Bottom lands and river valleys have traditionally been highly prized for their fertility. Agricultural soils thrive with an annual application of mineral fines.

Julius Hensel, a biochemist and nutritionist recognized this in Germany in the late 1800’s. He discovered that ground rock added to existing soils increased crop yield, boosted the crop’s resistance to disease, pests, drought and frost, and improved the condition of the soil thus reducing erosion. The produce grown in this soil had excellent taste and nutritional content and this increased the health of both livestock and humans.

In America, early in the century in Clifton, NJ, John Ruegg used lava rock to grow disease and pest free plants. In the 1940’s Albert Carter Savage wrote “Remineralization: A New Basis for Proper Nutrition” after 20 years of research in Kentucky. Dr. Ehrenfried Pfieffer, soil scientist and biodynamic farming expert advocated rock powders for trace elements in soil and plant nutrition. William A Atbrecht, University of Missouri soil scientist, taught the importance of replacing minor and trace elements

Soil begins as rock. If you want to renew soil that is the primary ingredient that needs to be added; rocks are the primary source of minerals. When the rock is powdered, it increases the surface area and availability of minerals for digestion by microbes in the soil. The main distinction between minerals in the form of powdered rock and conventional fertilizers is solubility. Agricultural fertilizers are designed to be put into solution so that plants take up the minerals directly from the soil solution. Powdered rocks are not soluble in this manner — they are slowly soluble. It takes them years to dissolve instead of days or even minutes. so they have a much slower release. They are available more gradually and are more likely to stay in place once they are applied. When you apply powdered rocks, you are feeding the soil life which increases microbial life resulting in healthy plants.

Planters II is one of the oldest rock dust products on the market. This unique, ancient mineral deposit has been studied and sold on many types of farms throughout North America for over 50 years. Where Planters II has been used microbiotic life increases dramatically. There is also an increase in organic matter and an improvement in soil structure. In Enlivened Rock Powders, Harvey Lisle writes, “Planters [which is high in silicon] brings into the soil living forces from the cosmos. Living forces from the cosmic contribute to increased organic malter and improved soil structure. Bacteria profit from [these] improved conditions…” Plants depend on bacteria to digest and supply minerals packaged as protoplasm. Soil remineralized with rock dust has a population explosion of bacteria feeding on the minerals. The bacteria alter soil tilth, water retention and nutrient capacity.

Planters dramatically boosts vigor, producing compact, sturdy plants with darker color, better disease and pest resistance and stronger frost hardiness. It stimulates flowering, seeds and fruit with richer, deeper and better flavor. Mineral, protein and sugar content increases. Planters II has a unique balance of diverse of minerals which has proven itself over time to be uniquely suited to enhancing plant growth.