Azomite in the Garden? Does it Work?

Summary

This episode of 'Does It Work' explores the use of azomite, a volcanic ash soil amendment, in gardens. The video tests commercially available azomite, which contains trace minerals but no significant nitrogen, phosphate, or potassium. After applying two pounds per 10 square feet and incorporating it into the soil, the results after two weeks show minimal changes in nutrient levels, with slight increases in calcium and magnesium. Azomite does not tie up nutrients or significantly alter soil pH, suggesting it is a safe amendment with potential long-term benefits.

Takeaways

• 🌋 Azomite is a naturally mined volcanic ash from an ancient eruption in Utah, used as a soil amendment.
• 📦 The commercially available Azomite contains no nitrogen or phosphate but has about 0.2% potassium.
• 📈 Azomite is also rich in various trace minerals, including calcium, magnesium, and sodium.
• 🧪 The video demonstrates using a MySoil test kit to measure the nutrient content in soil treated with Azomite.
• 🔢 The recommended application rate for Azomite in the garden is two pounds per 10 square feet.
• 🌱 Incorporating Azomite into the soil requires thorough mixing to ensure even distribution.
• 🕒 The soil was tested for nutrient differences after a two-week period following Azomite application.
• 📊 The results showed minimal significant differences in nutrient levels, with slight increases in calcium and magnesium.
• 💧 Azomite did not tie up nutrients in the soil, unlike some other soil amendments.
• 📉 No significant short-term increases in available nutrients were observed, suggesting a long-term nutrient release potential.
• 🌡 The pH of the soil was slightly increased but not significantly affected by the addition of Azomite.
• 🔮 The video suggests that long-term effects of Azomite on soil nutrients might be more pronounced after eight weeks or a year.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is whether azomite, a naturally mined product from Utah, is effective as a soil amendment in a garden.

What is azomite and where does it come from?

Azomite is a ground-up volcanic ash from an ancient volcanic eruption that was deposited in an ancient seabed in Utah. It is mined and used as a soil amendment.

What are the nutrient contents of the azomite used in the video?

The azomite used in the video contains no nitrogen or phosphate and about 0.2 percent potassium. It also contains various other minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and sodium.

What is the recommended application rate of azomite for the garden mentioned in the video?

The recommended application rate of azomite for the garden is two pounds per 10 square feet.

How was the azomite incorporated into the soil in the demonstration?

The azomite was evenly spread on the surface and then incorporated into the topsoil to a depth of about half an inch.

What was the purpose of irrigating the soil after incorporating azomite?

Irrigating the soil after incorporating azomite helps to ensure that the soil amendment is well distributed and can start interacting with the soil.

What was the duration of the test period after applying azomite?

The test period after applying azomite was two weeks.

What changes in nutrient levels were observed after two weeks of azomite application?

After two weeks, there were very few significant differences in nutrient levels. There were small increases in calcium and magnesium, but no significant short-term increases in other nutrients.

Did azomite application affect the soil pH?

The application of azomite resulted in a very slight increase in pH from 6.71 to 6.77, which is not considered significant in the short term.

What was the overall conclusion of the video regarding the use of azomite in the garden?

The overall conclusion was that azomite does not hurt the garden and slightly increases calcium and magnesium levels without affecting soil pH or tying up nutrients.

What would be interesting to explore further according to the video?

It would be interesting to see the long-term effects of azomite on nutrient levels and soil pH after eight weeks or even a year.