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Originally Posted by Hermitian
There is no soil or biology that is going to break apart the covalent rock mineral and make it available to plants on a time line that is relevant to human lives. If you want to go in the lab and use some 1/2 molar acid that's another story.
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I'm not sure what your saying there, it goes against any science that I've ever read.
If there are no natural forces that can break a covalent bond with a nutrient mineral like in a chelate, then no life would exist, everything would starve.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hermitian
The carb story in kelp is more interesting. The plants do not uptake them directly but instead it is consumed by a common soil bacteria which excretes an auxin-like compound that boosts plant performance. This process does not occur in foliar spray or bacteria-free hydroponic systems.
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Soil bacteria do consume sugars from root exudates and organic matter, but plants are also able to absorb some sugars through roots and leaves. Some sugars are able to chelate metals, that is why a molasses solution can remove rust.
What is this "auxin-like compound" that you are referring too?
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Chelation involves the neutralisation of positively charged elements (cations) to facilitate their easy entry into the negatively charged plant. Minerals can be seven to ten times more plant-available in chelated form. Kelp contains a powerful chelating agent called Mannitol, which naturally chelates the full suite of cations already present in seaweed. There is also sufficient Mannitol (10% of dry weight) to offer chelation capacity for any other cations that may be applied in con★★★★★★★★ with seaweed fertilizer. FULL ARTICLE HERE
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Chelates for Micronutrient Nutrition among Crops
SOIL AMENDING ATTRIBUTES OF SEAWEED
Chelating Agents