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Myths and Truths
The More-On Theory
Myth:
If a little is good, then more must be better!
Truth:
Too much of a good thing is not a good thing! Just as you wouldn’t make frozen orange juice without water, you do not want to use compost without soil. It’s all about the ratio. The can of frozen juice you buy from the grocery store is extremely concentrated, and unless you combine it with the appropriate amount of water, it not only doesn’t taste right, but the dense sugar levels make it less nutritious as well. The same goes for compost. The humified compost that we produce is very concentrated and exceptionally nutritious for your soil—if it is used properly. We use a calculated recipe that is specifically designed to add the appropriate amount of nutrients to the soil it is to be mixed with. We have different humus products for different needs, but all of them are designed to work with the soil, and not instead of the soil. Part of what makes the Elite and Elite N+ so great is the small amount that is needed to greatly increase the health and productivity of your soil—just one part of this humus blend to nine parts of your soil! This makes it a very cost-effective product as well as one that is above and beyond any conventional compost product you can find. Check out the products pages or contact us for the correct proportions to use. Or, if math isn’t your subject, our turf soil and garden soil are already blended with the appropriate humus-to-soil ratios, taking the guesswork out of preparing the best soil for your lawn or garden. You stretch your dollar and stay healthy by adding the right amount of water to the frozen juice. You can do the same by adding the right amount of soil to that humus.
Don't be one of the More-Ons, follow the directions and be a Garden Guru instead!!
Remember, Soil Essence is YOGA
for your soil!!!
MYTH:
"Applying compost to my soil is the same as applying raw organic matter such as manure, straw, or wood."
TRUTH:
The value of raw organic matter is determined by the "digestive capacity" of your soil. Most Nevada soils have little, if any, digestive capacity. If a soil is overfed with raw organic matter, essential nutrients become "tied up" and are no longer available to your plants. A mature, developed soil will have the greatest capacity to digest raw organic material and turn it into plant food, though this is usually a lengthy process.
REMEMBER, ORGANIC MATTER IS NOT PLANT FOOD UNTIL IT HAS PASSED THROUGH THE STOMACH OF A MICROBE!
In reality, "composting" is a process. If done correctly, “Humus” is the product! Composting is a microbially driven process that breaks down organic matter and then builds that material into Humus, thus making it truly and immediately available for plants to use.
Overall, scientists have identified as many as 1,000 different benefits from Humus in the soil!
MYTH:
"All compost is the same."
TRUTH:
After nearly a decade of composting, we know firsthand that producing the HIGHEST QUALITY product is a complex, time-consuming process. Most "compost" producers only subject their feedstocks to the first phase of decomposition, bag it, and call it "compost." At Full Circle Compost, however, our feedstocks are put through the entire process of decomposition, humification, and stabilization. This insures that our customers receive a biologically humified, thermophillically sanitized product that provides the greatest value for their soil and their dollar.
Remember, your time is valuable so make sure you get the most for your money and your time!
MYTH:
"The value of compost is solely its NPK content."
TRUTH:
Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium are certainly necessary and are naturally available in high quality Humus. We also understand that many other minerals, such as Calcium and Magnesium, are necessary for healthy soil. Yet, the mineral nutrient content in soil is only one-third of the ENTIRE soil fertility picture. We call this the “Chemical” aspect of soil fertility. When supplemental mineral nutrients are mixed with humified compost, they combine chemically with the humic acids to form soluble (plant available) compounds. The humic acids also buffer the minerals across a wide pH range. In addition to making minerals available to the plant, humus itself is a source of necessary organic carbon and organic nitrogen.
The second aspect of high production soil fertility is the soil’s structure, known as the "Physical" aspect. Humified compost supplies humic acids which expand clay colloids in the soil, creating a porous structure which allows oxygen to penetrate. Humus also holds FOUR TIMES its weight in water, increasing the soil’s water management capacity through the reduction of runoff, evaporation, and mineral leaching.
The third aspect of soil fertility is the "Biological," which pertains to the microlife of the soil. Humus dramatically increases the number of beneficial microorganisms along with a large dose of the enzymes, root stimulants, and humic compounds that they produce. Furthermore, the nitrogen-fixing bacteria found in humified compost convert atmospheric Nitrogen into plant usable organic Nitrogen compounds.
As you can see, the value of compost goes well beyond N, P, & K. The true value of high quality humified compost is its ability to BALANCE the Chemical, Physical, and Biological aspects of your soil.
