Peanut Shell Fertilizer
Can You Fertilize With Peanut Shells?
Plants need a delicate balance of nutrients in the soil to thrive. When a soil is deficient in any one of the nutrients, soil amending is necessary. Organic materials, or compost, added to soil before planting gives the soil the boost in nutrients plants depend upon to grow. Fertilizers added later help maintain the nutrients as the plants use them. Various organic fertilizers enhance the soil, including manure, blood meal and wood ash. Other organic materials, such as peanut shells, have few beneficial minerals plants can absorb and are best use as a protective covering.
Can You Fertilize With Peanut Shells?
Use peanut hulls with your mulch to protect plant roots.
Plants need a delicate balance of nutrients in the soil to thrive. When a soil is deficient in any one of the nutrients, soil amending is necessary. Organic materials, or compost, added to soil before planting gives the soil the boost in nutrients plants depend upon to grow. Fertilizers added later help maintain the nutrients as the plants use them. Various organic fertilizers enhance the soil, including manure, blood meal and wood ash. Other organic materials, such as peanut shells, have few beneficial minerals plants can absorb and are best use as a protective covering.
1. Nutrient Content
Plants use a combination of mineral and non-mineral nutrients. The mineral nutrients include nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium; non-mineral nutrients include oxygen, hydrogen and carbon. The non-mineral nutrients are found in the air and water, whereas mineral nutrients are obtained through fertilizers and naturally occurring matter in the soil. While the peanuts themselves, as part of the legume family, are nitrogen-rich, the peanut shells contain very little nitrogen. According to the North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension, peanut shells contain only 1.2 percent nitrogen. The levels of potassium and phosphorus are lower at .8 and .5 percents,
Plants need a delicate balance of nutrients in the soil to thrive. When a soil is deficient in any one of the nutrients, soil amending is necessary. Organic materials, or compost, added to soil before planting gives the soil the boost in nutrients plants depend upon to grow. Fertilizers added later help maintain the nutrients as the plants use them. Various organic fertilizers enhance the soil, including manure, blood meal and wood ash. Other organic materials, such as peanut shells, have few beneficial minerals plants can absorb and are best use as a protective covering.
Can You Fertilize With Peanut Shells?
Use peanut hulls with your mulch to protect plant roots.
Plants need a delicate balance of nutrients in the soil to thrive. When a soil is deficient in any one of the nutrients, soil amending is necessary. Organic materials, or compost, added to soil before planting gives the soil the boost in nutrients plants depend upon to grow. Fertilizers added later help maintain the nutrients as the plants use them. Various organic fertilizers enhance the soil, including manure, blood meal and wood ash. Other organic materials, such as peanut shells, have few beneficial minerals plants can absorb and are best use as a protective covering.
1. Nutrient Content
Plants use a combination of mineral and non-mineral nutrients. The mineral nutrients include nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium; non-mineral nutrients include oxygen, hydrogen and carbon. The non-mineral nutrients are found in the air and water, whereas mineral nutrients are obtained through fertilizers and naturally occurring matter in the soil. While the peanuts themselves, as part of the legume family, are nitrogen-rich, the peanut shells contain very little nitrogen. According to the North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension, peanut shells contain only 1.2 percent nitrogen. The levels of potassium and phosphorus are lower at .8 and .5 percents,