OGS Premium NoTill Soil is perfect for anyone seeking easy entry into NoTill gardening. It is ready to use right from the bag - complete with base, aeration, compost and plenty of amendments in the appropriate ratios. All you need to do is add it to a pot, add your plant, and water as needed.
Our Premium NoTill Soil has been carefully refined and lab tested so all of its elements interact harmoniously, eliminating the chance of encountering pH, lockout and deficiency issues. It has been designed to be top dressed and over time facilitate a biological environment that allows nutrient cycling (requiring less amendments over time).
The Calcium:Magnesium ratio has been optimised based on experimental studies that show when cation exchange sites are highly saturated (75-85%) by Calcium nutrient mobilisation and exchange is optimised. It is not until this saturation point that legumes are able to grow by fixing atmospheric Nitrogen, so it works well in conjunction with cover crops.
Component:
Vermicompost - Vermicompost is nutrient rich compost that has been refined by worms to have a neutral pH and excellent water holding capacity. Humic substances within the Worm Castings act as chelating agents that enhance the availability of nutrients to your plants, while the negative surface charge of organic materials within our Worm Castings provides additional cation exchange sites for the retention of nutrient cations. Due to the abundance of mycorrhizal spores in our Vermicompost, the organisms within your soil will act as vectors to innoculate the roots of your plants with viable AMF propagules.
Oyster Shell Flour - Freshly ground oyster shells are composed of approximately 96% Calcium Carbonate, with the remainder being trace elements, kelp and microbes. Oyster shell flour not only releases calcium and trace element, but is also a liming agent, improves tilth, provides favourable conditions for microbial activity, stimulating enzyme activity and increasing Cationic Exchange Capacity (CEC).
Oyster shell flour is a very special component of our compost blends because the slow release calcium helps to increase the structural integrity of plants, promote new growth and increase resistance to disease by facilitating the movement of heavy macro-molecules around the plant.
Oyster Shell also contains Chitin which is beneficial to the plants immune system when converted into chitosan by an enzyme released from the plant (chitanase).
Bokashi - (We include the Bokashi in separate packaging to your compost mix, giving you the choice to either combine it into the mix or trial it as a topdressing!)
When used as a soil amendment Bokashi invites a galaxy of beneficial bacteria and fungi that result in increased yields and healthier plants via probiotic effects in the soil. In addition, they hasten the breakdown of amendments and transport them to the plant as part of a symbiotic relationship, and help to ward off nematodes and other invaders, among many other benefits.
BioChar - BioChar is a special type of agricultural charcoal that is high in carbon content. The mechanisms of action are not fully understood, however it is suspected that it works by increasing the amount of sequestered carbon available to the plant. BioChar assists in purifying toxic heavy metals in the water/soil, providing both water retention and aeration, as well as an environment for microbes to inoculate. For this reason, you'll see greater benefits from BioChar over time, making it an ideal amendment for NoTill conditions.
By using sustainably grown Australian hardwood the BioChar in our mixes routinely tests at 89 to 93% carbon, compared to cotton gin waste or sugarcane bagasse which can be as low as 10% (10% carbon is still allowed to be called BioChar by international standards). It is sourced from plantation waste, so in using our premium compost mixes you are ultimately sequestering carbon back into the soil once used.
Malted Barley Grain - Malted Barley Grains are an exceptionally rich source of microbes, with a wide range of bacteria, filamentous fungi and yeasts colonising the area between the husk and the pericarp which produce biologically significant levels of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), a hormone that promotes cell division and is essential for the proper development of plant organs. The grain functions in the mix as a source of growth hormone catalysts, facilitating explosive growth.
Kelp Meal - Kelp Meal is mild source of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium (1-0.5-3), whilst also being a source of trace minerals, amino acids, plant micro-nutrients and natural plant hormones. These hormones are specifically noted to reduce stress associated with transplant and heat shock, which in turn will allow your plants to grow quicker and transition more smoothly after transplants.
Neem Cake - Neem Cake provides a fantastic source of NPK with values of 4-2-2 respectively. Furthermore there are several molecules in Neem Cake such as Azadirachtin, Salannin and Nimbin which provide integrated pest management to your garden, acting as an antifeedant for over 200 species of insects.
Volcanic Rock Dust (Basalt) - Volcanic Rock Dust is beneficial for remineralizing soils and improving soil structure. It is a fantastic natural source of slow release N, P, K, S, Si, as well as numerous trace elements. It assists in the uptake of other nutrients, promotes microbial life and gives crops an unparalleled nutrient density.
Palagonite - Palagonite is another type of rock dust that serves as a soil balancing agent. It provides nutrients and trace elements, promotes microbial growth, improves soil aeration and Cationic Exchange Capacity (CEC). Palagonite improves the soils structure in terms of water infiltration and retention, as well as providing improved protection from insects and fungal diseases.
Gypsum - Gypsum is a natural source of both Calcium and Sulfur (CaS). Gypsum improves soil structure and improves water permeation, reduces surface crusting, increases yield and flavour as well as facilitating intensive transportation of macro-molecules around the plant during bloom.
What's in the Box
- [1] x Organic Gardening Solutions Premium NoTill Soil - 25L | Ready to Use Soil Kit
