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Vegetable Gardening Guru

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indianabob:
Roy and Ninny (Kathy),

Interesting that you should mention the benefits of Molasses to natural growth.

Did you know that molasses will also aid in the break down and conversion of TNT to its natural components when applied to contaminated soil?  It is a natural process that has been substituted for expensive soil removal and or incineration of the contaminated soil to prevent contamination of the water supply in areas that have been turned back over to private use by the U. S. government.

When I worked on this project from 1990 until 1998 I used to pick up 55 gallon drums of molasses at a depot in LaSalle, Illinois to transport them to the work site near Burlington, Iowa.  Those drums were HEAVY.

Indiana Bob






--- Quote from: Roy Martin on March 23, 2009, 07:41:07 AM ---Molasses


Sweet syrup that is a carbohydrate used as a soil amendment to feed and stimulate microorganisms. Contains sulfur, potash, and many trace minerals. Approximate analysis is 1-0-5. Molasses provides food for microorganisms and is a source of carbon, sulfur, and potash. It is a good, quick source of energy for the soil life and microbes in a compost pile, and will chase fire ants away. It is a carbon source and feeds beneficial microbes creating greater nature fertility. Liquid molasses is used in sprays and dry molasses is used as an ingredient in organic fertilizers. It contains sulfur, potash, and other trace minerals. Excellent foliar feeding material and can be mixed with other organic liquids. Use at 2-4 quarts/acre for soil application. For foliar application on broadleaf plants use 1 pint per acre. For grasses and grains still use 1 quart per acre. Blackstrap molasses is the best choice because it contains the sulfur and iron of the original material.

Dry molasses isn’t really straight dried molasses. It’s molasses sprayed on a grain residue carrier. It’s an excellent carbon source that stimulates beneficial microorganisms. And, it repels fire ants.

Molasses is the best sugar for horticultural use because of its trace minerals. Blackstrap is hard to find but is the best molasses because of  the sulfur and iron, but any kind will work. Molasses is a carbon source and feeds the beneficial microbes creating greater natural plant fertility. Molasses also has a nice side benefit. When used with compost tea and orange oil,  it kills fire ants and other insect pests. By itself, molasses repels fire ants effectively.

 

--- End quote ---

Ninny:
Wow! who knew! I guess SOMEONE did, huh? heehee! You never get too old to learn something NEW! Ha! It isn't even new, just new to ME!!! :o
Interesting! 8)
Kathy ;)

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