AusBonsai

Ben Thomas wrote:Very interesting thread. Im keen as to try this. Thinking of try Enfield produce to find ingredients?
Stupid question, are the cakes simply sat on the surface of the pots???
Cheers

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The cakes need to be in intimate contact with the soil. I usually scrape off a couple mm and then sit the cake on that and hold it down with some U shaped wire.
If you use baskets, it's better to surround the cake with coco peat too keep them moist. If they dry out they stop working.

Had a look at my closest animal supplies store, Enfield produce this morning. They dont stock soya bean meal or anything like it. Having a Google search and its not looking to good! Any ideas where to source it in Sydney?

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If there are cows or pigs within 20 miles there should be a stockfeed store close by.

I'll be trying the horse places in Terry Hills.

Followed up my closest option today. When I said id like to by 5/10 kg the receptionist held back her laugh

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So i went to bonsai nursery. Lucky 4 me Brenda was working. She helped me out with her own recipe

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Here's a few pics

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Ben Thomas wrote:Here's a few pics

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Ben I'm sure it will work but remember, cow manure has next to 0 nutrients, Mag sulphate is highly soluble, (that's why I never add liquid ferts of any kind) and lime makes the cakes alkaline so you need to be careful where you place them.

What is in the clear plastic bag right front?

Blood n bone in the clear bag.

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cow manure has next to 0 nutrients,

Where did that info come from treeman? Gardeners have been using manures, including cow manure as a source of nutrients for generations. If there's next to no nutrients in cow manure why does it make veges grow so well.
The first source I checked rates dry cow manure as 2:1.5:2.2 which I would consider reasonable for a natural source and way above 'next to nothing'.
The first soy bean meal source I came across shows typical analysis as 7:2:1
Actual levels of either will vary depending where they are sourced, processed and stored.

so soy bean meal has more N, a fraction more P but less K. A cow manure mix with a little more Blood and bone would probably end up with an overall similar rating to your soy bean mix I think.

shibui wrote:

Where did that info come from treeman?

Kevin Handreck

Cow...................N 0.2-2.7 P 0.1-0.6 K 0.06-2.1
Blood and bone.....N 4.5-6 P 5-7 K 0-2
Poultry pellets......N 3-4 P 1.3-3.6 K 1.2-2

Now, as we know, it is recommended to add chicken pellets (DL) every 2 weeks. It is easily leached. Cow manure is even more easily leached of it's nutrients after just a few waterings. It may contain almost no K (for example) if left in the rain for a while before being collected.
Cakes made from nutrient dense ingredients like soya and blood and bone last at least a month and are still dissolving after 6 weeks or more. What we are after is a high quality slow realease form of organic fertilizer. You can add whatever you like but cow manure should really be kept for digging into the ground. Particularly if you cannot be sure of it's nutrient content without analysis.
Also, a teaspoon of soybean would have the same nutrient load as a tablespoon or more of cow manure due to it's density.

so soy bean meal has more N, a fraction more P but less K.

Yes. This is why I boost K (and others) with Kelp extract (seasol etc applied separately) and regular liquid feeding with is usually very high in K

Hi Folks,

testing compost tea, instead of cakes.
Using Leucaena compost [ 2.6 N 1.2 P 0.9 K plus micro-nutrients ] for the tea at 1 lb compost to 1 gallon of water , on my older more finished trees.
Running a test of commercial fertiliser [ Miracle Gro singles at 1/2 strength ] against the compost tea.

One more week and I defoliate to see how each tree re-starts. 4 weeks of applied fertilser as I normally do before a defoliation.

Will take a few years to collect enough information. Shall also test composted Soybean meal.
Laters.
Tambrand

Has anyone tried poppyseed meal? I have tried to find soya bean meal and cotton seed but the only one I have been able to find in tassie is poppy seed.

Does anyone know where I can get soya bean meal in Melbourne?