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Edition 33

👋 Hey TropicalBytes family, welcome to this week’s edition of Q.U.I.P.S.!

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In Today’s Email:

• Kelp: An Undervalued Secret for Success… 💡

• Guess What South Africa’s Most Commonly Used Kelp Is… 🪸

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Information ℹ️

Kelp: An Undervalued Secret for Success… 💡

In recent talks amongst some industry professionals and returning to our conversation on the current low-price-environment in the macadamia industry (Check out Q.U.I.P.S. Edition 31 – Is the Cost of Macadamia Farming Overpriced?), we decided to take a closer look at the fascinating topic of kelp, a subject we haven’t thoroughly explored yet.

Now, let's be clear: kelp isn’t your typical ‘natural’ or 'naturally occurring' fertiliser. Unless you're near the sea, where kelp is a common sight, it's somewhat out of place on inland farms. And let's be honest, even coastal farms aren't expecting a tidal wave to douse their crops in kelp.

So, is kelp a wise choice in a cost-cutting climate, and what is its true value in agriculture?

First off, kelp is more of a biostimulant than a fertiliser. And by biostimulant we’re talking about a product that influences plant growth hormonally. Some kelp species, thriving in the sea, can grow up to a metre a day! It’s a giant forest, jam-packed with growth-promoting hormones like auxins, cytokinins, and gibberellins.

Harvesting kelp means capturing these growth hormones, which can then be applied to trees, plants, and grasses. Over time, especially in traditional agricultural practices across Asia, the effectiveness of kelp has been consistently demonstrated.

As for its claims? Extensive to say the least.

From our research for this write up we came across:

• Disease and pest resistance

• Frost protection

• Improving moisture retention

• Natural chelating ability

• Enhancing yields

• Promoting better flowering

The list goes on…

Yes, it does sound like a bit of a miracle worker, which naturally tickles the skeptic in us. And so is there something that this thing doesn't do well?

One thing it definitely doesn't do well is feed your plants a sufficient amount of macro nutrients that they need – kelp just isn't a complete nutrient solution. While plants require about 16 odd nutrients, kelp doesn’t provide substantial amounts of the macro ones like nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus, although it may contain some potassium depending on its processing.

What kelp does bring to the table is; a rich assortment of about 70 minerals, micro-elements, vitamins, and enzymes, that it picks up from the ocean. These are all highly accessible to plants, thanks to {kelps?} unique, efficient, processing of these nutrients that it ‘stores’ in its leaves.

There’s even trace gold in kelp, believe it or not. Many swear by its effectiveness, even if we're still piecing together the full picture of why it works so well.

Kelp is also known for enhancing nutrient uptake in plants through chelators. These organic compounds simplify complex nutrients, making them more easily absorbed. So, with a little bit of faith we suppose you could say kelp does work and it's worth using.

How much do you need to use?

The good news; not much – a little goes a long way. And it’s also reasonably inexpensive depending on how you apply it. The reason you don't need much of it, is because it's a hormonal stimulant and you just need enough to provide the stimulating action. Overdoing it is more a hit to your wallet than a danger to your trees. It also generally leans a bit alkaline for most formulations, which is mostly a good thing for soil health.

How about applying it?

For the young ones, like your newly planted trees, a liquid kelp root drench is the way to go. It's a favourite among some of the JAFFs we’ve chatted with, using it as part of their planting method to prevent tree shock. Some even mentioned that they go back and apply another drench to the trees which show signs of “clocking out”, with significant improvements, giving the plant the best chance at life.

Look, don't expect it to provide complete miracles though.

There are also many products out there on the market these days, some of which claim to have better extraction methods and better levels of bioactive nutrients, sometimes with macro nutrients and trace elements like Boron and Zinc that have been added to the mix. So, just letting you know that there's many kelp products and they do try and differentiate themselves a little bit.

What about mature trees? 

Most commonly a foliar application is done. This is often aligned with the first spray of the year (early spring) which is around August in the southern hemisphere.

The kelp incorporated with trace elements like Zinc and Boron is used. This ties in nicely with the tree’s natural growth cycle, giving it a nice boost as it’s gearing up for flowering. Plants use tiny amounts of the micronutrients, measured in parts per million, which is why foliar spraying can be an effective way to deliver these nutrients, providing a low cost, high value input for farmers.

⚠️ Do make note that when using kelp in a spray regimen with other additives, compatibility is key to avoid counterproductive chemical reactions. You don’t want to go and mix an alkaline seaweed/kelp application with other acidic products and end up neutralising the ‘main’ product you are spraying, wasting a whole lot of money.

Another way to apply it; is using pelletised or powdered kelp, that can be applied loosely. As a powdered form, it’s particularly beneficial for its solubility and ease of application.

Foliar spray, pellets, powder – there are choices. The aim is to get those kelp benefits to the plant efficiently, whether through leaves or roots.

Timing wise?

It seems that the best time to apply it is in that early-spring-sort-of-growth-period of the plant, pre-flowering stage.

Is kelp a yes or no? 

We lean towards 'yes'. It's not overly pricey and shows promising results, especially in young trees and trees that have just been planted.

But remember, it should compliment, not replace, essential macronutrients. It’s more of a stress-resistance enhancer and biostimulant than anything else.

👉 We're keen to hear about your experiences with kelp. Have you noticed its impact? Share your stories in the comments or reach out to us at:

• 📧 [email protected]

• 🔁 or simply reply to this email.

Your insights are invaluable to us!

Picture 📷

South Africa’s Most Commonly Used Kelp 🪸

The kelp species Ecklonia maxima, only grows in the clean, cold waters off the Atlantic Coast of southern Africa. The nutrient rich Benguela Current and powerful tidal action provide perfect conditions for the rapid growth of these giant kelp forests.

🔗 For more on the beneficials species of kelp and seaweed in South Africa (link)

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