We have known the leading role that algae have been acquiring in sectors such as food and cosmetics. What you probably didn't know is that they are also good for nourishing your plants and beautifying your garden, your crops or your pots. A new trend has arrived in gardening and is the use of a type of algae, the diatomaceous earth, to feed your crops.
In this article we are going to tell you everything about the diatomaceous earth, so you know what it is, where it comes from and how it is used to give your plants more nutrients so that they grow beautiful and very healthy. Because just as you feed yourself with the best foods that provide you with vitamins and minerals, they, our plants and crops will also thank you.
What is diatom?
It seems like the name of a fantasy movie or an adventure novel, or the place of an attractive legend. However, diatomaceous earth is something real and palpable that is very interesting to know, because it provides many properties to the organism, both the human organism and that of your plants.
Diatoms are a type of algae which are characterized because they are fossilized. They are used in the form of earth that has a characteristic white color, which is why, in addition to diatomaceous earth, it is also known as White Lands.
We said that these algae are fossilizedIndeed, which indicates to us that they have a provenance very far back in time. They are like the dinosaurs of the marine phytoplankton world. In fact, it is thought that the origin of these algae may date back to the time of the early jurassic which, to give you an idea, is the time in which marine reptiles or plesiosaurs begin to evolve.
Diatoms are unicellular algae that are part of the marine phytoplankton. Currently they continue to exist and are part of the food chain of many marine species. Still alive, that is, not fossilized like these that we use in the form of earth, it is estimated that there are around 20.000 species. They generally survive by forming colonies.
Why are diatoms so interesting?
Diatoms are interesting because contain hydrated silicon dioxide. Thanks to this, they are considered a excellent fertilizer and, for this reason, it is used in gardening and to feed crops. They are also very rich in calcium, which is the mineral that gives it that white color that gives it the nickname “White Lands”.
Apart from gardening, many other uses are attributed to these algae and, in fact, among biologists, they are an interesting find because it allows them to study the environmental conditions of the place where they appear, discover the evolution of climate change and the state of health. of the waters.
It is also important that you know, since we are talking about history and biology, that the diatom algae They could inhabit both the seas and fresh waters and, for this reason, they are considered to be one of the first living organisms that managed to inhabit our planet Earth.
Where does diatomaceous earth come from?
The discovery of diatom fossils is a product of the great droughts that the planet has been facing. As the seas and lakes have dried up, fossils have been found. It happened that with the lack of water, which was the essential habitat for these species to live, the algae were forming settlements on the bottoms of these seas and lakes and, on top of them, dry land was accumulating.
Where fossilized diatoms are found, it means that there was water there in the distant past.
Uses of diatomaceous earth in gardening
La diatomaceous earth is mainly used in gardening to nourish plants, but, in addition, it serves as fertilizer. And it is very good to add this dust or soil to the soil because facilitates the absorption of other nutrients What you give it, specifically, will be perfect if you add potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen, making it an ideal complement. It also helps the soil can be aerated correctly and that retain more water, because it becomes fluffier.
Apart from the minerals that we have mentioned, these algae also provide aluminum, magnesium, iron, sulfate of lime and chlorine.
Other uses of “white earth”
In addition to using to nourish and fertilize plants, white earth is used as an insecticide because it is an effective product, ecological and one hundred percent natural. Ideal for protecting our plants from pests and annoying insects that attack them.
Since it is a natural product and a food, this diatomaceous earth can be used as food supplement and antiparasitic for our pets, since if they ingest it it is not toxic. Of course, you have to make sure, when you buy it, that it is suitable for consumption and that it has not been manipulated by adding any chemical product or preservative.
Where to buy diatomaceous earth?
For buy diatomaceous earth You can go to a store specialized in organic agricultural products or buy it online. Remember that the more natural the product is, the better and more uses you can give it.
If you have a farm or farm animals such as chickens, it will be good for you to have this algae on hand to keep away the dreaded lice and mites.
How to use diatomaceous earth?
You can directly sprinkle the powder on the soil for your plants. The ideal is to calculate a good dose, which is about 40-50 grams per square meter, or 40 grams per liter of water if you will use it as a spray.
If what you want is to combat a pest, increase the dose, up to 100 grams per square meter.
If you want to use it as a food supplement or in your animals, the quantities will depend on various factors, such as weight, species, etc. Consult with your doctor and with the veterinarian, in the case of the animal. And always make sure it is a diatomaceous earth for food use, because not all of them are.