The following “benefits” have been verified, approved and recommended by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) as approved and recommended by the Association ofAmerican Plant Food Control Officials (AAPFCO) *
• Improves soil structure and porosity; creating a better plant root environment.
• Increases moisture infiltration and permeability, and reduces bulk density of heavy soils; improving moisture retention rates and reducing erosion and runoff.
• Improves the moisture-holding capacity of light soils; reducing water-loss, nutrient-leaching, and improving moisture retention.
• Improves the cation exchange capacity (CEC) of soils (makes nutrients available to plants).
• Supplies organic matter.
• Aids the proliferation of soil microbes.
• Encourages vigorous root growth.
• Allows plants to more effectively utilize nutrients.
• Enables soils to retain nutrients longer.
• Contains humus; assisting in soil aggregation, and making nutrients more available for plant uptake.
• Buffers soil pH
* The “Official Document”, page 101
Association of American Plant Food Control Officials
http://www.aapfco.org/
