Thursday, May 16, 2019

Bone, Blood, and Feather Meals: What they are and why they're used

I was specifically asked by a woman on Facebook to write a post about bone meal as a soil additive. I figure I'll include blood meal and feather meal as well, since they all kind of fall under the same category. I'm going to be honest, I have very little experience with any of these. However, I would love to learn more about them, so that maybe I can use them in the future. Here's some information I've gathered about each of them. Sources are linked in each section.

Bone Meal

  • What is it?
    • Bone meal is powdered bone, typically from cattle, that has been steamed to release some of the fat and make it easier to work with. The Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium content (N-P-K) of bone meal is between 3-15-0 and 2-22-0, making it a phosphorus-rich fertilizer.
  • Why is it used?
    • Bone meal is phosphorus- and calcium-rich. Phosphorus is essential to the flowering of plants as well as strong root development, and calcium aids in fruit development, combatting Blossom End Rot. Bone Meal is a readily available organic soil amendment.
  • How do I use it?
    • The soil pH must be acidic (below 7.0) in order for bone meal to be effective. Ten pounds of bone meal per one hundred square feet incorporated into the soil will give a continuous release of phosphorus for up to four months. Alternatively, a few tablespoons can be added to each hole before planting, or about half a cup sprinkled around the plant and watered in just before buds begin to open. Bone meal can also be used to balance out a compost that is too high in Nitrogen. Incorporating bone meal into manure will yield a rich, quality fertilizer.


Blood Meal

  • What is it?
    • Blood meal in gardening terms is a slow-release soil amendment made from (usually) cattle blood. Its N-P-K is 12-0-0. 
  • Why is it used?
    • Blood meal provides Nitrogen which is essential in the production of chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is the green pigment found in leaves which allows the plant to photosynthesize. Although it is considered organic, the blood it is made from does not necessarily come from organically raised animals. Be careful about the origin of the blood meal you purchase, and know that it can contain pathogens such as Mad Cow Disease, though it is highly unlikely. 
  • How do I use it? 
    • Blood meal is not intended to be used as an immediate fix for a problem. It can take up to a month to begin working in the soil, so small amounts applied often are more effective. One cup per twenty square feet is plenty. It is not recommended to apply blood meal directly to the hole as it can burn the roots or discourage fruit and flower production.

Feather Meal

  • What is it?
    • Feather meal is similar to blood meal in its NPK value and its slow-release nature, but is made from hydrolyzed poultry feathers. It is made by steaming the feathers, then dehydrating and grinding them.
  • Why is it used?
    • Feather meal is used in a very similar manner to blood meal. However, since the cell bonds within this source of nitrogen are tighter than those in blood meal, it breaks down even slower.
  • How do I use it?
    • For large applications, three to six pounds per one hundred square feet, incorporated into the top three inches of soil. For individual plants, two teaspoons per hole. Like other highly concentrated amendments, be careful of root burn.


I hope that you were able to learn a thing or two about these three natural soil amendments. If there's any information I left out, feel free to leave me a comment and I will do my best to find the answers to your questions.

-Rose






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