THE BENEFITS OF SEA SALT FOR AGRICULTURE

Dear Friends, All farmers Around the World,

Agricultural researchers have been competing to produce foods with better quality and health at a low cost with maximum quantity. The researcher have taken the mineral of sea water as research object in order to increase food production more efficiently and cost-effectively.

A farmer from Netherlands, "Marc Van Rijsselberghe" did the experiment to plant vegetables using a mixture of seawater and fresh water to grow healthy and delicious organic vegetables. He started experimenting with carrot, cabbage, onions and beets, but according to Marc he found that potato grew better than other types of vegetables in a combination of sea water and fresh water media. According to research in the US, wheat crops which given sea-based salt fertilizers have increased their vitamin content. Based on the results of laboratory tests showed the increased levels of vitamins as follows:

1. Vitamin B1 increased by 35%

2. Vitamin B2 increased by 10%

3. Niacin increased 38%

4. Vitamin E increases by 15%

Thus the potential of coarse salt or sea salt that produced by traditional farmers in Madura island is very potential to fertilize cultivated crops such as: Rice, corn, vegetables, etc. Also good for watermelon, chilli, carrots, cabbage, broccoli, beans, tomatoes, garlic, onion, ginger and others and hard stem tree (durian, dates, mangosteen, oranges, mangoes, jackfruit, apple and so on).

So, what are the benefits of salt for plants?

Let’s find the benefits of sea salt/seawater for crops:

1. Salt is useful to neutralize pH soil. The soil that has alkaline pH is included in the alkaline group. Some examples are livestock manure, animal urine, ditch soil, burning ash (nawu-nias), crop residues which still in the process of decomposition. This type of soil usually have to wait for the cooling process for several weeks before it is ready to use. But with the salt, you can immediately use it for planting.

2. Salt containing Na element can substitute element K in soil. Potassium is one of the macro elements that is needed by plants. Sodium (Na +) and chlorine (Cl-) are micro elements that can be utilized directly by plants. NaCl is micronutrient needed to enrich microorganisms both in the soil. Salt also contains Potassium chloride which indirectly attracts other essential nutrients (both macro and micro) to be utilized directly by plants through the decomposition process.

3. Eliminates and kills bacteria and fungi that carry disease in the soil so plants do not get infected easily and have higher endurance from diseases caused by germs.

4. Fertilize the soil in an inorganic-natural way without potentially damaging chemicals that can be used for long periods (long term)

5. The ability of microorganisms to produce essential nutrients is continuing and can last where it is not easily eroded by the flow of water due to rain.

6. NaCl can maintain the water level so that agricultural land is not easily dehydrated and getting dry when the dry season arrives.

7. Salt as ionic compounds has an important role to strengthen the immune system of all living things including human and green plants.

8. Plants are more green and “bushy”.

9. Strengthen stems and plant roots.

10. Prevent flowers not to fall out easily before its time

11. Sweeten the fruit

12. Treating late blight and rotten fruits.

13. Overcome the yellowing plants or leaves.

14. Eliminate leaf curling disease.

15. Anticipate the leaves do not fall out prematurely.

16. Prevent various diseases caused by microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses and fungi.

17. Salt can be used to keep away, or eliminate destructive pests such as aphis and other insects.

Still many benefits of salt we can explore, but the most important is, we can apply what we already learn, and hopefully our farm become more productive and healthy.

Farmers Greeting,

World Food Revolution! Go!