Zander Humus
The base product. A wholly organic fibre, 80–90% organic matter, that holds water, holds fertiliser, and holds salt away from roots.
Zander humus is the company's base product: the itself, dewatered, biologically active, and graded. It contains some 80–90% organic matter and exhibits properties in the field that are both remarkable and useful.
- Retention of water in the upper layer of the soil
- Retention of fertiliser, whether organic or inorganic
- Absorption of salt in , allowing uninhibited growth of crops
- Encouragement of soil biota
- Restoration of soil fertility
How much, and how it is applied
Zander humus is normally applied to each plant individually. The amount ranges from two to five litres depending on the size of the transplant and the level of salinity. It is hand-mixed with roughly four times its volume of native soil and returned to the planting hole, forming a substrate in the rooting zone.
The material is buried, deliberately. Unamended soil goes back on top, and in the desert this matters: the original pale soil reflects sunlight far better than the darker Zander-amended mix, and keeps the roots beneath it cool. A small bund is fashioned around the transplant to hold water.
Typical analysis
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Organic matter (dry weight) | 80–90% |
| Moisture content | 50–65% |
| pH (in water) | 5–7 |
| Cation exchange capacity | 200–300 meq/100 g |
| Water absorption | ~200% of volume |
| Total nitrogen | 3–4% |
| Total phosphorus | ~15,000 ppm |
| Total potassium | 20,000 ppm |
| Sodium chloride | 0.01–0.1% |
| Bulk density (wet / dry) | 0.9–1.1 / 0.3–0.4 t/m³ |
| Pesticides (OP & OC) | Not detected |
| Radioactive materials | Not detected |
| Cleanliness | Verified pathogen-free |
How long it lasts
This is the property that changes the economics. Organic matter from peat or farmyard manure does not survive long enough in a hot saline soil to do the job. Zander humus remains biologically active for up to fifteen years, and is reactivated every three to four years by irrigation carrying . Studies in Russia and Ukraine found it still absorbing the effects of salt after nine years.
For trees and other long-term planting, that means one application in the life of the plant.
Rates
| Planting | Proportion of local soil |
|---|---|
| Trees | 20% |
| Grass | 20% |
| Shrubs | 10% |
| Perennials | 10% |
Source — Zander Organic technical data sheet
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