Granulated Ulexite: A Mineral Borate Source Your Plants Need
Boron is an essential micronutrient that every plant needs. It has a diverse application in the plant’s daily metabolic system. As such, it is essential to ensure that your crops get enough Boron on a regular basis.
Boron deficiency can cause plants to develop severe symptoms such as weak and inadequate roots, empty seeds and fewer flowers during the pollination stage.
Nature offers us many sources of Boron which can be turned into fertilizers. Most of these sources are mineral and are mined naturally, rather than synthesized in laboratories. Some natural sources of Boron used as fertilizers include Granubor, Hydroboracite, Colemanite, and Ulexite.
What is Ulexite?
Ulexite is a white, grey or colorless mineral consisting of sodium-calcium and borate. It is named after a chemist called George Ludwig Ulex who first identified and analyzed this mineral in the 1800s.
Ulexite is most commonly found on lake beds, where they are purified from the surface. Ulexite is actually very popular among mineral collectors due to their fine, hair-like appearance and clear crystallized form.
In the fertilizer industry, it is processed into a powder or granules and usually applied alone to plants. Its proper chemical name would be Sodium Calcium Penta-borate Octahydrate. It is easily soluble in water and therefore very suitable to be used as a Boron source for plants.
How can Ulexite benefit your crops?
- Slow-release
Ulexite is a very unique source of Boron for plants. Unlike other sources of Boron, it actually releases Boron very gradually upon uptake by plant roots. This allows Ulexite to function as a Boron source for a prolonged period of time.
- Low risk of toxicity
In most crops, the difference between plant Boron deficiency and toxicity is very narrow. Hence, it is challenging to know when you’ve over-supplied Boron to your crops.
The natural slow-release feature is also important in preventing Boron toxicity. This happens when there is too much Boron released at once from fertilizers and poisons the crops. The slow-release process ensures that a regular amount of Boron is supplied to plants at a healthy level rather than over-dosing them.
- No run-off issues
Ulexite is also considered to have a controlled solubility. This is very important in areas with a high amount of rainfall. In other sources of Boron with high solubility, Boron tends to leach into the soil and be washed away before it can be absorbed by the roots.
This tends to cause wastage and can pollute the environment. Ulexite does not pose any threat to the environment as it has very limited solubility in rainwater. It is, therefore, a very sustainable and environmentally friendly Boron fertilizer.
- Cost-effective
Ulexite has one of the highest Boron content and is very affordable per unit compared to many other types of Boron fertilizers. Everchem’s own Daebak Borate Fertilizer, which is Calcite Ulexite, has more than 45% Boron content which is considered premium grade Boron.
Make a difference in your plantation today by using Ulexite as your Boron fertilizer.