TOMATOES - UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY

A greenhouse pot study with four replications was directed by Terry A. Tindell, Ph.D.

Four treatments were tested, including the control, AZOMITE at 40g per pot, AZOMITE at 120g per pot, and AZOMITE at 360g per pot.

Although the researcher reported an increase in the tomato fruit yield, there was enough scatter in the results so that the increase in the fruit yield was not statistically significant.

Researcher reported statistically significant increases in the tomato fruit for five trace elements concentrations. Those elements included cooper, potassium, magnesium, sodium, and manganese. Research stated that the increase in tissue level of these five elements does indicate that AZOMITE can be an available source for essential nutrients.

COMMENT BY
PEAK MINERALS AZOMITE, INC.

Scientists have long recognized the fact that adequately nourished plants (and animals) are resistant to infectious diseases. There is a growing recognition that healthy plants may effectively resist insects. There is also some speculation that healthy plants have higher amounts of nutrients in their sap and these nutrients increase the specific gravity to the sap; thereby providing some modest protection against freeze damage.

Just as the recognized trace elements show statistically significant improvements in these research studies, we believe your plants would show significant nutrient improvement.

Tomato plants produced more flowers & fruit and grew taller on Azomite®.

Growers have reported larger, healthier, insect resistant plants using Azomite®.

by David Yarrow, December 1997.

Jared Milarc research project in botany class in Michigan State University's Horticulture Extension Program at Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City.

Eight tomato plants ("Fantastic" variety) of uniform size were grown in one-gallon plastic pots, in a mix of standard potting soil with six tablespoons of composted cow manure. Two tablespoons of AzomiteT were added to the soil of four tomato plants, and four had no clay mineral supplement. Plants grew in uniform greenhouse conditions from June 17 to Sept. 9, got 150 milliliters of water three times a week, and were rotated in the greenhouse to ensure equal exposure to warmth and light. Height was measured from soil surface to uppermost branching point. All measured 30 cm at the experiment beginning, with no visible differences in health.

After 67 days, the tomatoes fed AzomiteT were easy to distinguish from untreated vines. On several measurable characteristics, AzomiteT yielded a better plant. Everyone agreed all four plants fed clay dust looked bigger and healthier.

"Color was a very obvious difference," recalled Jared. "Plants not treated were more yellow in color, while treated plants were a deeper green color. Height was different. Plants that were treated weren't a lot taller, but they weren't 'leggy'."

Jared's short written report listed five significant observations he had measured as numerical indications of "better, healthier" plants:

• Average height of Azomite® treated plants was 98.5 cm, compared to 89.75 cm for control plants. (Fig 1).
• Whiteflies were found on both treated and control plants by day #28. After day #42, insecticidal soap was sprayed to control whiteflies. But treated plants had much less damage (Table 1), defined as "honeydew"-sticky, sugary excretions by whiteflies.

• Azomite® treated plants flowered earlier, more prolifically (Table 2).
  

• First tomato was on an Azomite® treated plant on Aug. 26 (Table 3).
  

• Treated plants set more fruit (Table 3).

In a Summary as simple as his experiment, Jared wrote:

"While four plants per treatment do not provide statistically testable results, this experiment suggests that mineral supplements such as Azomite® may help produce plants that are more vigorous and pest-resistant, and that blossom and set fruit sooner than plants grown without any supplement. Further tests, both in lab and field, are highly recommended."

"Early flowering plants can mean money to farmers for having the first crop, and ultimately quicker money for the farmers," Jared pointed out.

"Among farmers, the first guy to market or processing plant," David explained, "his products reap a premium profit. The first tomatoes. First sweet corn. First watermelons. Also, shorter growing season means faster pay-off, because farmers only have one paycheck a year."

"Flowering is a measure of marketability," agreed Kirk Waterstripe. "If you're the first to the farmers market with vine-ripened tomatoes, hundreds of people will stop by your truck. So, if you can get the plants to flower a week ahead, this gives you an economic advantage."

"I insist the single most crucial and significant effect of trace element fertilizers is increased flowering and seed formation. This can't be adequately measured in monetary quantity or economic values. Reproduction is the climax in a plant's life cycle. Any substance that triggers such an increase in this activity activates and fulfills the plant's full life potential, and is a near ideal and essential plant food."

More from Jared Milarc here.