Degradability Testing: Comparing Brands
In an effort to compare degradability between competitive brands, Keg River sampled extensively in 2010. Many more locations were sampled than are shown here – these are however representative results:
Procedure:
- Samples of products delivered to units were degraded with water for 24 hours.
- Samples were washed through a 40 mesh screen to measure degree of disintegration (40 mesh has screen openings ~ 0.01” or 0.41 mm). The less degraded portion is retained on the mesh (see tray on the right below).
- Samples were dried, weighed, graphed and photographed.
Results:
5g of each sample activated by 3 ml water
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After screening, this is the remainder of the samples that is larger than 40 mesh |
Details:
- Three different competitor locations were sampled
- Better clay results in more thorough disintegration
- Degraded particles smaller than 40 mesh provide very high surface area exposure to soil microbes for faster conversion to plant usable sulfate. Finer particles yield better results.
10 g of each sample activated by 5 ml water
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After screening, this is the remainder of the samples that is larger than 40 mesh |
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