Hello Steemians. You are welcome to my blog once again. In my last post, I discussed extensively about how urine could be used in the garden as a good alternative to chemical fertilizers. Today is another opportunity to discuss yet again another interesting findings on my ongoing study on innovative agriculture
This article will essentially discuss agricultural applications of milk, both as fertilizer and other uses.
Milk As Fertilizer
Agreed, milk does good to the body! But do you know it is also good for both the garden and the plant? In humans and plants, milk is essential for tissue growth. It is made of essential proteins, vitamins and sugars that are beneficial for plants, enhancing their overall health and yield. Microorganisms that act on fertilizer components of milk are also beneficial to the soil.
Like human beings, plants require calcium to grow. When plants appear stunted and do not grow to their full potential, it is a good indication of lack of calcium. Calcium deficiency is also responsible for blossom end rot on both tomatoes and peppers.
In some instances, the amount of calcium in the soil is enough but because plants may not be getting adequate amount of water in the soil, they will not be able to absorb right amount of calcium. In this case, watering the tomatoes and peppers with milk will enable them to get enough moisture and calcium. Milk solution can also be applied to the plant in the form of a foliar spray. Milk should be diluted (50% milk and 50% water) before applying. Examples of plants that can be subjected to this treatment are vegetable plants such as squash, peppers and tomatoes.
Milk As Enhancer Of Soil Health
The age-long ancient practice in which milk is used to enhance soil health has since been forgotten, but was brought into the news again when a few positive reports surfaced on the internet. In a research study by Bridgeth Jamison Hilshey and Sid Bosworth of the University of Vermont Extension, they reported that pastures that were sprayed with milk were able to attain healthy growth as well as stay disease-free even when seasonal pathogens and harmful soil insects were present.
It has been found, in addition, that application of milk improved the soil ability to absorb air and water. Consult here for the study supporting this claim.
Milk As Effective Home Treatment Against Black Spots On Rose Bushes
Black spots are frequent disease of Rose bushes caused by a fungus Diplocarpon rosae which is naturally drawn to warm, humid, and wet conditions. Spraying diluted cow milk on the affected areas has been found to be effective against this problem.
The effectiveness of milk against this menace is attributed to high presence of a highly potent bactericide and fungicide called Lactoferrin. According Professor Jeff Gillman, who had carried an extensive research on this:
1 part of milk and 2 parts of water should be used to spray on Roses once in a week until the problem ceases to exist.
One Kelvin Lee Jacob's posted an article in which he claimed to have tried this home treatment and it worked fine for him. Many people who commented on the article also affirmed his claim.
Milk As Disinfectant
Milk as disinfectant is another way to use milk in the garden. Quoting from a report by Heidi Wollager of Michigan State University Extension:
Milk has been shown to be an effective alternative disinfectant for greenhouse tools to prevent the manual transmission of viruses.
Rather than dipping garden pruners and scissors into a toxic bleach solution to disinfect, use milk instead. Milk can also be used to prevent the transmission of many tomato deaseases; tobacco mosaic virus is a good instance. Again, when garden tools are treated with milk, they do not corrode or rust easily.
Steemians, true fans of this page knows I like to keep my post to readable limit for easy comprehension. So I will have to stop here; check back tomorrow for the final part.
References
http://www.capegazette.com/article/milk-not-only-helps-prevent-disease-it-good-disinfectant/13903
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/milk-fertilizer.htm
https://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/milk-and-molasses-magic-zbcz1402
http://www.ehow.com/how_8279798_fertilize-milk.html
Do kindly UPVOTE and RESTEEM for wider reach.
Na Your Naija Boi,
@eurogee
Wow this is great, first time hearing milk can be use as a fertilizer. Make i start preparing inorder to make use of it when i do farm
Thanks for making it know
Thanks for reading
Me, too. It is the first time for me to hear milk can be used as fertilizer. But in my country-China, milk is much more expensive than chemical fertilizer. I doubt if rotted milk can be used as fertilizer, too.
As much i like the alternatives to solve Agricultural Puzzles, but is using milk Cost Effective?
Now we know in developed countries that not everyone could afford drinking a glass of milk per day talkless of using it in a Garden.
Truth is, in developed nations it's not a far-fetched solution.
Yes bro. You're to use it in raw form. It must be diluted first. This is highly less expensive than using chemical fertilizers. Diluting it will inincreththe volume and of course the area of garden to be covered. You can even use diluted Spoilt milk
I have very fertile ground and manure. Please send the milk to my home. Dang!
Lol you didn't disclose your address
Oh, Earth.
Hello @eurogee,
I never would have imagined that milk could be used as a supplement for plant's growth.
I keep discovering new things anytime i visit your blog.
Keep up the good work.
Kind regards,
@ememovic.
Thanks for visiting and please do visit again
Just imagine with the state of the nations' economy, someone using milk as fertilizers.
This is quite huge. I had no idea about this apart from the protein benefits to humans.
Keep curing our ignorance sir. Well done.
Thanks very much my friend @gunneresq
Wow..!
Milk, the amazing gardening super-hero. :)
Can solve all issues
I guess it can also be used for lubrication
Yes bro
Hmm..... This is really cool and innovative. And I believe goat milk also falls into that category. I rear a few goats for personal consumption, maybe I will try using some of their milk for my little vegetable garden. This is really really cool 😎 Thanks for sharing
Yes sis. Even powdered milk
Ha i don die. Milk way me go drink
Information is power. I never knew milk has such value when it come to Agriculture. Worth sharing
Thanks
milk this is crazy i have never heard of this
Using bmilk as fertilizer as milk is not cost effective but no knowledge is a lost. Keep dishing out your food men.
It is on the contrary
If farmers hear about this; believe me, the price of milk will be so high because of high demand, that people may not afford to drink milk again (maybe they'll drink fertilizer. Humorous though). Nice research work bro
Thanks @samminator
Milk is expensive to be used in farming biko... Lovely tho but nah.😋
It is not. Not raw milk but diluted one
Really interesting. I like the idea. but the only problem I see is that is expensive to mantain.
On the contrary, it is not
Wao! I'm hearing this initiative for the first time,what a deep research @eurogee
Thanks for this
Welcome bro
Wow so much life hacks to learn from you sensei.
Now milk as a fertilizer...
Knowledge fall on you
And on you too. Lols
This is cool .... Glad you stated it was for research. ... Never knew milk could be so beneficial to plants though... But wieghing the cost of milk against the value of the farm produce, this might not be economical especially for commercial purpose ... Glad you shared this research with us
Very economical
Please I have manure, can you tell these peeps to reroute this milk to my house?
Your address? Lols
This is quite an innovation but would be expensive to afford
Not really that expensive as you would think
I like your homesteading series. Is the milk here thesame sweetened milk we take as human being or they are made of special preparations?
Any type would do. However, it has to be diluted with water
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Milk for farm? Good research but its cost effectiveness seems unrealistic.
Very realistic, on the contrary
I moved into a yard with roses that have black spot, so I've got to try this out. Great timing finding this post, thanks for the knowledge drop!
You're welcome
I've been using raw milk dilutions for combating powdery mildew and rust on plants. it works amazingly well with 1 application a week.