Alfalfa Meal—Add Nitrogen and
Organic Matter to Your Soil
Alfalfa Meal is an organic fertilizer made from alfalfa. It's a slow acting all-purpose fertilizer that's a great alternative to blood meal as a source of nitrogen, balanced with phosphorus and potassium. Alfalfa meal is an excellent soil conditioner because of its protein and carbohydrates, which encourage microbial action in the soil. It has an excellent carbon to nitrogen ratio that helps speeds nutrient availability to plants. However, if it's added to the root zone, its rapid decomposition will generate a lot of heat, which can damage roots. Use alfalfa meal as an excellent compost starter. Its NPK of 2.0-2.5%, .5-1.0%, 1% will get your compost cooking quickly. Roses react to the meal especially well, as do flowering shrubs. Apply alfalfa meal at 1/2 cup per plant for new plantings; 1/2 to 1 cup to a depth of 4-6 inches deep around existing plants. Vegetables and flower beds need 2 to 5 pounds per 100 square feet. From Alfalfa Meal page to Organic Fertilizers home page
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