Alfalfa Meal 2.5-0-2.5

A Microbial Food for Soil, Compost and Worm Bins

Alfalfa Meal (NPK 2.5-0-2.5) is an excellent microbial food. It is a perfect addition to any soil mix, compost bin and garden as a way to increase microbial activity and nutrient cycling.

Alfalfa meal naturally contains triacontanol, a plant growth hormone that acts as a growth promoter (see the note on triacontanol below).

All rose growers have heard "you have to use alfalfa on your roses," and there is a reason behind that claim. Alfalfa is found in almost all organic fertilizers. Rather than paying for expensive brand names, you can source the raw ingredient yourself and see the same benefit for pennies.

Choose alfalfa grown without herbicides or pesticides, since residues can damage its benefit from a microbial perspective.

Key Product Highlights

• Microbial Food: Feeds microbes in soil mixes, compost bins, worm bins and aerated compost teas.
• Contains Triacontanol: A naturally occurring plant growth promoter.
• Derived From Ground Alfalfa.

Suggested Application

Toss a handful in your compost pile or sprinkle it in your worm bin. You can mix it into finished compost as a bio-activator to give it a boost before using it in your garden. It also works well to feed the microbes in aerated compost teas.

Use as part of a comprehensive total nutrition system for optimizing plant growth, development, yield and quality.

Watch: Alfalfa Meal in Fungal Compost

Here is a video we made a few years back of our alfalfa meal added to our fungal compost.

Guaranteed Analysis

• Total Nitrogen (N): 2.5%
• Water insoluble nitrogen: 2.5%
• Soluble Potash (K₂O): 2.5%

Safety & Handling

Keep out of reach of children. Harmful if swallowed. Do not inhale.

Lab Reports & Resources

• Alfalfa Heavy Metals Test (image, opens in new tab)

Note on Triacontanol

Alfalfa is a natural source of the plant growth promoter triacontanol. The International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS) tested the effects of triacontanol on the growth and yield of different horticultural crops and found that yield per treated plant was significantly higher. Triacontanol has been called "the most potent growth hormone ever used on plants" (Great Lakes Region Newsletter, Fall Edition 1993, page 9, submitted by Clarence Owens and taken from a lecture by D.L. Hinerman, M.D.).

Related Soil Amendments

Explore other amendments: Kelp Meal, Crab & Crustacean Meal and Fish Meal.