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Soil and Plant Amendments

Soil Amendments

Soil Amendment is any substance which is intended to change the chemical or physical characteristics of soil. This does not include fertilizers, ag liming materials, pesticides and unmanipulated animal/vegetable manures. Soil amendment's basic claims are to improve:

    • Water retention
    • Permeability
    • Water infiltration
    • Drainage
    • Aeration
    • Nutrient availability
    • Structure

"Organic Matter" products can be comprised of sphagnum peat moss; composted yard waste, food, and manures; or worm castings. 

Other soil amendments ingredients can include organic acids: humic acid and fluvic acid; compost tea; water holding crystals (Soil Moist); mycorrhizae, bacteria (microbes); or wetting agents. 

Plant Amendments

Plant amendment is any substance applied to plants or seeds which is intended to improve germination, growth, yield, quality, reproduction, flavor or other desirable characteristics. This does not include fertilizer, ag liming materials, pesticides, unmanipulated animal and vegetable manures. Plant amendment claims to improve:

    • Seed germination
    • Root development
    • Resistance to drought, stress
    • Leaf growth
    • Fruit set
    • Flavor of fruit/vegetable
    • Nutrient uptake

Plant amendment products include plant-based extracts, enzymes, vitamins, trace minerals, amino acids, and mycorrhizae bacteria. Their ingredients can include: Vitamin B1 and vitamin C; Amino Acids - tryptophan, arginine, leucine, glycine; bacteria (microbes); kelp extract; and seaweed extract (*Plant hormones can be pesticides or plant growth regulators [PGR]).

Labeling requirements include: 

    • Brand name
    • Active ingredients- Name and percentage of amending ingredients
    • Total percentage of other ingredients
    • Purpose of the product
    • Directions for application
    • Name/address of guarantor
    • Net weight

Guaranteed Analysis

A guaranteed analysis is required for active ingredients. For example, the guaranteed analysis might look like this:

​Example Guaranteed Analysis and Purpose Statement:

NON-PLANT FOOD ACTIVE INGREDIENTS:

1.5% Humic Acid (derived from Leonardite)
Mycorrhizae Content Propagules per cc
Glomus intraradices…………………………………….....0.4
Glomus aggregatum……………………………………...0.4
Glomus mosseae…………………………………….......…..0.4
Glomus entunicatum………………………………….....0.4

Humic acid may increase nutrient uptake in plant.
Mycorrhizae may increase soil nutrient availability to plant.

                                            Yuccah Brand

Yuccah is a natural-based wetting agent/soil penetrant derived from the Yucca schidigera plant. These surfactant compounds help plants survive the extreme heat, drought and soil salinity found in harsh climates. 

Yuccah:

  • Promotes a more uniform movement of water within the soil profile
  • Alleviates dry soil spots
  • Increases water penetration through soil for drench, soil injection or fertigation treatments
  • Acts as an adjuvant for wettable pesticides or fertilizers, increasing their spreadability

Guaranteed Analysis

ACTIVE INGREDIENTS:
Yucca schidigera extract…………..15.0%
Other…………………………………………..…85.0%

*For Example Purposes Only

Registering and Reporting

Please visit www.paplants.pa.gov to complete a License Application, Product Registration, and Tonnage Report. 

Contact the Bureau of Plant Industry with any questions at 717-787-4843.