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) Humic acid may increase nutrient uptake in 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.
Guaranteed Analysis
*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.
Contact
David Husner
Program Specialist
Feed, Fertilizer, Lime and Soil/Plant Amendments
717-772-5216
dhusner@pa.gov
Forms
Legal Library