The use of natural waste to improve the quality of soil for planting is of interest to housewives. In particular, oyster shells when ground not only provide calcium but also bring many other benefits to crops, especially tomatoes.
Calcium is one of the necessary factors in the formation of cell structure and growth of plant roots. Calcium deficiency often leads to the phenomenon of peak rot in tomatoes. Therefore, mashed oyster shells contain up to 96% calcium carbonate, which helps provide a stable source of calcium, preventing rot when planting trees.
Oster shells also have the ability to regulate the pH of the soil, especially effective in sour soil environments. Therefore, adding oyster shells when growing tomatoes also helps improve soil structure, increase drainage and ventilation, creating favorable conditions for tree roots to grow quickly.
In addition to calcium, oyster shells also contain micronutrients such as magnesium and copper to help crops absorb nutrients more effectively. In addition, adding oyster shells to the growing soil will help create a favorable environment for beneficial microorganisms to thrive, contributing to improving the overall health of the plant.
To effectively use oyster shells when growing tomatoes, clean and dry the shells before grinding them with a grinder or blender. When mixing into the soil, you should use about 2 - 4 pounds (equivalent to 0.9 - 1.8 kg) of mashed oyster shells for every 100 square feet (about 9.3 m2) of planted soil.
Using mashed oyster shells as a supplement to tomato soils not only helps provide the necessary calcium but also improves the structure and pH of the soil. This is a sustainable solution to contribute to the effective and environmentally friendly cultivation of tomatoes.
