how if the ground coffee beans your going to use is from starbucks?

One Comment

1. ANGEL says:

   May 8, 2010 at 3:51 pm

   A lab test analysis showed that: "the grounds provide generous amounts of phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and copper.
   They also release nitrogen into the soil as they degrade."
   Here’s a summary of the report:
   Use of Starbucks coffee grounds in amending mineral soils up to 35 percent by volume coffee grounds will improve soil structure over the short-term and over the long-term. Use of the coffee grounds at the specified incorporation rates (rototilled into a 6- to 8-inch depth) will substantially improve availabilities of phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and copper and will probably negate the need for chemical sources of these plant essential elements.

   The nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium “guaranteed analyses” would be as follows for the coffee grounds:

   Nitrogen: 2.28 percent
   Phosphorus: 0.06 percent
   Potassium: 0.6 percent

   Available nutrient levels: The pH or reaction of the coffee grounds is considered slightly acidic and in a favorable range at 6.2 on the pH scale.

   Salinity (ECe) is a measurement of total soluble salts and is considered slightly elevated at 3.7 dS/m. The primary water-soluble salts in this product are potassium, magnesium, sodium and chloride. The potentially problematic ions in sodium and chloride are each sufficiently low as to be inconsequential in terms of creating problems for plants.

   The availabilities of nitrogen, calcium, zinc, manganese and iron are quite low and in some cases deficient. Thus, the coffee grounds will not supply appreciable amounts of these essential plant elements when used as a mineral soil amendment.

   However, the availabilities of phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and copper are each sufficiently high that there will be a very positive impact on improving availabilities of these elements where the coffee grounds are used as a mineral soil amendment. The coffee grounds will negate the need for additional sources of phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and copper when blended with mineral soils.

   In summary, the available plant essential elements which will be substantially improved where the coffee grounds are used as a soil amendment, include phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and copper.

   Total nutrient levels: Each cubic yard of these coffee grounds contains a total of 10.31 lbs. nitrogen, of which 0.01 lb. (0.09%) are available. Thus, even though available nitrogen is considered deficient in this product, there still remains over 10 lbs. of total nitrogen per cubic yard of coffee grounds. Thus, nitrogen is primarily bound in the organic fraction and is unavailable to plants until soil microorganisms degrade the organic fraction. Through this process, the nitrogen is converted to plant available forms. Over the long term the coffee grounds will act like a slow release fertilizer providing long-term nitrogen input which can then be utilized by plants.

   Nearly all potassium and all magnesium are in the available forms. This means that immediate availability improvements for these two elements will take place when the coffee grounds are blended with mineral soils. About half of the copper and calcium are in their immediately available forms.

   All other plant essential elements are primarily bound in the organic fraction and will thus be subject to slow release over time as soil microbes continue to degrade the organic fraction.
   http://www.sunset.com/sunset/garden/edible/article/0,20633,1208232,00.html

   Rose gardeners reported coffee grounds make their roses larger & more colorful. Adding it to compost piles increases nitrogen balance. Encircling plants with coffee grounds & eggshells makes a barrier to repel pests, & works as a slow release fertilizer. If you are into vermi-posting, feed a little bit to your worms
   http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/181467/coffee_grounds_and_your_garden.html

   Good luck! Hope this helps.