RE: KELPAK
The KELPAK product is used in agriculture because it's a clear liquid and flows easily through the water irrigation/spraying systems - it's easy to apply and cost effective.
Unlike Maxicrop and other seaweed processors who use some form of an alkaloid extraction process, KELPAK uses a mechanical process whereby the 'juice' of the kelp is the end result. That in and of itself would be okay except that they also manipulate a specific set of auxins (plant hormones) to achieve root-growth enhancement.
RE: Bull Kelp (Nereocystis Luetkeana)
Bull kelp is found on the West Coast of the US - particularly along Oregon, Washington and on up to British Columbia. There is a product made from this seaweed/kelp out of Vancouver, British Columbia called KELPGROW. It like KELPAK is used primarily in the agriculture industry. The manufacturer uses a different process than either Maxicrop or KELPAKl - I'll explain that in a minute.
There is another seaweed extract product made from this variety from Eco-Nutrients.
Both of these 2 products differ from all the other major products from around the world (including China, India, Vietnam, et al.) in that the kelp is processed using enzymes, i.e. hydrolysate. Just like the process to make fish hydrolysate, i.e. the application of lactobacillus strains to break the matter down.
RE: Maxicrop
Maxicrop is processed in Norway along with about 4 other companies who play in the 'spot market' in the kelp industry. Maxicrop uses an alkaloid extraction process that involves heat - limiting the microbial activity. It is shipped in the dry form to their plants around the world.
Here's where the rub is from my perspective - it's the mixing of the seaweed extract (powder) with the local water at the plant in Illinois that brings about the chlorine issues. And for whatever reason they add soluble potash to the base mix.
The best soluble seaweed extract that is derived from Acophyllum Nodosum is out of Nova Scotia, i.e. Acadian Seaplants, Ltd. They use an cold-process method of extraction which maintains high microbial activity levels. One of their product lines is human food-grade and is the one that you'll find in the various herbal supplements found at a health food store.
This is the product that is widely used by nutrient manufacturers because of it's purity and solubility - 99% and if you source it correctly it's 1/2 the price of Maxicrop Seaweed Powder.
Over 99% of the kelp MEAL sold in North America comes from this plant as well. It's sold under several names at the wholesale level and is available through feed stores, farm stores, etc. Especially where horses are raised and bred - like humans and plants, horses benefit from the addition of kelp meal/products to their diet.
For good solid information on the application of kelp and seaweed extracts, the work of Dr. T.L. Senn is the best place to start.
BTW - simply adding kelp meal to a bucket of water and let it sit for a couple of days is a very effective way of adding 'AN' to your gardens and pretty inexpensive.
OT
