Yucca Powder

Surfactants, or wetting agents, are a valuable tool in the garden. Some of the best wetting agents are derived from yucca, which has a high saponin content. This natural compound of the Yucca Schidigera plant helps the plant to overcome water stress and when extracted, can be used to improve the soil's absorption and dispersal of both water and nutrients by reducing the natural surface tension. This allows plant roots to absorb more of what is available to them as the water and nutrients are distributed more evenly. Yucca powder reduce unwanted salt buildup by reducing dry pocket formation within the soil and washing concentrated salts past the root zone (they have also been known to help keep drip emitters clean). In the case of excessive mineral buildup, yucca powders will reduce the amount of water necessary to flush the soil. Saponins and complex carbohydrates present in yucca provide slow-release food sources for many soil-dwelling microorganisms. As a result, many compost tea recipes use yucca. Yucca commonly contain micronutrients such as iron, zinc, manganese and copper as well. Anyone who has mixed their own soil, has seen how much effort it takes to get the peat to take up the moisture- it seems to resist water absorption. However mix a bit of yucca powder into your soil mix and you will quickly see a change in the rate of water uptake.