-Oyster Shell Powder – 1 Kg Pack

Suitable Crops

• Vegetables: Tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, spinach, lettuce, peas (prevents blossom end rot and supports leafy growth).
• Fruits: Strawberries, apples, pears, citrus (enhances fruit quality and reduces soil-related stress).
• Root Crops: Carrots, beets, potatoes (improves soil structure for better root development).
• Legumes: Beans, lentils (aids nitrogen fixation by maintaining optimal pH).
• Flowers: Roses, marigolds, hydrangeas (boosts vigor and bloom quality).
• Grasses: Lawns, pastures (improves soil health for grazing or ornamental use). It’s less suitable for acid-loving plants like blueberries, azaleas, or rhododendrons unless used sparingly to avoid raising pH too high.

Nutrient Contents:

• Calcium (Ca): 35–40% (as calcium carbonate equivalent).
• Magnesium (Mg): 0.1–0.5% (trace amounts from shell impurities).
• Trace Elements:
  • Iron (Fe): <0.01–0.05%.
  • Zinc (Zn): <0.01%.
  • Manganese (Mn): <0.01%.
• Organic Matter: 0–1% (residual from shell processing).
• Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K): Negligible (0–0.1%), as it’s primarily a mineral amendment, not a complete fertilizer. The majority of its mass (95–98%) is calcium carbonate, with minor impurities contributing trace nutrients.

Chemical Formula

The primary component of Oyster Shell Powder is calcium carbonate, with the chemical formula CaCO₃. Trace amounts of other compounds like magnesium carbonate (MgCO₃) or silica (SiO₂) may be present depending on the shell’s origin, but CaCO₃ dominates.

Chemical Contents:

• Calcium Carbonate (CaCO₃): 95–98% (the core compound responsible for pH adjustment and calcium supply).
• Calcium (Ca, elemental): 38–40% (derived from CaCO₃ breakdown).
• Carbon (C): 11–12% (from the carbonate group).
• Oxygen (O): 45–48% (from the carbonate group).
• Magnesium Carbonate (MgCO₃): 0.1–1% (varies by source).
• Silica (SiO₂): 0.1–0.5% (natural impurity).
• Other Trace Minerals: <0.1–0.5% (e.g., iron oxide, sodium, potassium salts). Moisture and organic residues may account for 1–2% depending on processing.

How It’s Made or Produced

• Collection: Shells are sourced from oyster farms, seafood industries, or coastal waste (recycling discarded shells).
• Cleaning: Shells are washed to remove salt, organic debris, and impurities, often using water or mild heat.
• Drying: Cleaned shells are air-dried or kiln-dried to eliminate moisture.
• Crushing: Dried shells are mechanically crushed into smaller fragments using grinders or hammer mills.
• Grinding: Fragments are finely ground into a powder, typically to a consistency ranging from coarse grit to fine dust, depending on intended use.
• Screening: The powder is sieved to ensure uniform particle size (e.g., 0.1–1 mm for agricultural use).
• Packaging: The final product is bagged or sold in bulk, often without chemical additives, preserving its organic status. Some producers may heat-treat (calcine) shells to produce a quicker-release form, but traditional Oyster Shell Powder remains uncalcined for slow-release benefits.

Other Uses Apart from Gardening

• Poultry Farming: Fed to chickens (1–2% of diet) as a calcium grit to strengthen eggshells and aid digestion.
• Aquaculture: Added to fish ponds or shrimp farms to stabilize water pH and supply calcium for shell development.
• Construction: Used historically (and in some modern eco-projects) as a lime substitute in mortar or plaster after calcination.
• Cosmetics: Ground into ultra-fine powder for use as a natural exfoliant in skincare products.
• Water Treatment: Applied in filtration systems to neutralize acidic water or remove impurities.
• Animal Bedding: Mixed into livestock bedding to reduce odor and acidity from waste.
• Crafting: Used in art or jewelry-making (e.g., as a natural pigment or filler).
• Nutritional Supplements: Processed into calcium supplements for human consumption in some regions (after rigorous purification).