What is sapropel?

Sapropel is the organogenic sediment of lakes. It consists of the remains of aquatic plants and

animals with an admixture of mineral particles (sand, clay, calcium carbonate and other

compounds).

It is a brownish, black, grey, greenish or yellowish jelly-like mass of colloidal structure, which is found

in most Baltic lakes and more than one third of marshes. The parameters that characterise sapropel

are ash-like properties, moisture, biological composition, as well as the calcium and iron content.

The ash-like properties depend on the amount of mineral particle admixtures, which may be subject

to a wide range of fluctuation ‒ from 5 to 85%. The natural moisture level of sapropel fluctuates

from 70% to 98%. The biological composition is characteristic of the organisms from which sapropel

has accrued. Due to the difficulty of access ‒ distant forests, deposit sites covered with several

metres of water, the sapropel-rich mud has remained unresearched for a long time.

Sapropel is available in the Baltic region of Russia, Ukraine, Latvia, and Lithunia where the climactic,

soil, and pressure conditions are ideal for this sediment to be formed.

What are the unique properties of sapropel?

Sapropel was already used in the conditioning of garden soil in the previous century. In fact, it is a

ready-made fertilizer. It only needs to be dehydrated (60%) in order to ensure more convenient use

as a fertilizer.

Before the introduction of sapropel into the soil, the type of sapropel and characteristics of the soil

itself must be taken into consideration.

The use of sapropel fertilizer is recommended for all types of plants, as well as in greening and

improvement works (lawns, plantations). Sapropel fertilizer is an indispensable product for radical

soil conditioning, its recultivation and rehabilitation.

How is sapropel useful for agriculture / horticulture?

Sapropel reduces acidity and improves moisture absorption of the arable layer of soil. It is a

radioprotective agent, i.e. it facilitates the fixation of strontium and other heavy metals in an

inactive form, rendering them inaccessible to the plants.

The use of sapropel provides a twofold supply of nitrogen and phosphorus to the soil

compared to what can be ensured by ordinary mineral fertilizers.

Sapropel restores fertility and improves soil structure

Ensures faster growth, development and ripening of agriculturally cultivated crops

Increases the amount of nutritive substances in the products and improves their taste

Raises productivity of all crops

Increases soil moisture content up to 5 times

The perfect solution for depleted and eroded soils, damaged soils and extreme climate

conditions

How is sapropel different from other available options ?

In comparison with peat, sapropel contains more nitrogen, hydrogen, and sulphur. Its

organic content consists of humic acids (15% – 34%), carbohydrates (20 – 32%), bitumens

(7.5 – 14%), and non-hydrolysed residues (9 – 22%).

Several of the organic components of sapropel have high biological activity levels.

Apart from the organic substances, sapropel contains mineral substances ‒ sand, clay,

calcium and other admixtures. A high moisture content (95 – 97%), low degree of

mineralisation (~1g/l) and varying concentration of organic substances are characteristic

features of sapropel.

Many micro-elements have been detected in it (Cu, Mn, Co, Ni, Ml, Zn, Ti, As etc.).

Sapropel fertilizers do not need an adaptation and activation period, the fertilizer becomes

active immediately after mixing it with the soil.

In comparison with compost, sapropel contains considerably fewer weeds, and does not

contain disease-causing bacteria or flora.

in comparison with chemical fertilizers, ecologically clean sapropel fertilizers do not have a

toxic effect on people and animals;

Sapropel fertilizers have a lasting effective period of 3 – 5 years. If introduced into the soil in

large quantities of 15 – 20 kg per square metre, the effect of the fertilizer is observed for up

to 14 years.

Upon introduction, it improves the mechanical structure of the soil, increases its humus

content for 2 – 3 years, activates natural processes in the soil, increases moisture content up

to 5 times, and increases crop yield by up to 50%.

How is sapropel converted into Dr Earth?

Dr Earth is developed by extracting sapropel from the lakes of Russia, without it coming into contact

with air and the surrounding environment, and further enriching the natural sediment with

additional nutrients, vitamins and minerals using patented technology developed by Natural

Resources LLC.

The technology used for this extraction is environmentally friendly, and after cleaning the lake the

ecological balance is renewed and the lake can be used for fishing, recreation or any other purposes.

Can Dr Earth be used in all climate zones and for all types of soil?

DR.EARTH fertilizers and soil conditioners are suitable for all climate zones and soil types. Especially

effective advantages are observed in cases of severe climate conditions or dry soils that are unfit for

cultivation purposes.

What is the shelf life of Dr Earth?

Due to long lasting properties of sapropel, Dr Earth can be used upto 5 years from its manufacturing

date.

How much improvement can we expect from Dr Earth?

The total amount of improvement in crop yield is very subjective and is dependent on several factors

which may include the following:

Time of application of Dr Earth

Number of applications of Dr Earth (minimum 2 applications needed to see result)

Current nature of soil and existing practice of over-using NPK fertilizers

Climactic conditions

Please find below a chart of the approximate increase in productivity we have observed in various

crops by application of Dr Earth.

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Oats

Pepper

Potatoes

Carrot

Cabbage

Red beet

Sugar cane

Sugar beet

Aubergine

Barley

Cotton

Linen

Tomatoes

Corn

Growth of the harvest,%