Nutrient Accumulators

What are Nutrient Accumulators?

Also known as Dynamic Accumulators, Nutrient Accumulators are plants that, as the name implies, accumulate nutrients.

They have deep taproots, built for drawing up calcium, magnesium, potassium, sulfur…all manner of minerals and nutrients. Clearly, this is something all plants do, to one degree or another. Every plant species has evolved with different needs in different situations. They all metabolize these elements in their own way, too, converting them into whatever it is they convert them to, in their leaves, roots, flowers and seeds.

Some plants, the ones we in permaculture, call “nutrient accumulators,” accumulate a lot more nutrients than most. Some of them draw nutrient up from the depths, to where other plants can reach it. Some don’t do that but, when they drop their leaves, and/or die, the nutrients leach back down into the dirt, keeping the cycle of life going. And some do both of these things.

Why do they do this? Probably for the same reason giraffes have long necks. A niche appeared and somebody filled it. Life is like that. It’s constantly growing, expanding, creating new niches in the process, and filling them. And it never stops.

Alfalfa, chamomile, chicory, comfrey, dandelion, dogwood, fennel, horsetail, lamb’s quarters, plantain, primrose, purslane, sorrel, stinging nettle, strawberry, sunflower and yarrow are some well known nutrient accumulators. Many of these are considered “weeds.”

Life is never that cut and dry though, is it?

There are different types of nutrient accumulators: dynamic accumulators and hyperaccumulators.

Anybody who knows that carrots contain a lot of Vitamin A and spinach has a lot of iron, knows nutrient accumulation is real, even if they never heard the name before.

Dynamic & Hyper Accumulators…What’s the Difference?

Dynamic accumulators and hyperaccumulators are two variations of the same thing. They draw substances up into themselves in the exact same way. But they draw up different things. Dynamic accumulators accumulate nutrients while hyperaccumulators accumulate toxic metals.

They are treated very differently, though. Hyperaccumulators enjoy good PR, while Dynamic accumulators are the red-headed step child. It’s just politics, among the humans, something plants very wisely don’t concern themselves with.

Dynamic accumulators absorb higher concentrations of beneficial nutrients than other plants. But nobody knows, or has decided, how much more. Without specific thresholds in place, everybody is confused. There hasn’t been much research on dynamic accumulators, which has caused a lot of people to assume it’s either unproven pseudo-science, or mythology. Status-quo lovers are like that. They assume that just because science hasn’t validated something yet, it can’t possibly be real. The agriculture industry has extensively researched the beneficial nutrient accumulation of cover cropping. It’s accepted as fact. But the idea of Dynamic Accumulators are still considered “cutting edge,” or out there.

There is no confusion, however, surrounding hyperaccumulators. Everybody does know the thresholds of each species. And the thresholds in different weather conditions. And how fast or slowly each species reaches its threshold. And so on…for all the possible toxins available to be cleaned up. With over forty years of deep research on hyperaccumulators, an awful lot is known about them. They are used extensively in phytoremediation. Ask the Sunflowers of Chernobyl about it.

But it’s not just for radiation poisoning.

Phytoremediation fixes all sorts of lesser problems, too. I read, for instance, that planting tobacco will remediate canine parvo virus. And Amaranth will neutralize plutonium. But we’re getting back into that fallout realm.

It’s a fascinating subject. Vast and deep. But since cleaning up the fallout of a nuclear disaster isn’t on most people’s To Do List, we’ll stick mostly to Dynamic Accumulators in this article.

What are Dynamic Accumulators?

Maybe the answer to this question is more a matter of what they are not. They are not magic elixirs. Yes, they draw up nutrient, but only if it exists somewhere in the soil to be drawn up. Yes, they improve the soil in various ways, making it more conducive to the forest succession process. But they don’t do these things out of thin air. They are pioneer plants that are able to thrive in bad conditions. When their work is done, when they’ve kickstarted the recovery process and life starts to take on a life of its own, they will start dying off. (Well, except for Comfrey!) Remember, the forest succession process can take up to 150 years or more. I mean, without humans actively planting sunflowers at Chernobyl, how long would it’ve taken sunflowers to get there on their own?

Nature is not static, but wildly fluid. Things change constantly. Humans tend to see the various eco-systems as if they are museum displays and wrongly believe they must “manage” them to make sure they stay exactly the same for all time.

This controlling, hyper vigilant, super scientific approach to the Mystery of Life does not do it justice. Yes, dynamic accumulator plants are great in your garden as chop and drop mulches and for making fabulous home-brewed fertilizers. But they are symbiotic parts of a whole, extensions of the lIving Planet as much as you or me. Reducing them to a “closed-loop nutrient management solution” is not only self serving, it misses the whole point. There’s no relationship in that kind of thinking.

Obviously, it’s interesting to know that a batch of comfrey tea, sitting out in the sun for 3 days, will have X parts per million of this that and the other nutrient. And most of us, in this day and age, do need that sort of scientific validation before we’re ready to go out onto a woo-woo hippy sounding limb like comfrey tea. But once you’re convinced, intellectually, that comfrey tea is great to water your garden with, and then physically see the results for yourself, will you really remember the numbers? Some would. But most probably wouldn’t. Because in the end, it doesn’t matter. This sort of information serves as a crutch. It holds up a broken part of our understanding until genuine understanding can come back.

Personally? I prefer to look at this through the lens of herbalism, which is different from permaculture. Developing systems is fine. But when a system cannot co-mingle with any other system, it’s not fine. Biologists can’t talk to physicists, who can’t talk to anthropologists, who can’t talk to permaculturists who can’t talk to herbalists. It’s stupid. This kind of exclusivity slows learning and understanding. Stops it dead.

I feel we can learn more with a multi-disciplinary approach. So, in that spirit, I have put together a short bio on six of the main dynamic accumulator plants: comfrey, dandelion, lambsquarters, red clover, redroot amaranth, and stinging nettles. I’ve distilled the scientific research and combined it with herbalism. Because it’s not merely ppm in liquid fertilizer, nutrient concentrations in dried plant material and mulch. What happens when you eat it?

If it’s good for our bodies, it’s probably good for our gardens.
(Wouldn’t that be a cool book title? Our Bodies, Our Gardens. LOL!)

There are way more than six. 340 seems to be the current number, but it will probably turn out to be thousands. This research has only just begun.

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Comfrey

Russian comfrey – S. peregrinum

Foliage surpassed current dynamic accumulator threshold concentrations for calcium, potassium (52,959 ppm) and silicon (513 ppm). Potassium in liquid fertilizer – 889 ppm.

Comfrey Health Benefits

Also known as Blackwort, Boneset, Slippery-root, Knitbone, comfrey heals broken and fractured bones, sprains & strains, arthritis, back pain, wounds and bruises, skin problems and insect bites. You want to be careful using it on wounds as it heals so quickly, puss or other contaminants could get healed over before they have a chance to drain out.

As a tea comfrey can treat gastritis, ulcers and liver problems.

Comfrey tea has a lot of vitamins and minerals – calcium, cobalt, copper, cobalt, iron, magnesium, potassium and zinc. It’s also rich in vitamins A, various B vitamins, C and E. Additionally, it contains tannins, saponins, and other antioxidants. It helps the body with the healing process and stimulates the regrowth and remineralization of bones and teeth. Prevents osteoporosis.

Dandelion

Dandelion – T. officinale

Possesses the highest concentrations of phosphorus and sodium in both its leaves and in liquid fertilizer. Phosphorus is good, excess sodium isn’t. But it’s not grown as a thick ground cover, so it won’t hurt anything. Also, probably not very effective as a nutrient catch crop.

Dandelion Health Benefits

Dandelion is a superfood. A magic elixir, really. It does it all. It has a lot of Vitamins A, B6, C, and K, which support healthy skin, vision, metabolism, immune response & protein synthesis. It contains calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, and potassium, micronutrients, is low in carbohydrates and sugar.

• It’s anti-inflammatory, which helps chronic pain.
• It contains the complex carbohydrate fructooligosaccharides (FOS), which normalizes blood sugar levels and manages type 2 diabetes.
• It promotes healthy digestion by eliminating pathogens in the G.I. tract, both preventing and treating constipation. And contains the prebiotic fiber inulin, which has several digestive digestive benefits.
• It’s a good source of antioxidants, which prevents chronic disease, boosts immunity, protects from free radicals and reduces coronary artery disease.
• It lowers cholesterol. The powerful enzymes in Dandelion can help with fatty liver disease and regulate the normal production of cholesterol. Especially in conjunction with Milk Thistle.
• It’s high potassium treats and regulates high blood pressure and the cardiovascular system.
• It has compounds that relieve oxidative stress, which helps liver conditions.
• It reduces fat absorption, accelerates the breakdown of carbohydrates and increases metabolism, which aids in maintaining a healthy weight.
• It promotes healthy skin by increasing hydration and collagen production.
• The roots protect against breast and gastric cancer growth.
• It’s antibacterial and antiviral properties support immune response.
• It’s anti-inflammatory properties relieve joint pain and its high antioxidants reduce oxidative stress and protects against cellular damage. It helps with the stiffness of osteoarthritis and may help prevent rheumatoid arthritis.
• Its potassium relieves water retention and regulates fluid balance in the body.
• It supports healthy bones.
• Relieves menstrual cramps.
• Balances hormone levels.
• Maintains cognitive functioning by synthesizing neurotransmitters, and prevents neurodegenerative diseases.

Are there any side effects?

You can eat dandelion leaves cooked, raw or drink as a tea. Some people might be allergic to it. And it may give some people heartburn or an upset stomach. If you experience this, eat less of it, less often and experiment to find the right amount for your body. As you get used to it, you may be able to build up to eating more.

Lambsquarters

Lambsquarters – C. album

Even grown in poor, soil, dried lambsquarters foliage possesses potassium concentrations exceeding dynamic accumulator thresholds (40,715 ppm). Liquid fertilizer, foliage steeped 5 days in water had the highest potassium concentration (903 ppm).

Lambsquarters Health Benefits

Also known as pigweed, goose foot and bacon weed.

A relative of quinoa, Lambsquarters is an Ayurvedic food with a meaty, hearty flavor. It is very high in protein, iron and phosphorous. It contains more calcium, vitamins A, B1 & B2, C than cabbage or spinach.

It’s a wild edible that increases your stamina and helps you feel strong and resilient.

Raw lambsquarters, just like raw spinach, contains oxalic acid. This can aggravate chronic inflammatory conditions, if eaten in large quantities. But cooking will break it down, allowing you to eat as much as you like.

Steam or saute lambsquarters, add it to soups or mixed greens, even smoothies.

Red Clover

Red clover – T. pratense

Did not surpass dynamic accumulator thresholds, but the dried foliage had the highest concentration of iron and the highest bioaccumulation factor for iron. Liquid fertilizer made from red clover did not have particularly high nutrient concentrations.

Red Clover Health Benefits

Red clover is full of nutrition. The flowers are nutrient dense and contain the following –

• Calcium
• Chromium
• Magnesium
• Niacin
• Phosphorus
• Potassium
• Protein
• Thiamine
• Vitamin C

Nutritional and tastey, the entire plant can be eaten in salads, soups, stews or smoothies. It is excellent juiced. And can be steamed, sauted or eaten raw. Although for some, the raw plant may be difficult to digest. Soaking it for a few hours should help with this.

The dried flowers can be ground into an excellent and nutritious baking flour.

The seeds are great, too. Highly digestable, they are brimming with flavanols and antioxidants, which helps regulate blood pressure. They protect heart health by promoting better blood flow and, by extension, better transportation of oxygen and nutrients throughout the body.

They are very high in protein. 26% – which is a lot!

They also have a lot of otherwise hard to find essential vitamins and minerals such as –

• Zinc
• Phosphorus
• Vitamin K
• Vitamin E
• Vitamin A

Medicinally, Red Clover is a POWERHOUSE! See my full Red Clover article here.

Redroot Amaranth

Redroot amaranth – A. retroflexus
aka Pigweed, Common Amaranth, Careless weed, Pigweed redroot, Redroot, Redroot pigweed, Reflexed amaranth, Rough pigweed, Wild-beet amaranth, wild amaranth, slender pigweed and Common Tumble Weed.

Liquid fertilizer made from its foliage possessed both the highest concentrations and the highest nutrient carryover rates of iron and sulfur compared to the others.

Redroot Amaranth Health Benefits

• Recovery from chronic illnesses
• Reduces cholesterol levels
• Jaundice remedy
• Antiseptic
• Prevents lung infections
• Improves brain health
• Cures dysentery & diarrhea
• Helps maintain healthy weight
• Relieves constipation
• Prevents colds

Stinging Nettles

Stinging nettles – U. dioica

Foliage was found to have both the highest calcium concentration and the highest bioaccumulation factor for calcium. It has the highest levels of calcium, both in its leaves and in the two uppermost soil levels, while reducing calcium concentrations in the soil below 24 inches. Meaning it draws calcium up. Liquid fertilizer made from the foliage is very
nutrient rich, with the highest concentrations of P, B, Ca, Cu, and Mn after 5 days of steeping. It also has the highest nutrient carryover rates for the above listed nutrients plus K and Mg. This means the nutrients are particularly soluble and well suited for liquid fertilizer. Chopping and dropping with nettles more than doubled calcium concentrations in the soil to a depth of 6 inches.

Stinging Nettles Health Benefits

Young leaves can be cooked and eaten, or it can be dried and made into tea. There are so many health benefits. It positively benefits every system of the body. It works nutritionally, at the cellular level. It contains more phytonutrients than any other plant on Earth. Stuff you’ve never even heard of-

• lignan
• secolignan
• norlignan
• alkaloid
• sesquiterpenoid
• flavonoid
• triterpenoid
• sphingolipid
• sterol
• Formic acid
• acetyl choline
• serotonin
• histamine
  

Stinging Nettles are Powerful Medicine

• As a tea, or topically for painful muscles & joints, eczema, arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout, and anemia.
• As a compress for joint pain, sprains and strains, tendonitis, and insect bites.
• Treats urinary problems associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH. Especially when used with Saw Palmetto
• Urinary tract infections
• Hay fever (allergic rhinitis)
• Lowers blood sugar and blood pressure
• It’s an anti-proliferative
• Anti-inflammatory
• Antioxidant
• Analgesic
• Immune stimulator
• Anti-infectious
• Hypotensive
• Anti-ulcer
• Prevents cardiovascular disease

Stinging Nettles for Women’s Health

• Its astringent qualities relieve unpleasant premenstrual cramping and bloating
• Reduces blood flow during menstruation.
• A coagulant, it prevents excessive bleeding.
• Grows healthy babies.
• Increases milk production
• Balances menopausal hormone shifts.

In Conclusion

This is just a very slight scratching of the surface. But the Beginning is always a good place to stop! As always, I look forward to all of your comments.