Dynamic accumulator is a term used in the
permaculture
Permaculture is an approach to land management and settlement design that adopts arrangements observed in flourishing natural ecosystems. It includes a set of design principles derived using whole-systems thinking. It applies these principle ...
and
organic farming
Organic farming, also known as ecological farming or biological farming,Labelling, article 30 o''Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on organic production and labelling of organic products and re ...
literature to indicate plants that gather certain
minerals
In geology and mineralogy, a mineral or mineral species is, broadly speaking, a solid chemical compound with a fairly well-defined chemical composition and a specific crystal structure that occurs naturally in pure form.John P. Rafferty, ed ...
or
nutrients
A nutrient is a substance used by an organism to survive, grow, and reproduce. The requirement for dietary nutrient intake applies to animals, plants, fungi, and protists. Nutrients can be incorporated into cells for metabolic purposes or excre ...
from the soil and store them in a more bioavailable form and in high concentration in their
tissues, then used as
fertilizer
A fertilizer (American English) or fertiliser (British English; see spelling differences) is any material of natural or synthetic origin that is applied to soil or to plant tissues to supply plant nutrients. Fertilizers may be distinct from ...
or just to improve the
mulch
A mulch is a layer of material applied to the surface of soil. Reasons for applying mulch include conservation of soil moisture, improving fertility and health of the soil, reducing weed growth and enhancing the visual appeal of the area.
A mu ...
.
While this idea is quite common and often
taprooted plants are used for this reason in
companion planting
Companion planting in gardening and agriculture is the planting of different crops in proximity for any of a number of different reasons, including pest control, pollination, providing habitat for beneficial insects, maximizing use of space, a ...
, there is no scientific data supporting it, and the definition itself varies quite depending on the author. The closest thing with a proven scientific base are
hyperaccumulators A hyperaccumulator is a plant capable of growing in soil or water with very high concentrations of metals, absorbing these metals through their roots, and concentrating extremely high levels of metals in their tissues. The metals are concentrated a ...
.
The first to use the term ''dynamic accumulator'' in the above definition was probably Robert Kourik in his book ''Designing and Maintaining Your Edible Landscape—Naturally'' (1986). Kourik later said that he wished he hadn't published that list of dynamic acculmulators because it was anecdotal and unscientific. After him many
permaculturists have used dynamic accumulators in their design systems and methods, such as Eric Toensmeier, Dave Jake and
Toby Hemenway.
See also
*
Hyperaccumulator A hyperaccumulator is a plant capable of growing in soil or water with very high concentrations of metals, absorbing these metals through their roots, and concentrating extremely high levels of metals in their tissues. The metals are concentrated a ...
*
List of hyperaccumulators
*
Permaculture
Permaculture is an approach to land management and settlement design that adopts arrangements observed in flourishing natural ecosystems. It includes a set of design principles derived using whole-systems thinking. It applies these principle ...
References
{{reflist
External links
The Facts about Dynamic AccumulatorsDoes Comfrey Really Improve Soil?What is a dynamic accumulatorAre dynamic accumulators a thing?
Organic gardening