Iodine as a compost additive.

[Giles]

Has anyone come across the use of iodine in potting compost?
I came across this Japanese web page when trying to find out more about Primula sieboldii.
It's a poor google translation, making little sense, and I haven't been able to find anything more about it elsewhere.


http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&prev=/search%3Fq%3D%25E3%2582%25B5%25E3%2582%25AF%25E3%2583%25A9%25E3%2582%25BD%25E3%2582%25A6%25E3%2581%25AE%25E7%25A8%25AE%25E9%25A1%259E%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26rlz%3D1R2ADFA_enGB436%26biw%3D1440%26bih%3D762%26prmd%3Divns&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&sl=ja&u=http://www2s.biglobe.ne.jp/~aac-kuma/sakuraso/youdo.html&usg=ALkJrhggKeuj_RgO2JXcwnCRff6GIqpdDw

[Maggi Young]

 Well, seaweed is rich in iodine ( some types more than others) and seaweed is well known as a soil additive. Seaweed, dried and extracts thereof are commercially available and contain all manner of valuable trace elements as well as iodine, so I can see that iodine might well be a usefull additive to potting compost.

Just wondering if the Japanese translation of iodine might not refer to a seaweed or seaweed product, rich in iodine, rather than "straight" iodine ?

[KK-Ann Arbor]

Giles,

It seems that the web translation was trying to give you detailed composition of mediums suited for primula and gotten confused with the Japanese term for Iodine (yodo - ヨード) and the planting medium (yodo - 用土).   
上記 2 や 3 に腐葉土または堆肥を配合した用土-> translated to "Iodine mixed with humus or compost to 2 or 3 above ". 
Better translation will be "planting medium (Yodo in Japanese) is composed of (2) or (3) above with humus or compost added".  Not mentioning any use of Iodine.

Koko

[Giles]

Thankyou   

[Maggi Young]

Aha! We have the answer - thanks Koko - there's nothing like having an expert at hand.