| The following are questions growers often ask. The answers to these complex questions are brief. It is hoped that this information is helpful to growers who are seeking more information that is not well-known regarding soil biology. Many scientists are convinced that growers who understand these biological principles and incorporate them in their farm practices will see significant improvements in crop quality and yields. |
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| What is biological foodweb in soil? |
In a handful of healthy soil there are more microbes than there are people on the earth. Scientists report that in a teaspoon of healthy soil the following numbers of microbes can be found:
- Up to 600,000,000 individual bacteria
- Up to 60,000 meters of fungal hyphae
- Up to 100,000 protozoa
- Up to 500 beneficial nemotodes
- Up to 500,000 microarthropods
The interactions and diversity of these organisms form a web or chain of life that supports all plant and animal life. If soil receives heavy applications of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, soil fungicides or fumigants that kill these organisms, the balance between the pathogens and beneficial organisms is upset, allowing the disease-causing organisms to attack the plants. If the numbers of bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes and arthropods are lower than they should be, the soil's "digestive system" doesn't work properly.
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| What are the functions that the microbes perform that cannot be accomplished by synthetic or mineral products? |
The following are the functions that only the biological life in the soil can perform:
- Decomposition of crop residues, manure and other organic matter to humus by the microbes for use by the plants.
- Retention of nutrients in humus and in the microbes themselves that recycles.
- Nutrient recycling by the biological food chain as microbes consume each other and nutrients are released to the plants.
- Biological control of plant and soil diseases through biological pathogen suppression.
- Production of plant growth regulators by the microbes that affect plant production.
- Soil structure and tilth development produced by biological byproducts of the microbes.
- Biological clean up of herbicide of pesticide carryover through degradation by the microbes into harmless byproducts.
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| What is the process the plant uses to support the microbial population? |
In the photosynthesis of plants, photosynthates (complex sugars) are produced in the leaves. The plants send as much as 50% of these complex sugars down, passing out of the root into the soil to feed the microbes. With this energy received from the plant, the microbes convert essential nutrients from synthetic fertilizers along with nutrients and mineral reserves held in humus and other carbon-based compounds.
This biological partnership between plants and microbes is mutually beneficial. The plants feed the microbes the energy they need and the microbes feed the plants the variety of nutrients the plants need.
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| Why can't plants obtain all of the nutrients they need from synthetic fertilizers? |
Plants feed at the second table. The plant feeds on what the microbes provide. Plants are poor foragers and scavengers of nutrients in fertilizers compared to microbes. Microbes have the capacity of "mining" or releasing nutrients from soil particles that are unavailable or "tied-up". Since microbes need carbon, nitrogen, phosphate, potassium and minor nutrients and trace minerals, they digest these nutrients and change them to a chelated or carbon-based form for the plants. The microbes rely on plants to provide the complex sugars released from plant roots to support the microbes ability to provide nutrition for the plants.
Plants rely on the microbes to digest organic matter into humus that contains the nutrients in stable humic compounds. The plant uses these stored and stable nutrients through the symbiotic relationship with the microbes. The carbon and the balanced carbon/nitrogen relationship of microbes are vital in maintaining healthy, productive soil.
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| How do microbes function as the digestive system for plants? |
| The rhizosphere (microbes on or near the roots) is the digestive system for the plants. This zone of soil next to plant roots supports a much higher population of microbes than the soil even a short distance away from the roots. The numbers of microbes on or near the roots is up to 100 times greater than just 1/4" away from the root. This high population of microbes near plant roots is varied in composition and activity. This is the area of greatest digestion of minerals and nutrients by microbes that is made available to the growing plants. These microbes live in a symbiotic relationship with the plant roots, using as a source of energy the varied organic nutrients that the roots discharge to feed the microbes. These complex sugars stimulate a variety of microbes to obtain nutrients the plant needs for balanced nutrition. Microbes have the chelating capacity for converting inorganic minerals to chelated or organic-based minerals plants can use to improve balanced nutrition.
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| Do sythetic fertilizers improve soil fertility? |
When synthetic fertilizers are applied to soil they are generally not absorbed directly by the plant. Most synthetic fertilizer nutrients are first digested by the soil microbes that have virtually the same nutritional needs as the plant. As an example, at least two families of microbes are required to convert ammonia fertilizers into nitrates. If excess nitrogen is applied to soil, the microbes may consume the carbonaceous humus and convert it to carbon dioxide that may be lost from the soil, thus reducing levels of humus, which is detriment to the soil.
When synthetic fertilizers are added to soil in proper amounts, the nutrients feed the microbes and the microbes feed the plants. Most synthetic fertilizers are water-soluble and are easily leached out of the plant root zone. When the nutrients are chelated with carbon by the microbes, the nutrients are more stable and resist leaching out of the root zone.
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| What is the difference between Organic Matter and Humus in soil? |
| The classical definition is that if you can identify the fibrous material, the stem, the leaf or any part of the organic material it would be considered organic matter. When the organic matter is digested by microbes to the extent that it is no longer recognizable because the organic material is converted to microbial cells or microbial waste materials, it is identified as humus. Humus is an excellent warehouse for nutrients as well as providing support for microbes that convert inorganic minerals to chelated minerals that are available to the plants. Humus also improves the structure of soil, improving water infiltration and moisture retention.
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| How do biorganic fertilizers improve synthetic ferilizer conversion? |
| Efficient conversion of synthetic fertilizers requires a healthy and diverse microbial population in soil. If the soil microbes are sparse of lack diversity, fertilizer conversion is inefficient. Biorganics help microbes convert synthetic forms of nitrogen into organic nitrogen such as proteins and humic compounds making them more stable. Nitrogen leaching into underground waters can be reduced by the chelating of nutrients into humus compounds.
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| Why is carbon such an important component in soil fertility? |
| Most plants contain over 40% carbon. Plants take in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through the leaves and from the respiration of microbes at the plant roots. Carbon is a vital nutritional requirement for soil microbes. Without sufficient carbon in soil the biological foodweb is deficient. The addition of carbon-based products such as green manure crops, manure, dry composts, liquid composts, humic acids, and compost teas contribute significantly to balancing the carbon requirements in soil. It is important to provide carbon for soil improvement and for high yields and quality crop production. Global Organics biorganic products are carbon-based to support the biological carbon needs of soil microbes.
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| Is the Cation Exchange Capacity of soil an important measurement? |
Think of Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) as a measurement of a soil's pantry size or fertility-holding capacity. On a soil test the CEC has a number such as 2, 12, 34, 70 etc. The number represents milliequivalents (ME). Think of an electrician measuring in terms of volts and amperes like a storage battery with large numbers representing the larger pantry storage sizes.
The Cation Exchange Capacity rating guide for various soil components is as follows:
Sand 1 to 2 ME/CEC
Silt 2 to 5 ME/CEC
Clay 6 to 60 ME/CEC
Humus Up to 250 ME/CEC
The only practical way to increase the CEC, or nutrient pantry size of soil, is to increase humus levels. The increase of humus gives many other benefits. As organic matter is converted to humus, the CEC can be increased, providing a greater storage of nutrients that can be held in the humus until the plant needs them. Global Organics biorganics are formulated to improve conversion or organic matter to humus.
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| How do soil microbes affect the pH of soil? |
| While soil microbiology is very complex and much is not fully understood, it is known that a healthy soil requires a good balance of the fungi and the bacteria. The fungi tend to increase soil acidity while the bacteria tend to increase alkalinity. Growers have reported that by improving the biological balance in soil, they have noticed acid and alkaline soils become more pH neutral over a period of time.
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| How do Biorganics affect the biological foodweb and fertility in the soil? |
Global Organics, LLC has pioneered the development of BioFlora biorganic nutrients. By combining unique blends of humic substances, biological enzymes, amino acids, biostimulants, minerals, vitamins and natural plant extracts these products help return the soil to its original productive state without the use of harsh chemicals.
Global Organics biorganic products contribute to the increase of the soil's aerobic microbial populations that create better soil tilth, reduce pathogenic diseases, enhance nutrient uptake and conserve nutrients in humus. These conditions strengthen the plant's natural defense systems that produce healthy high-yielding crops.
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