Archives

Q28. How effective is compost tea and biodynamic 500 solutions to soil biology?

Answer:Answer: The most microbial activity is in the rhizosphere (area of soil immediately around
plant roots) where plant root exudates provide nutrients for the microbes and they, in turn,
supply nutrients from the soil the plant roots.
Soil type and soil pH are more likely to affect availability of important macro and micro
elements. Soil pH can be adjusted using good compost where the microbes will then function
to supply nutrients in plant available form.
An active and fully functioning soil food web is not present in poor soil so improving the soil
with compost and natural organic matter will allow the soil food web to function effectively
and provide nutrients needed by the plants resulting in healthy and productive plants
producing nutritious crops whether it is good quality grass for stock or tasty vegetables.

Compost tea contains a diverse population of microbes that stimulate the rhizosphere
populations of plants. Biodynamic 500 is a concentrated and diverse population of microbes
all of which have a role in plant and soil health particularly if made on one’s own property
from materials found on one’s property.
Commercial preparations are available but these are never as good as a well-made
preparation locally. Like compost teas, the microbes stimulate the populations in the soils
and lead to greater nutrient uptake into plants.

 

Q27. Bio-fertiliser… making and applying?

Answer: Answer: Bio-fertiliser is a catch-all name for any product that contains living microbes that
stimulates plant growth when applied to the soil around living plants. The product should
contain plant-growth-promoting-rhizobacteria (PGPR) and, hopefully, some fungi and algae.
There are commercial products available. The best are those made on site from your own
materials.
Commercial bio-reactors process plant material and waste from sewerage resulting in solid
reduced waste and methane that can be used as a power source.

 

Q26. Compost tea, composts, mycorrhizae, fungal/bacterial ratio?

Answer: Answer: I am not sure what this question is asking. Probably reading the answers to all the
other questions on the Agpath website will provide the information required. Mycorrhizae
are specialised fungi that have a mutualistic relationship with most living plants providing
the plants with phosphorus, for example, and receiving nutrients/carbohydrates in return.
Mycorrhizal fungi will not be found in composts because that is dead plant material. The
fungal strands/hyphae seen in good compost belong to saprophytic fungi which live on dead
and dying plant material.
Fungal/bacterial ratios in compost or soil depend on the plant system. Annual species tend to
have a bacterially dominated soil and perennial plants are fungal dominated by preference.

Q25. Successful composting regime….the process? And vermiculite?

Answer: Answer: The most comprehensive description of making thermal aerobic compost can
be obtained from DVDs by Dr Elaine Ingham (see farming Secrets website and catalogue
(www.farmingsecrets.com/store/caralogue). Vermiculite has thermal stability but is
biologically inert. It is used in commercial potting mixes, etc, but has no real use in a well
made aerobic compost that has a good mix of woody component, green material and
manures as the base materials.

 

Q24. How to improve soil carbon?

Answer:Answer: See other Q&A addressing this topic (www.agpath.com.au/Information/FAQ).
Generally, less disturbance of the soil through ploughing or tilling; increasing organic matter with compost, compost tea and green crops such as lupins, broad beans, lucerne etc., and working them into the soil for nitrogen and organic matter. Pasture cropping so that the soil is never bare. Grow deep roots perennials to aerate the soil. Minimise or, better still, stop using chemical salts. Improve soil biology activity.

 

Q23. Can microbes affect phosphorus levels?

Answer: Answer: Different plant species have endo or ecto but very few have both. Some plant types
do not have mycorrhizae at all. Look at my website for lists of plants having different types of
mycorrhizae www.agpath.com.au. Cultivation or constant disturbance of the soil will deplete
the fungal population through constant breaking up of the fungal hyphal mat in the soil and
on organic matter. Adding salts such as super phosphate will badly affect fungi as will metals
such as copper often used for disease management.
The mycorrhizal fungi have the major role in harvesting phosphorus for plants in exchange
for carbohydrates for their energy source.

 

Q22. We want to improve our pastures and therefore get basic information on how to improve the quality of our soil.

Answer: Answer: The pathway to healthy soil starts with having a complete chemistry and biology
carried out on all the different soil types on the property. This data is considered along
with the previous history of the property such as fertiliser input, grazing or cropping
history; irrigation, flooding potential, etc. With all that information, a programme either
of continued chemical use or a change to biological farming, either totally or in part, can
then be designed. A commitment then to a management programme is implemented with a
consultant. Evidence is widely available to show that animals are happier and healthier in a
farming system that has minimal chemical input. Production can be higher and crop quality is
certainly higher. Having all the information necessary to make the change is what is needed
and that is available from consultants who work within the biological/organic system. I am
always available to explain the science or to help with a programme.

 

Q21. Want to know what effect herbicides have on soil organisms.

Answer: Answer: Herbicides do affect the soil biota unnecessarily. Weeds should be looked at ‘mulch
potential’ and mulched after mowing. Good soil does not allow weeds to grow as they need
a bacterially dominated soil. Most cropping plants are perennial and benefit from a fungal
dominated soil. Addition of compost and mulches to increase the organic matter in the soil
will turn over the soil biota to fungal domination. It is better to farm the soil and build soil
health than it is to apply chemicals. Growers using Glyphosate, a broad spectrum herbicide,
are having great success in managing weedy species as they transition to biological systems,
by adding humic acids to the herbicide in dilutions of 50% to 75% herbicide. The mix has less
impact on the soil biota allowing it to recover much more quickly than straight herbicide
alone

Q20. I would like to be able to recognise and identify soil micro and meso fauna and flora and to familiarise myself with the local earthworm species.

Answer: Purchasing a small microscope – buy the best you can afford – with a digital camera and learn how to use it to look at bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes, etc in the soil or compost. Amazon is a good place to look for cheaper scientific texts that help in identification. Buy books with lots of pictures. Contact Agpath or watch the Agpath website for classes in fungal identification or identification of microbes using a microscope. Join or start a local microscope group. Join the Agpath student restricted site.  www.agpath.com.au .