Answer: Consider a biological approach to your farming practices. Have your soil chemical and biology levels tested (see Agpath website for help) and then consider a programme to repair the soil. Improving the organic matter in the soil helps it to hold water and nutrients. Active soil biota release plant available nutrients so that external applications do not have to be made which affect the soil biota negatively. If amendments such as lime or potassium need to be added in the transition stage, then I they can be added to compost and broken down into plant available forms before they are applied to the soil or plants. As the soil develops and the plants are healthier, then external sources other than seaweeds, fish, rock dust, molasses, compost, compost teas will not be necessary.
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.
Answer: As temperatures rise and rainfall becomes less predictable and weather events generally become more unpredictable, then organic/biodynamic/biological production systems are the only ones that can guarantee longer-term food availability. These systems ‘farm’ the soil rather than ‘mine’ the soil, increase soil organic matter and hold more soil moisture allowing crops to be grown and harvested in years of drought where conventional farming systems cannot produce. Look at the 30 year research project into conventional and organic farming systems from Rodale Institute in Pennsylvania, USA on www.rodaleinstitute.org . Providing a healthy soil minimises disease, increases plant health and increases antioxidant and vitamin content of the resultant food. Look at using compost, mulch, compost teas, kelp and fish as soil and foliar applications. Look at Agpath P/L website for assistance.
Answer: I do not understand this question. Fungi in the soil have many roles in breaking down organic matter and releasing elements in plant-available forms. Some fungal species are saprophytes which mean they live on dying and dead plant material; some will infect living plant material such as root pathogens causing the plant to become less thrifty and, maybe, die. Some may be mycorrhizal meaning that they have a special relationship with certain plant roots providing the roots with elements such as phosphorus, in exchange for carbohydrates.
The problems after wet weather suggests you are referring to leaf pathogens such as downy mildew or powdery mildew, for example. Mildews can be a problem in damp weather but are generally a sign of poor management and excess use of chemicals. Our system of monoculture increases the outbreaks of mildews in vineyards, for example. Improving soil health is a good start to minimising leaf pathogens. Managing the canopy of vines or fruit trees so that good ventilation occurs is a good strategy. Dry leaves minimise fungal spore germination so disease organisms cannot get established. Considering biological alternatives would be my suggestion. There is a biological to replace most chemicals. Concoct Agpath P/L for advice if you wish.
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.
Answer: Soil nutrient testing is chemistry and requires a laboratory set up for that specific purpose. There are several in each state. The Environmental Analysis Laboratory at Southern Cross University, Lismore, is my recommendation because the testing was designed by the Laboratory Manager and Dr Elaine Ingham of the Rodale Institute in USA, to best reflect the chemistry needed to develop a biological farming system using her soil food web tests that are carried out my lab at Agpath P/L.
Answer: Any salts adding in large amounts will damage soil microbes to a greater or lesser extent. Metals such as copper will affect all fungi and phosphates have a negative effect on mycorrhizal fungi in particular. Mycorrhizal fungi have a role in the soil of scavenging for phosphates and supplying them directly in plant available form to plant roots in exchange for carbohydrates which fungi cannot manufacture because they are non- photosynthetic. Any disruption to this symbiotic relationship causes loss of mycorrhizal fungi leading to loss of soil structure and loss of water holding capacity. Look at literature in the journal ‘Acre’, J. of Soil Microbiology, and others, for peer reviewed papers. If you add 10% of the recommended rates of NPK to a good compost and then distribute the amended compost or compost tea to your soil, you will improve the soil without damaging the soil microbes.
Answer: : Look at the website for Camperdown Compost Company where Nick and Tony are involved in making very good aerobic thermal compost. They are very helpful with their knowledge. Darren Morgan of Enviroturf Australia is another maker of good compost – enviroturf@iprimus.com.au. Farming Secrets is another site that has DVDs, etc for maki ng compost and worm farming –helen@farmingsecrets.com
Answer: Soil samples should be taken at times in the growing season where most advantage can be made of management changes, often spring and autumn. Once times have been established as being the best for your enterprise, then take future samples at the same times each year. This way the results can be compared from year to year. The indicators in the soil food web should be explained with each report.
