Introduction to soil life and microbial treatments

14th February 2015Simon Parfey

Mind, Body & Soil Ltd

• 25% Air• 25% Water• 5% Organic Matter• 45% Other

The Perfect Soil

Nutrients are made available for plant growth when:

- Microbes die and decompose releasing nutrients stored in their bodies

- Microbes are consumed by a higher predator which excretes excess nutrients

A bit about microbes

- Microbes (especially fungi) are soil engineers and can help build soil structure

- They will increases pore spaces, reduce compaction and aid drainage: great for high traffic areas

- Produce carbohydrates, bind soil particles together and reduce soil erosion

- High levels of microbial biomass are associated with disease suppressive soils

A bit more about microbes

Inoculating with microbes

Compost tea and microbial extracts help to increase and support life in the biological aspect of soils

Microbes can release chemicals which:- encourage plant growth- fix atmospheric nitrogen (legumes)- kill pathogenic species.

All of this can help to improve the health and function of the soil ecosystem at a microscopic level

Azotobacter is able to fix nitrogen freely in soil – reducing the need for chemicals and lightening the budget

Trichoderma (left) releases chitinase which can help kill pathogenic fungi.

Start small, aim big!Improving the health and function of the soil ecosystem at a microscopic level has beneficial effects further up the food web…

Compost tea and microbial treatments directly benefit here

Microbial life as well as chemical constituents..

• Bacteria – Active & Total (µg/g of soil)• Fungi – Active & Total (µg/g of soil)• Protozoa – Flagellates, Ameobae, Ciliates (#/g)• Nematodes (#/g of soil) • Mycorrhizal root colonisation (%)

How?

Get adviceThe right

laboratorySample at the

right time Interpretation Respond