Presentation from National Organics Conference 2007 Doctor/Dirt Doctor Conference... · Bring Life to Your Soil Presentation from National Organics Conference 2007

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Presentation from National Organics Conference 2007


Jim O’Gorman (BCom)

Outcomes of applied weed and micro-organism technology for bio remediation and sustained fertility

on an intensive micro horticulture unit

Our organic future – cottage or corporate National Organics Conference

17-19 August 2007 Lincoln University

Canterbury


Turver or Tined hoe. Used to turn grass and rough ground to form

basic beds, double dig and to aerate beds

Chipping hoes. Made from recycled materials. The heavy hoe on the right is for rank growth and that

on the left for softer weeds

Bricklayers trowel. Sharpened on both edges, this tool can be used to weed, harvest and plant. Worn on a

belt it is very versatile


The weed sward was scythed and removed for compost


The remaining weeds were chipped off just below surface level


Basic bed shape after turving


Weeds being hoed up to become mulch as part of weeding potatoes


Weeds are lifted with the Turver and left on the beds as a mulch


Potatoes will cover the beds excluding light from weeds


Before double-dig. A fork driven into the ground hits a hard pan at 15 – 20cm


Topsoil is pulled aside


Beds were created shoulder-width to be easy to stand astride to cultivate


The sub-soil is broken up in situ


After double-dig. The fork is easily driven to 40cm deep


A 1cm layer of compost is turned into the bed


Crops planted at various spacing depending on the crop


Beds planted in the quincunx pattern


Lettuces smother weeds among garlic


Lettuce and spinach amongst garlic - almost finished cropping


Weeds are cut with a bricklayers trowel and left on the bed to dry


Turnover Production from 8 beds 20 metres long. Lettuce 7 per metre @ $1ea; Spinach 5 bunches

per metre@ $2 ea; 17 garlic per metre @ $1.5 ea; Beetroot @ $4 per metre; Carrots @ $10 per metre.

Rate taken at 80% of output = $45.2 per metre.

Outcomes


Soil depth at the end of the first year

Physical results The soil depth changed from its initial 15 -20cm to 50-60cm. The micro biological activity had increased dramatically. There were now mychorrizal strands evident. Water retention properties had improved. Less watering was needed to produce the crops. Soil crumb structure had improved. The soil was now open and friable. Beds that took 6 to 9 hours to create initially now took 2 hours and weeds such as dock and couch simply lift out. Worms spilled from each breaking of the soil. The latest nutrient tests show that those elements, which were previously out of balance, were now coming into balance.

Soil depth is 50-60cm at the end of year two

Outcomes



The micro biological activity had increased dramatically.

Outcomes


Change in soil structure is evident


Outcomes


The end result - quality seed garlic

Star results

Garlic average weight changed from 70gm in the 2004/05 season to 100gm (largest bulb 314gm) in 2006 to 2007.

First grade Garlic seed quality has increased from 42% (2005/06) to 82% of the crop. This was in a year (2006/07) that was generally considered to be a poor year for garlic.

On a number of occasions from the second season onwards, beds of lettuce cropped at 100%. ie all of the lettuces in that bed were of saleable quality. (2005, 2006, 2007).

Tomatoes had been grown in beds that were straight clay when started, for the four years from 2003 through 2006.

The use of biological innoculum has apparently increased crop resistance to pests and disease.

Addition of woody material in compost and added to beds with compost aids in the growth of micro organisms in the soil. Mycelium strands are now evident in the beds (2006/2007).

Comparative soil tests suggest that this method could increase CEC. (cation exchange capacity).

Outcomes


Star results








beds of lettuce cropped at 100%.

Outcomes


Wilted tomato recovered after using biological innoculum

Star results








Tomatoes grown in clay based beds four years in a row

Outcomes


Soil Foodweb Institute NZ Limited Compost Foodweb Analysis89 McElligott Road, PO Box 40Roxburgh, Central Otago 0 0 New Zealand Jim O'GormanPhone: 64-3-446 8978 P 3 C KakanuiFax: 64-3-446 795 Oamaru, North Otago 0e-mail: [email protected]

[email protected]: PastureSample Received: 26/07/20Report S

Organism Biomass Data Invoice Number: 129Sample UniqueDry Weigh Active Total Active Total Total

# ID of 1 gramBacterialBacterial Fungal Fungal Hyphal Protozoa NematodeFresh BiomassBiomass Biomass Biomass Diameter Numbers/g Numbers

Material (µg/g) (µg/g) (µg/g) (µg/g) (µm) FlagellatesAmoebae Ciliates #/g2360 Mulch 0.77 NR NR 0.000 815 2.5 NR NR NR NR

Bold OK Low activity Excellent OKMeans Low May have biomass

run out of How ever, mostly

food, try addine consists of

a little w ater to actinobacteria, and

lessen the 'f luff ' other not-beneficial

You could fungi. Some nice

try adding a 3.00 hypha visiable

small amount of need to grow this

humic acid to more.

w ater to w ake

up fungi.

Desired 0.45 - 15 - 100 - 15 - 100 - (A) 10000 + 10000 + 50 - 20 - Range 0.85 25 3000 25 300 100 30

Soil

Star results








Outcomes

Sheet1

Soil Foodweb Institute NZ LimitedCompost Foodweb Analysis

89 McElligott Road, PO Box 40

Roxburgh, Central Otago 0 0 New ZealandJim O'Gorman

Phone: 64-3-446 8978P 3 C Kakanui

Fax: 64-3-446 795Oamaru, North Otago 0

e-mail: [email protected]

[email protected]

Plants: Pasture

Sample Received: 26/07/2007Report Sent: 27/07/2007

Organism Biomass DataInvoice Number: 129

SampleUniqueDry WeightActiveTotalActiveTotalTotal

#IDof 1 gramBacterialBacterialFungalFungalHyphalProtozoaNematode

FreshBiomassBiomassBiomassBiomassDiameterNumbers/gNumbers

Material(µg/g)(µg/g)(µg/g)(µg/g)(µm)FlagellatesAmoebaeCiliates#/g

2360Mulch0.77NRNR0.0008152.5NRNRNRNR

BoldOKLow activityExcellentOK

Means LowMay havebiomass

run out ofHowever, mostly

food, try addineconsists of

a little water toactinobacteria, and

lessen the 'fluff'other not-beneficial

You couldfungi. Some nice

try adding a3.00 hypha visiable

small amount ofneed to grow this

humic acid tomore.

water to wake

up fungi.

Desired0.45 -15 -100 -15 -100 -(A)10000 +10000 +50 -20 -

Range0.852530002530010030

Soil Foodweb Institute NZ Limited Compost Foodweb Analysis 89 McElligott Road, PO Box 40 Roxburgh, Central Otago 0 0 New Zealand Jim O'Gorman Phone: 64-3-446 8978 P 3 C Kakanui Fax: 64-3-446 795 Oamaru, North Otago 0 e-mail: [email protected] [email protected] Plants: Pasture Sample Received: 26/07/2007 Report Sent: 27/07/2007Organism Biomass Data Invoice Number: 129 Sample Unique Dry Weight Active Total Active Total Total# ID of 1 gram Bacterial Bacterial Fungal Fungal Hyphal Protozoa Nematode Fresh Biomass Biomass Biomass Biomass Diameter Numbers/g Numbers Material (µg/g) (µg/g) (µg/g) (µg/g) (µm) Flagellates Amoebae Ciliates #/g2360 Mulch 0.77 NR NR 0.000 815 2.5 NR NR NR NR Bold OK Low activity Excellent OK Means Low May have biomass run out of However, mostly food, try addine consists of a little water to actinobacteria, and lessen the 'fluff' other not-beneficial You could fungi. Some nice try adding a 3.00 hypha visiable small amount of need to grow this humic acid to more. water to wake up fungi. Desired 0.45 - 15 - 100 - 15 - 100 - (A) 10000 + 10000 + 50 - 20 - Range 0.85 25 3000 25 300 100 30

Sheet2

Sheet3


Star results








Outcomes




Conclusion There is enough evidence from these results to encourage continued observation and analysis and to refine the process over time. The combination of soil and weed management, compost and stable humus applications and micro organism sprays appear to have beneficial effects on degraded horticultural soils such that fertility and soil structure can be maintained while cropping intensively. This demonstrates Boserup’s concept that when the population increases to a certain point, humans will find creative new ways to sustain themselves and reinforces Balfour and Steiners’ focus on micro organisms as the basis for establishing and maintaining healthy soils. Use of weeds as a basis for composting materials generally appears to be successful. Further research needs to be conducted on the various aspects of weed management as the weed type changes during cultivation.




Future Continue to refine the process Test the hypothesis over diverse conditions and soil types. Mechanise the system. Offer scholarships for post graduates. Engage with students in assistance and aid programmes overseas via Internet. Extend the seed bank for cool temperate crops Create a demonstration Eco-village


Presentation from National Organics Conference 2007

Slideshow complete.

The Dirt Doctor

Presentation from National Organics �Conference 2007Slide Number 2Slide Number 3Slide Number 4The weed sward was scythed� and removed for compostThe remaining weeds were chipped �off just below surface levelBasic bed shape after turvingWeeds being hoed up to become�mulch as part of weeding potatoesWeeds are lifted with the Turver �and left on the beds as a mulch Potatoes will cover the beds �excluding light from weeds Before double-dig. �A fork driven into the ground �hits a hard pan at 15 – 20cm Topsoil is pulled aside Beds were created shoulder-width �to be easy to stand astride to cultivateThe sub-soil is broken up in situ After double-dig. �The fork is easily driven to 40cm deep A 1cm layer of compost is turned into the bed Crops planted at various spacing �depending on the crop Beds planted in the quincunx pattern Slide Number 19Slide Number 20Lettuces smother weeds among garlic Lettuce and spinach amongst garlic� - almost finished cropping Slide Number 23Slide Number 24Weeds are cut with a bricklayers �trowel and left on the bed to dry Slide Number 26Soil depth at the end of the first year The micro biological activity had increased dramatically. Change in soil structure is evident Change in soil structure is evident The end result - quality seed garlic beds of lettuce cropped at 100%.Wilted tomato recovered after�using biological innoculum Slide Number 34Slide Number 35Slide Number 36Slide Number 37Presentation from National Organics �Conference 2007��Slideshow complete.

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Presentation from National Organics Conference 2007 Doctor/Dirt Doctor Conference... · Bring Life to Your Soil Presentation from National Organics Conference 2007