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Gardens, Soil and Beneficial Microorganisms

Microorganisms, microbes or bacteria make nutrients available in the soil forplants in a form that the plants then can use. Microbes create some of thosenutrients, Mother Nature creates hers and we add the rest.

Some microbes consume nutrients and some microbes eat the microbes thathave consumed the nutrients. This in turn breaks the nutrients down into asmaller form so they can be absorbed much more efficiently by the plant.

Microbes perform different jobs. Some defend against non-beneficial microbesand this helps keep the plants natural defense system at it's best. Somemicrobes can also convert nitrogen gas in the air into a form that the plants canuse.

Microorganisms release different types of proteins, acids, enzymes and other

essential elements. These elements help to break down trace minerals, microand macronutrients and make it available as food for the plant. What happens isan extreme increase in root mass, which in turn increases the nutrient intakethat creates bigger yields. Enzymes and anti-microbial substances areparticularly crucial in plants.

Beneficial microorganisms can also help condition and aerate soil, and create abetter drainage system. Some beneficial microorganisms also have the ability tobreak down toxins in the soil or soil-less mix and turn it into plant food, air andwater. Beneficial Microbes also covert calcium and phosphate into somethingthat plants can actually use.

A good rule of thumb as to which microorganism is beneficial and which is not isthe harmful or pathogenic microorganisms cause putrefaction and beneficialmicroorganisms cause fermentation.

Types of Beneficial Microorganisms:

Lactic acid: make lactic acid from sugars or other carbohydrates. This is

an important by-product because it can act as a strong fertilizer. It willcontrol or push down non-beneficial or harmful microbes as well as causerapid decomposition of organic matter and ferments organic matter without

the smell and other harmful outcomes.

Photosynthetic: these take harmful products like hydrogen sulfide and

make them into useful substances. With the help of sunlight, secretionsfrom organic matter can also be made into amino acids, nucleic acids, andbioactive substances. These aid tremendously in the growth of a plant andits development. Amino acids are the basic building blocks of proteins.Synthesis of new protein is what Nucleic acids are responsible for and this

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allows the characteristics of an organism to transfer from one generationto another. Bioactive substances are important in the regulation of thefunction of both plants and animals, which include hormones, enzymes,and neurotransmitters, among others.

Fermenting fungi: these groups of microorganisms suppress bad odorsand prevent plant infestation by harmful insects and maggots. They alsodecompose organic matter rapidly to produce alcohol, esters and anti-microbial substances.

Yeasts: these create a better root system and helps with the absorption of

more water and nutrients from the soil. This will in turn speed up plantgrowth, producing more and wider leaves so the plant will produce starch.Plants use glucose as energy; but starch can be stored more efficientlyand for longer periods of time. Plants use the sun for energy so at nightthe plants convert the stored starch back to glucose to provide the basic

energy needed to maintain basic cellular functions.

If you want to keep the populations of beneficial microorganisms healthyhere is what you don't do.

1. Do not use chemical fertilizers: fertilizers are made up of salts,and salts suck the water out of the microbes, which will either killthem or cause them to go into a dormant state.

2.Do not use hydrogen peroxide (H2O2): H2O2 adds oxygen towater, lowers algae levels and can help suppress diseases within

plants. It helps sterilize water and the growing medium to killharmful microorganisms, but it will also kill the beneficialmicroorganisms. Not good.

3. Do not use chemical pesticides: these get sprayed onto leaves tokill harmful insects, but they also kill the beneficial microbes thatare present on the leaves. The pesticides then drip off the leavesand into the soil and again, kill any beneficial microbes present inthat soil or soil-less mix.

4. Don't walk on the soil or compact it: over-tilling and compaction

can kill some beneficial microbe populations since some microbesneed air to survive. Worms can do the work of turning it in for you.

Do add at least an inch of organic compost a year to replenish the nutrients thatthe plants have used that season and handle pests with natural and organicremedies.

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Beneficial microorganisms bring back the lost properties of the soil and arecommonly used in natural farming and organic gardens.

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Clifford Woods is the CEO of Effective Environmental Services and OrganicEnvironmental Technology.Find more Organic Solutions at http://www.effens.comWe brew Beneficial Microorganisms that eat toxins in the environment and offerEnvironmentally Friendly Products

http://www.effens.com/http://www.effens.com/