one tablespoon of healthy farm soil contains one billion assorted microbesone billion assorted...
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One tablespoon of healthy farm soil containsOne tablespoon of healthy farm soil contains•one billion assorted microbesone billion assorted microbes•one mile of fungal filamentsone mile of fungal filaments•hundreds of microfauna: nematodes & arthropods, etc.hundreds of microfauna: nematodes & arthropods, etc.
1000 sq. feet of healthy root zone soil contains1000 sq. feet of healthy root zone soil contains70 lbs of dead microbes70 lbs of dead microbes7 lbs of Nitrogen7 lbs of Nitrogen
3.5 lbs pf Phosphate3.5 lbs pf Phosphate1.4 lbs of Calcium1.4 lbs of Calcium1.4 lbs of Magnesium1.4 lbs of Magnesium
.28 lb of Sulphate.28 lb of SulphateContinuous release of these nutrients improves crop productionContinuous release of these nutrients improves crop production
Dirt is inert,Dirt is inert,but soil is alivebut soil is alive
16761676 − − Antonie van LeeuwenhoekAntonie van Leeuwenhoek, Dutch microscopist first saw bacteria , Dutch microscopist first saw bacteria with a single-lens microscope he built. He published observations in letters with a single-lens microscope he built. He published observations in letters to the Royal Society of London. Bacteria were at the limit of his simple to the Royal Society of London. Bacteria were at the limit of his simple lenses, and were his most remarkable microscopic discovery. lenses, and were his most remarkable microscopic discovery.
No one else saw them again for over a century.No one else saw them again for over a century.
18281828 − − Christian Gottfried EhrenbergChristian Gottfried Ehrenberg first used "bacterium” for rod- first used "bacterium” for rod-shaped microbes. In 1835, spore-forming rod-shaped “bacillus” were shaped microbes. In 1835, spore-forming rod-shaped “bacillus” were found.found.
18591859 − − Louis PasteurLouis Pasteur showed that microbes cause fermentation. Yeasts showed that microbes cause fermentation. Yeasts and molds that cause fermentation aren’t bacteria, but fungi. Pasteur was and molds that cause fermentation aren’t bacteria, but fungi. Pasteur was an early advocate of the “germ” theory of disease.an early advocate of the “germ” theory of disease.
19051905 − − Robert KochRobert Koch, pioneer in medical microbiology, worked on cholera, , pioneer in medical microbiology, worked on cholera, anthrax and tuberculosis. His research on tuberculosis proved the “germ” anthrax and tuberculosis. His research on tuberculosis proved the “germ” theory, which got him a Nobel Prize.theory, which got him a Nobel Prize.
Men and microbes have been at war ever since.Men and microbes have been at war ever since.
A Brief HistoryA Brief HistoryMicrobial ScienceMicrobial ScienceBiochar PropertiesBiochar Properties
Microbial ColonizationMicrobial Colonization
Monocropping Monocropping – low biodiversity– low biodiversity
TillageTillage – bare, exposed soil = erosion – bare, exposed soil = erosiondisturb microbe infrastructuresdisturb microbe infrastructuresno ground covers, no exudatesno ground covers, no exudatesno shade, hot temperatures, dryno shade, hot temperatures, dry
Chemical fertilizers Chemical fertilizers – harsh, soluble– harsh, solubletoxic mineral imbalancestoxic mineral imbalancesfunctional mineral deficienciesfunctional mineral deficienciestrace element deficitstrace element deficits
HerbicidesHerbicidesno exudate or ground coverno exudate or ground covercollateral disturbance to microbescollateral disturbance to microbesreduce biodiversityreduce biodiversity
Fungicides, Insecticides, etc.Fungicides, Insecticides, etc.no beneficial symbiotic fungino beneficial symbiotic fungiless water & nutrient capacityless water & nutrient capacitycarbon & nitrogen lossescarbon & nitrogen losses
how to culture living organisms how to culture living organisms not inert dirt or sterile chemicalsnot inert dirt or sterile chemicals
create & sustain habitat, not productivity create & sustain habitat, not productivity sustain microbe population explosionsustain microbe population explosionnot just to survive, but thrivenot just to survive, but thrive
Physical environment: Physical environment: infrastructures infrastructures
Temperature: Temperature: cool, not hotcool, not hot
Air & Oxygen: Air & Oxygen: living soil breathes living soil breathes
Water: Water: not too dry, not too wetnot too dry, not too wet
Nutrients:Nutrients: microbe & plant food microbe & plant foodEstablish soil mineral foundationEstablish soil mineral foundationBalance major mineralsBalance major mineralsComplete trace elementsComplete trace elementsAdjust Carbon/Nitrogen ratioAdjust Carbon/Nitrogen ratio
Recharge Soil BatteryRecharge Soil Battery: boost CEC & AEC: boost CEC & AEC
Carbon-Accountable, Climate-SmartCarbon-Accountable, Climate-SmartSymbionts & BiodiversitySymbionts & BiodiversityInoculation with MicrobesInoculation with Microbes
The world’s cultivated soils lost The world’s cultivated soils lost 50 to 70% of their original carbon, 50 to 70% of their original carbon,
much of it oxidized into COmuch of it oxidized into CO22..
Rattan LalRattan Lal, Director, DirectorOhio State University Ohio State University
Carbon Management & Sequestration CenterCarbon Management & Sequestration Center
Antibiotic Antibiotic chemical agriculturechemical agriculture
ProbioticProbioticbiological agriculturebiological agriculture
A Brief HistoryA Brief HistoryMicrobial WarfareMicrobial WarfareBiochar PropertiesBiochar PropertiesPARADIGM SHIFTPARADIGM SHIFT
Microbial CooperationMicrobial Cooperation
Stewardship of Soil and BiodiversityStewardship of Soil and Biodiversity
Soil sequesters more carbonSoil sequesters more carbonthan the atmosphere and plantsthan the atmosphere and plants
Roots are intelligent communities of cellsRoots are intelligent communities of cellssearching for moist, fertile soil… searching for moist, fertile soil…
They grow, They grow, they sense, they sense, they inquire,they inquire,they acquire, they acquire, they moisten,they moisten,they dissolve,they dissolve,they absorb, they absorb, they adsorb,they adsorb,they share,they share,they supply, they supply, they attract, they attract, they feel their way thru soil,they feel their way thru soil,they change course in a moment, they change course in a moment, in a constant quest for water & nutrients.in a constant quest for water & nutrients.waterwater
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electrolyteselectrolytes++
photonsphotons
++ electrelectroolyteslytes −−−−
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BoronBoron
is made in leaves by is made in leaves by photosynthesisphotosynthesis
COCO22 + H + H22O = CO = C66OO66HH1212 = = carbohydratecarbohydrate + + OO22travels with travels with BoronBoron down into roots down into roots
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20% of the energy20% of the energyfixed by fixed by photosynthesisphotosynthesis
is exuded by roots is exuded by roots to feed microbesto feed microbes
40% of the energy40% of the energy60% of the energy60% of the energy90% of the energy90% of the energy40-60% of the energy40-60% of the energy
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The Sweet SpotThe Sweet Spot
The The SweetSweetSpotSpot
distribute sugar to the wholedistribute sugar to the wholebuild sugar into structuresbuild sugar into structuresstore sugar as complex carbohydratesstore sugar as complex carbohydratessequester carbon as biomass growthsequester carbon as biomass growthleak sugar into soilleak sugar into soilexude sugar into soilexude sugar into soilsecrete sugar into soilsecrete sugar into soil
feed on this sugar & other exudatesfeed on this sugar & other exudatesprimary food for the primary food for the Soil Food WebSoil Food Webproliferate on & near rootsproliferate on & near rootshighest concentration is around rootshighest concentration is around rootsbest soil is around rootsbest soil is around roots
BacteriaBacteriaFungiFungi
ArchaeaArchaeaActinomycetesActinomycetes
ProtozoaProtozoaAlgaeAlgae
NematodesNematodesInsectsInsects
EarthwormsEarthworms
Weight of Soil Organismsin top 7 inches of Soilorganism pounds/acre
Plant roots 2000Fungi & Molds 2000Bacteria 1000Actinomycetes 1000Earthworms 1000Protozoa 200Algae 100Insects 100Nematodes 50
The Tree of LifeThe Tree of LifeIf you’re not forest,If you’re not forest,you’re against usyou’re against us
Root Systemsof
Prairie Plants
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Grasslands cover a quarter of the land. UN Food & Agriculture Organization estimates grasslands hold 20% of Earth’s soil carbon stock. Much of these grasslands are degraded −U.S. Great PlainsNorthern MexicoAfrica’s SahelMongolia
Soil sequesters twice as much carbon as the atmosphereSoil sequesters twice as much carbon as the atmosphereSoil is the foundation of food production Soil is the foundation of food production
Microbial ColonizationMicrobial ColonizationBiochar PropertiesBiochar Properties
Dr. Elaine InghamDr. Elaine Ingham
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40-60% of the energy 40-60% of the energy made by photosynthesismade by photosynthesis
is exuded by roots is exuded by roots to feed microbesto feed microbes
Soil is the foundation of food production Soil is the foundation of food production Soil sequesters twice as much carbon as the atmosphereSoil sequesters twice as much carbon as the atmosphere
Biochar PropertiesBiochar Properties
www.dyarrow.org/SoilFoodWeb
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PHOTO: Josiah Hunt, Hawaii BiocharPHOTO: Josiah Hunt, Hawaii Biochar
Bare R
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Conifer F
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BacteriaBacteria
FungiFungi
RATIORATIO 1 : 11 : 1 1 : 101 : 10 1 : 1001 : 100 1 : 1,0001 : 1,000 1 : 10,0001 : 10,000
: : secondary digesters − break down biomoleculessecondary digesters − break down biomoleculesnetworks of mycelium scavenge nutrients, networks of mycelium scavenge nutrients, distribute energy & share informationdistribute energy & share information
Average soil has 5,000 microbe species Average soil has 5,000 microbe species 25,000 is a healthy number25,000 is a healthy number
Most crops prefer fungal-dominant soil, except Most crops prefer fungal-dominant soil, except BrassicasBrassicasFungi form spores the second of a two year life cycleFungi form spores the second of a two year life cycleSoil tilled yearly can never be fungal-dominantSoil tilled yearly can never be fungal-dominant
provide water, food & shelter for microbesprovide water, food & shelter for microbesFeed the soil, not the plantsFeed the soil, not the plants
carbon tradingcarbon trading
bacteriabacteria
fungifungi
: : primary consumers − transform geology into biologyprimary consumers − transform geology into biology− − turn minerals into protoplasmturn minerals into protoplasm
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Bacteria-Fungi BalanceBacteria-Fungi BalanceBiochar PropertiesBiochar Properties