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Tag: compost

Soil Hub InternationalBlogcompost
09 May 2017
2 Comments By sh_admin agriculture, farming, fungi, Gardening, Soil Biology Management, soil management , , , , , , , , , ,

Humic acid in crops and plants

Often referred to as ‘root food’ humic acid can help build up plant vitality and vigour through superior root development and enhanced chlorophyll function. It will also assist regenerative growth and reduce stress when applied as part of a well managed crop regime

 

Humic Acid (HA) is often included in many other products, primarily targeted at the organic sector, due to it also being an excellent source of food for microorganisms in the soil – it is known to increase levels of fungi (as a food source) and can even be used as an additive in compost tea.  Those in the know already understand that it has many applications when used on its own and that it can also be used to enhance the effects of a great many other organic and inorganic products.
We are very excited to announce a new arrangement that allows us to sell a very high quality and unique humic acid product called BlackJak (property of Sofbey SA, Geneva) to new and existing clients. This compliments our focused portfolio of compost and microbiological products perfectly.  It is also registered as organic under EU organic regulation 889/2008 to boot!
BlackJak (Property of Sofbey SA, Geneva)
BlackJak is a really good soil conditioner and foliar feed for many plants and crops. You can even use it in compost teas to enhance fungal growth!

 

Due to the extensive benefits and established brand status (it is trusted and relied on by growers in 30 countries worldwide), we have setup our own page on Facebook for it here! It will help us spread the message if you Like and Follow while you’re there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To coincide with our expansion in to humics, we have compiled a short list of reference material showing tests or scientific studies that demonstrate the powerful effect of applying what is ordinarily a major organic constituent of soil…

 

Please click on the links below. We anticipate adding more as we continue to develop in to this area, so don’t forget to signup for our newsletter to stay posted.

 

Effects of Humic Acids on the Nutrient Content, Plant Growth, and Soil Properties under conditions of salinity

Effects of Humic substances on plant growth and mineral nutrient uptake on wheat, under saline conditions

Improving phosphorus use efficiency and its effects on some crops

Agricultural uses of plant biostimulants

Effects of cultivation techniques on grapevines and strawberry fruit quality

 

If you have any questions or would like to buy a bottle or two please email blackjak@thesoilhub.com

PS. Don’t forget to click Like.

02 Dec 2015
By Simon Soil Biology Management , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Why you should test your soil for life – Part 7: Mycorrhizal Fungi

Mycorrhizal fungi are often one of the first biological inoculants that professional growers begin experimenting with in order to increase crop performance in a more natural way. Let’s have a look at why and how this appears on a soil test report.

Mycorrhizal fungi are important and prolific organisms that can develop symbiotic relationships with the roots of more than 95% of all plants on the planet.  This requires them to live in (endomycorrhizal) or on (ectomycorrhizal) the plant roots, extending their hyphae into the soil and thus producing phosphate, nitrogen, other nutrients and water available to the host plant. They extend the effective root area many hundreds of times so plants grow faster, larger and stronger without the need to apply as much fertiliser or water.

Mycorrhizal fungi test analysis
Test report showing an assessment of colonisation

In order to measure these beneficial organisms, careful preparations must be carried out to ensure that roots are not damaged and the fungi remain visible. Tip –  if you require this particular analysis, you should capture fine roots at each location, to ensure that the extraction process is possible and measurements can be performed under microscope by the laboratory technicians. If you need guidance on this, a reputable, specialist laboratory like this one, can help you plan your collection technique and discuss with you the type of plant roots which need to be observed so you can be sure of what type of colonisation may be present when the assessment is carried out.

When determining the presence of Mycorrhizal fungi in samples of soil, we are in fact concentrating just on the fine root fibres present in the growing media. This is not a direct count, as this is typical for other fungi measurements.  The figure that is reported is a percentage, correlating to the number of microscope fields that it was possible to detect the presence of either one of the types of Mycorrhizas.

A lot of producers work at increasing the presence of Mycorrhizal fungi to exploit the natural relationship with plants and get the most out of their particular growing environment. Many producers report superior quality crops as well as accelerated growth, particularly when young plants or seeds are inoculated with the spores.  In any event, it is vital to monitor your soil data to make sure you are achieving worthwhile results when investing in a quality biological product.

 

 

Simon runs Mind, Body & Soil and is Cofounder of SoilBioLab. He specialises in services and solutions for soil fertility management. You can follow him on twitter @peat_free or email him at simon@mindbodysoil.co.uk

20 Apr 2015
By Simon Soil Biology Management , , , , , , ,

Why test soil for life? Part 1: Moisture Content

In the first part of this mini-series we dangle our proverbial toes (or green fingers) in to the ground for a quick dip on understanding the importance of soil moisture and the relationship with microorganisms.

Moisture Content

Moisture content

Soil Moisture is calculated for soils and solid amendments, such as compost.  There are many different ways to determine this value, the most usual method for a soil analysis lab being the loss on drying method.  In this form, the value represents the level of moisture in given a sample as a percentage, that is to say the amount of, or mass, of a sample that is liquid (water) on an as-received basis.

The measurement will lie between 0 and 100%.  A zero value would indicate the complete absence of moisture, whereas 100% would probably have trickled to floor before it made it to the laboratory oven for drying!  It is sensible to track this metric throughout the season as climatic conditions change. If you need help with setting up a mechanism to capture and analyse you soil data, get in touch with MBS and ask for information on their Soil Surveillance System.

 

The importance of soil moisture being correct cannot be understated enough for a correctly functioning soil. It is a key parameter on any test report as the subsequent analysis for bacteria, fungi and protozoa depend directly on this value.

In the real-world, the liquid component is vital to the health of the soil ecosystem – assisting microorganisms with the fundamental requirements for their own survival as well as helping to mobilise nutrients to plants and allowing for movement between soil particles.  With a complete absence of moisture is unlikely that your microscopic workers will last for any great length of time, dying off or turning inactive until conditions change.  On the other hand, saturation will reduce the oxygen content, starving the microbes of the basic requirement of life forms and turn the soil anaerobic, promoting condition for harmful organisms.  In these extremes it is highly likely that you will have already observed the demise of your crop and taken to rowing across you field instead.

If you would like to get ahead and test your own soil for moisture content, health and more get in touch with Soibiolab and ask for more information on their services.

In the next installment of our series we will cover off Bacteria.

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