From KDRAEGER@ins.infonet.netThu Feb 23 20:31:30 1995 Date: Thu, 23 Feb 95 17:32:45 EST From: Kathy Draeger To: sanet-mg@ces.ncsu.edu Subject: More on microbes... On the subject of where to get soil microbes-- I want to mention one very important bacteria. The legume soil benefit comes from the symbiosis with the soil bacteria rhizobia (general name). I planted a few acres last year and used about 16 different legumes and inoculated all the seed with the very specific rhizobia species. This is not an endorsement but.... I used Nitragin Brand Inoculants and also inoculants that arrived with my legume seeds from a very helpful company called Wildlife Nurseries, Inc. The bacteria advantage is used with a lot of our crops-- soybeans, alfalfa, clovers, etc... Nowadays in the Midwest our soils have been inoculated enough that we don't inoculate soybeans every time we plant them. The "bugs" are in the soil and doing quite well without our help thank you. But for those legumes that haven't been grown in a certain area or at least not for a long time (like the native legumes I was planting) adding rhizobia to the seeds and the soil is really great for plant growth and soil quality in the long run. Kathy Sustainability International Addressing environmental and agricultural issues, techncially and socially (712) 948-3227 2111 200th Street, Bronson, IA 51007 From sals@rain.orgThu Feb 23 19:45:30 1995 Date: Thu, 23 Feb 1995 09:20:37 -0800 (PST) From: Sal Schettino To: jmayerna@nmsu.edu Cc: sanet-mg@ces.ncsu.edu Subject: Re: (Reply) Hot Sandy Soil I get my microbes from Petrik Laboratories 916-666-1157 fax 916-661-0489 and its been organic on CCOF cal.certified organic farmers list for years. I have put it out every year for over 8 years. A lot in the beginning to bring my land back to life and smaller amounts now. It has speeded up the natural process and made living soil a lot faster than nature could. A lot of farmer have killed off there lands life because they wanted only good production for today so adding microbes in my mind really helped me out. tHE problem some have is that there are no Microbes . You need them for substaniable ag. Essential plant nutrients are converted and released to crops,microbes are actively fixing nitrogen from air,they are active in decomposing cellulose,they are decomposing and mineralizing humates, they are mineralizing organic compounds of phosphorus and nitrifying microbes are active in promoting mineralization of humus. All crop residues should be recycled to the soil and microbes help decompose them. The thing I can see it and feel is that Microbes improves tilth . People have been using Microbes as compost starter I use it as a biofertillizer for imporveing the soil structure and assuring a balance in soil metabolism,with the production of stable humus. I feel the biological functions occuring in the soil are critical to maintaining a health,fertle soil. I wounder if there is much work going on researching Microbes. They use to laugh about it now I think they are taking a second look at it. I heard of EM in Japan and Cuba is doing some work there. In the olden days I heard they use to have to plant peaches they brought out west to Cal. with the soil from back home and those that didn't they lost their trees because there were not the microorganisms need for growth. You can add microbes just by take soil from a healthy tree and moving some to a place that has none. I love that rhizospheric microbial population. My understanding is that they take soil from a healthy place and take out the microbes from that soil and give them a life that leads them to grow fast and then they put back with a high Aerobic count and Anaerobic count,yeast count and etc. Its living so you are using a living thing so I guess they have to get just the right Microbe combo. I don't know how it works but It works for me. They need mosture. So I feel if you have water you can make Hot sandy soil good live soil with time. Microbes I feel will help to brake up compacted soil also. I have see my ground turn from something so hard I thought I needed a jackhammer now its like you springs on your feet. Sal Schettino,Organic Farmer,don't panic eat organic,sals@rain.org or check out my homepage: http://www.rain.org/~sals/my.html