From steved@ncatfyv.uark.eduWed Mar 15 22:50:18 1995 Date: Wed, 15 Mar 1995 16:51:46 -0600 (CST) From: Steve Diver To: sanet-mg@wolf.ces.ncsu.edu, sustag-public@wolf.ces.ncsu.edu Subject: Re: BIO-CONTROL MATTERS-> Humus Abstract: Response to post about the role of humus in Nature Farming and S.A. Keywords: humus, microbes, Nature Farming, the Luebke method, soil test Jim McNelly, I saw your posting (below) on sustag-public concerning the concept of humus as the basis for sustainable agriculture as versus designer microbes, companion planting, etc. [Sustag-public is a gateway for Usenet news to be posted on an Internet mailing list, and vice versa]. Thanks for bringing this issue to light. A couple of comments: Firstly, it was revealed on sanet-mg that the NatureFarm posting was a working draft by folks associated with this project. It was posted onto sanet-mg by a third party without prior notice or approval from the authors. Secondly, here are my two cents on the matter of humus in Nature Farming and S.A.: In the 1994 Proceedings of the Oklahoma Horticulture Industries Show, I compared Nature Farming, traditional organic farming, biodynamic farming, and Reams biological farming as viable sustainable farming 'methods' that conventional veggie growers may want to adopt during a transition to low-input sustainable agriculture. Here is an excerpt on Nature Farming: "Nature Farming was developed in Japan in the 1930s by Mokichi Okada, who later formed the Mokichi Okada Association (MOA). Nature Farming parallels organic farming in many ways but includes special emphasis on soil health through composts rather than organic fertilizers, when possible. Kyusei Nature Farming, a branch group, emphasizes use of microbial preparations in addition to traditional Nature Farming. Nature Farming is most active in the Pacific rim, including California and Hawaii." "Since the late 1980s, Nature Farming has gained wider recognition in the United States through the coordinated efforts of MOA and the Rodale Institute in the formation of the World Sustainable Agriculture Association (WSAA). The WSAA and MOA sponsor annual conferences on Nature Farming and sustainable agriculture. Kyusei Nature Farming conducts on-farm research in California." One MOA worker in Hawaii explained that in fact they even make special composts for different purposes. Thus, in terms of how the foundation of Nature Farming is laid, it appears that humus indeed forms the basis of production. Likewise, while not being familiar with all the particulars of Effective Microorganisms (EM) used in Nature Farming, on viewing the number of research papers available through Kyusei Nature Farming that deal specifically with microbes, it appears that these microbial additions to soils are important also for the role they play in the formation of humus. All of this stuff on humus is important, just as is the advanced work being done on biological controls by Dietrick, Grossman, BIRC, Kyusei Nature Farming, etc. More on humus, the Luebke influence: The Luebke farm family of Austria have infused a reawakening amongst farmers and landgrant workers as to the importance of humus through their seminars and conference appearances. The Luebkes teach a 3-day seminar on humus management, and a 4-day seminar on Controlled Microbial Composting (CMC). The Luebke system is based on the use of forage- and covercrop-based crop rotations, green manures microbially incoculated at plowdown, CMC compost prepared with microbial inoculants and rock dusts, and proper tillage (spade plow). Whether a farmer is financially capable of purchasing a Sandberger compost turner and adopting the whole CMC compost preparation method is secondary to the fact that they come away with a deeper understanding of the vital role soil microbes play in the formation of the clay-humus crumb, and how they can manage their soils to increase this effect. For example, the Luebkes improved a clay soil on their farm from 2% O.M. to 15% O.M. in a ten year period using humus management techniques. Most interesting to me as a farm advisor and sanet participant, are the soil health evaluation procedures the Luebkes employ. These include percent O.M., the colorimetric humus test, the circular chromatography test, and the buffered pH test. One of these in particular, the colorimetric humus test, has merit for wider adoption, and indeed has already been adopted by several commercial soils labs in the U.S. after it was re-introduced by the Luebkes. In fact, this method was developed in the U.S. decades ago but fell out of usage. The colorimetric humus test is done by extracting a soil or compost sample with a weal alkali solution (sodium hydroxide), filtering the solute, and then comparing the color of the extract against a colorimetric scale of standardized liquid-filled test tubes. The result is a relative number from 0-100. The idea behind this test is that it gives an indication of the degree and amount to which organic matter in soil has entered a humified state. When the humus number is compared against percent O.M., it provides a ratio that can be evaluated. Ideally, the ratio will be 1 part O.M. to 3 parts humus. Too little or too high humus readings provide an indication of a soil out of balance. This test is especially insightful in combination with the chroma and buffered pH test. In one instance, it was apparent the soil was constipated...plenty of soil humus, but no microbial activity to make the goodies available through mineralization. At the very least, it demonstrates that sustainable farmers are getting useful information about the condition of their soils via other methods of soil evaluation in addition to or as an alternative to standard university soils tests. So, McNelly, you have a good point and I think farmers, landgrant workers, and s.a. advocates should be thinking about humus. That's why I've summarized these few ideas and post them here for others to 'mull' over. :-) Steve Diver steved@ncatfyv.uark.edu Jim McNelly wrote: > After a long and informative note on Naturfarm, I was surprised to find > no reference concerning the organic matter concentration in the soil. > Is this typical of many of the new generation of sustainable farmers? > > Forage and dairy farmers I have met at sustainable ag conferences speak > longingly about organic matter levels, and how to import organics from > off farm to build up soils to native levels around 7% humus, or at least > to a more sustainable level around 3% to 5%, > > If I read many of the early proponents of both organic and sustainable > farming correctly, compost, humus, and natural ecosystems were stressed > over other influences such as pest control, disease suppression, > watering and so forth. The (older?) model held that if the soil was > improved, other values would follow. Perhaps it is just me, but does it > not seem that more and more farmers on the sustainable front are talking > about companion planting, beneficial insects, designer microbes, drip > irrigation and other techniques. .....................Stuff Deleted................................ > This is not to put down such practices, but more to make the observation > that these efforts might be considered to be a substitute for humus and > organic matter. > > Does anyone else think that organic matter levels in the soil are being > neglected in much of the sustainable agriculture discussion? > > Mr Compost~~~ > Affordable In-vessel Composting > PO Box 7444 > Saint Cloud, MN 56302 > > Jim~ McNelly > jim.mcnelly@granite.mn.org > > > * RM 1.3 02460 * A bird in the hand craps on the wrist. > > ------------------============<>=============----------------- > Granite City Connection (612) 654-8372 28.8K 3 Lines > Email: jim.mcnelly@granite.mn.org (Jim Mcnelly) > ------------------============<>=============----------------- From sustag@beta.tricity.wsu.eduFri Mar 24 11:11:15 1995 Date: Tue, 21 Mar 1995 19:24:30 -0800 (PST) From: "Tom Hodges (moderated newsgroup)" To: Principles of Sustainable Agriculture Subject: re: soils for class presentation (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Tue, 21 Mar 95 11:27:59 EST From: WLockeretz@infonet.tufts.edu To: sustag@beta.tricity.wsu.edu Subject: re: soils for class presentation You may wish to check out Vol. 7, No. 1-2 of American Journal of Alternative Agriculture (1992), which devoted a double issue to the subject of soil quality. This is closely related to what you inquired about. The issue has 10 articles by a distinguished international panel of authors, and addresses most aspects of the topic, including soil organisms (both microorganisms and invertebrates), physical and chemical soil characteristics, management effects, and so forth. William Lockeretz P.S. In the interest of full disclosure in this ethics-conscious era, to avoid apperanace of conflict-of-interest I should mention that I am technical editor of the journal that published that exhaustive, definitive and exceptionally well-done treatment of the subject. From ACLARK@CROP.UOGUELPH.CAFri Mar 24 11:20:02 1995 Date: Thu, 23 Mar 1995 09:57:06 EDT From: "E. Ann Clark, Associate Professor" To: sanet-mg@ces.ncsu.edu Subject: Re: Humus -- rural -> urban -> rural Responding to Dick R. on the issue of composting. Just curious about the comment that it is better if composting occurs in the soil. Just finished an M.Sc. student doing a study on composting and we didn't come across this idea in the lit. I'd be interested in learning what it is that is more beneficial about composting in-situ - in the soil - as against ahead of time. Evidence from the literature? Conventional organic wisdom hereabouts sees placement of raw manure directly into the soil as a net negative, because of a) rapid release of N which destabilizes cycling, b) VFA's which can be caustic, and c) potential for anaerobic decomposition when high moisture substrate (whether animal manure or direct cut red clover) is plowed into the soil. As an example, they recommend cutting and wilting red clover plowdown before plowing it in, to avoid this problem. Good points on "waste" management at landfills! Ann ACLARK@crop.uoguelph.ca Dr. E. Ann Clark Associate Professor Crop Science University of Guelph Guelph, ON N1G 2W1 Phone: 519-824-4120 Ext. 2508 FAX: 519 763-8933 From jhaskett@asrr.arsusda.govFri Mar 24 11:36:06 1995 Date: Thu, 23 Mar 1995 14:02:26 -0500 (EST) From: jhaskett@asrr.arsusda.gov To: Sanet List Subject: Soil Quality Ref. Here is a publication on Soil Qualtity, sorry if it duplicates a pervious post. Defining Soil Quality for a Sustainable Environment SSSA Special Publication Number 35 ISBN 0-89118,807-X $32 from SSSA,ASA Headquarters Office Attn: Book Order Department 677 South Segoe Rd. Madison Wisconsin 53711-1086 From steved@ncatfyv.uark.eduFri Mar 24 11:37:06 1995 Date: Thu, 23 Mar 1995 16:51:19 -0600 (CST) From: Steve Diver To: sanet-mg@wolf.ces.ncsu.edu Subject: HUMUS (fwd) Forwarded message: >From bigblue.oit.unc.edu!news Wed Mar 22 22:14:15 1995 To: sustag-public@ces.ncsu.edu Date: Sun, 19 Mar 1995 23:05:00 +0600 >From: jim.mcnelly@granite.mn.org (Jim Mcnelly) Message-Id: <36.1697.1470@granite.mn.org> Organization: Granite City Connection St. Cloud MN 612-654-8372 Sender: london@sunsite.unc.edu References: <48782.hansm001@maroon.tc.umn.edu> Subject: HUMUS Thomas Hansmeyer writes: References: <48782.hansm001@maroon.tc.umn.edu> HH> This is a very interesting debate. In thinking about and discussing HH> soil quality, organic matter is usually mentioned within the HH> research circles. (stuff deleted) HH> I guess I am asking if the HH> Luebkes needed to import Carbon from other sources? Which gets into HH> further debate as to whether enough carbon exists within the current HH> system to allow all of agriculture to increase the OM to healthy HH> levels, 5% or so. Thomas, I operate under the assumption that native soil levels were much higher than the current averages, so that some of the atmospheric CO2 which stimulates the global warming debate was once in the form of soil carbon. It seems rather ludicrous to debate whether or not we "should" decrease atmospheric CO2 in order to increase soil humus levels. Many of the forgotten pages of debate over atmospheric warming deal with "carbon banks" such as the biosphere and humusphere as "sinks" which are capable of reducing global CO2. The Thompsons from Iowa have made arrangments HH> with the local village to use the carbon, in the form of organic HH> waste, as a cost effective amendment to their soil. Would all HH> farmers need to compete for these contracts, or could the carbon be HH> produced on-farm. If you are looking at the long term mass balance of available carbon such as residuals from the public sector, I am afraid that the volume of organic material landfilled, about one wet ton per capita, is inadequate for the demand of our acreages of soil needing organic matter. It is doubtful that even half of the landfilled organic waste can be recovered into a usable form without carrying with it all manner of pollutants and undesirable particulates. The composting process itself converts up to 1/3 of its volume into heat and CO2, so even 50 million tons of organic matter to be recovered annually is a liberal estimate. My numbers may be off, but it is my understanding that we have upwards of 350 million acres of farmland, so this represents about 1/7th of a ton per acre. Sustainable compost demand would be more in the 5 to 10 tons per acre annual range. To bring soil humus up to ambient, which I claim is a sustainable level, would require upwards of 200 tons per acre. This represents a "topsoil debt" as high as 7 trillion tons of compost. Focusing on recovering the wasted organic fraction which is thoughtlessly landfilled seems a reasonable place to begin development of a carbon management infrastructure in modern agriculture. This material is capable of being subsidized in the form of transportation, landfill and disposal fees whereas on-farm organics must pay their own way. I look at diverting urban organic matter from landfills to farms as an important first, and more than symbolic step toward increased interdependence between agricultural producers and consumers. But you are correct, Thomas, in pointing out that ultimately farms must eventually be responsible for their own carbon debt and annual carbon requirement. This may occur within various bio-regions where certain farms might become biomass cultivators capable of supplying the carbon requirements for farms within their region. But unless our mentality concerning renewable carbon gets some infusions of entepreneurism, the fossil carbon commodity infrastructure will continue to supply the chemical dependency addiction with few compunctions. I am intrigued by the discussion related to types of microbes and other means of determining the organic fertility of a soil. I would add to the discussion some questions concerning phosphorus limits which are increasingly becoming an environmental driver (revenue source) related to non point water pollution. The synergistic interactions of a healthy soil ecosystem including microbes, fungi, earthworms, and the various other organisms which thrive in a healthy humusphere may have values related to soil tilth, water holding capacity, pH buffering, nutrient availability, and cost of tillage. Unknown or currently unquantified values such as growth hormones, pheromes, anti-biotics, disease suppression, and pest retardation may be unexpected but indicated assets resulting from humus rich environments. In summary, other values of humus such as water quality, energy, waste disposal, and atmospheric warming might increasingly become economic levers in which to wean agriculture from the dependency on fossil carbon and help make the transition to renewable carbon based farming. To me, the focus on renewable carbon should be at the heart of the sustainable agriculture debate. Mr Compost~~~ Jim~ McNelly jim.mcnelly@granite.mn.org * RM 1.3 02460 * What profit to gain the world and lose your soil? ------------------============<>=============----------------- Granite City Connection (612) 654-8372 28.8K 3 Lines Email: jim.mcnelly@granite.mn.org (Jim Mcnelly) ------------------============<>=============----------------- From fmagdoff@moose.uvm.eduFri Mar 24 11:45:09 1995 Date: Fri, 24 Mar 1995 06:58:48 -0500 (EST) From: "Frederick R. Magdoff" To: "E. Ann Clark, Associate Professor" Cc: sanet-mg@ces.ncsu.edu Subject: Re: Humus -- rural -> urban -> rural Ann, The issue of composting vs. adding directly to the soil is an interesting one and there is at least one article that discusses some of the chemical differences (Chromec, FW, and FR Magdoff. 1984. Alternative methods for using organic materials: Composting vs. adding directly to soil. J. Environ. Sci. and Health 19:697-711). However, it is an area that could use some more work. FRED Fred Magdoff tel:802-656-0472 fax:802-656-4656 From hansm001@maroon.tc.umn.eduFri Mar 24 11:46:07 1995 Date: Fri, 24 Mar 95 10:02:18 CST From: Thomas Hansmeyer To: sanet-mg@ces.ncsu.edu Subject: HUMUS (fwd) I operate under the assumption that native soil levels were much higher than the current averages, so that some of the atmospheric CO2 which stimulates the global warming debate was once in the form of soil carbon. It seems rather ludicrous to debate whether or not we "should" decrease atmospheric CO2 in order to increase soil humus levels. Many of the forgotten pages of debate over atmospheric warming deal with "carbon banks" such as the biosphere and humusphere as "sinks" which are capable of reducing global CO2. My concerns were not directly related to the benefit or detriment of placing more atmospheric carbon into the "humusphere/soil". In fact, I think the majority would agree that to remove carbon from the atmosphere, banking it in the soil, would only benefit all cylces involved. My main concern is to assert that one could build soil organic carbon by 13% in 10 years without importing carbon from an off-farm source. I am totally in agreement that those off-farm sources of carbon should be cycled back through the soil. The merits of the Luebke soil management system was partially based on their ability to increase organic matter. I felt that more information was needed regarding the source of their carbon and scale of operation. To increase the soil organic matter of 200 acres by promoting soil life and crop rotation is much different than a heavily managed garden. The Thompsons from Iowa have made arrangments HH> with the local village to use the carbon, in the form of organic HH> waste, as a cost effective amendment to their soil. Would all HH> farmers need to compete for these contracts, or could the carbon be HH> produced on-farm. If you are looking at the long term mass balance of available carbon such as residuals from the public sector, I am afraid that the volume of organic material landfilled, about one wet ton per capita, is inadequate for the demand of our acreages of soil needing organic matter. It is doubtful that even half of the landfilled organic waste can be recovered into a usable form without carrying with it all manner of pollutants and undesirable particulates. The composting process itself converts up to 1/3 of its volume into heat and CO2, so even 50 million tons of organic matter to be recovered annually is a liberal estimate. My numbers may be off, but it is my understanding that we have upwards of 350 million acres of farmland, so this represents about 1/7th of a ton per acre. Sustainable compost demand would be more in the 5 to 10 tons per acre annual range. To bring soil humus up to ambient, which I claim is a sustainable level, would require upwards of 200 tons per acre. This represents a "topsoil debt" as high as 7 trillion tons of compost. Focusing on recovering the wasted organic fraction which is thoughtlessly landfilled seems a reasonable place to begin development of a carbon management infrastructure in modern agriculture. This material is capable of being subsidized in the form of transportation, landfill and disposal fees whereas on-farm organics must pay their own way. I look at diverting urban organic matter from landfills to farms as an important first, and more than symbolic step toward increased interdependence between agricultural producers and consumers. But you are correct, Thomas, in pointing out that ultimately farms must eventually be responsible for their own carbon debt and annual carbon requirement. This may occur within various bio-regions where certain farms might become biomass cultivators capable of supplying the carbon requirements for farms within their region. But unless our mentality concerning renewable carbon gets some infusions of entepreneurism, the fossil carbon commodity infrastructure will continue to supply the chemical dependency addiction with few compunctions. I am intrigued by the discussion related to types of microbes and other means of determining the organic fertility of a soil. I would add to the discussion some questions concerning phosphorus limits which are increasingly becoming an environmental driver (revenue source) related to non point water pollution. The synergistic interactions of a healthy soil ecosystem including microbes, fungi, earthworms, and the various other organisms which thrive in a healthy humusphere may have values related to soil tilth, water holding capacity, pH buffering, nutrient availability, and cost of tillage. Unknown or currently unquantified values such as growth hormones, pheromes, anti-biotics, disease suppression, and pest retardation may be unexpected but indicated assets resulting from humus rich environments. In summary, other values of humus such as water quality, energy, waste disposal, and atmospheric warming might increasingly become economic levers in which to wean agriculture from the dependency on fossil carbon and help make the transition to renewable carbon based farming. To me, the focus on renewable carbon should be at the heart of the sustainable agriculture debate. Mr Compost~~~ Jim~ McNelly jim.mcnelly@granite.mn.org * RM 1.3 02460 * What profit to gain the world and lose your soil? ------------------============<>=============----------------- Granite City Connection (612) 654-8372 28.8K 3 Lines Email: jim.mcnelly@granite.mn.org (Jim Mcnelly) ------------------============<>=============----------------- ------ Forwarded message ends here ------ -- Thomas Hansmeyer St. Paul MN hansm001@maroon.tc.umn.edu