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permaculture - Re: [permaculture] [SANET-MG] Soil solution concentrations of phosphorus

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Chronological Thread  
  • From: "Lawrence F. London, Jr." <venaurafarm@bellsouth.net>
  • To: Sustainable Agriculture Network Discussion Group <SANET-MG@LISTS.IFAS.UFL.EDU>, James Kotcon <jkotcon@WVU.EDU>, permaculture <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>, Market Farming <marketfarming@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [permaculture] [SANET-MG] Soil solution concentrations of phosphorus
  • Date: Wed, 29 Dec 2010 11:44:31 -0500

On 12/29/2010 10:47 AM, James Kotcon wrote:

In our soils, we often run into problems with phosphate fixation
(precipitation as insoluble iron or aluminum phosphates) especially
at acid pH levels. Adding lime increased the "available" phosphate
in our soil even without adding compost or other amendments. It is

not necessarily a microbial function, just "simple" solution
chemistry.

Except for the phosphorous stored in the bodies of certain microorganisms that become available for plant nutrition when they die and ere recycled by other microorganisms:
Elaine writes:
"Those critters I keep talking about........ bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes, microarthropods, and earthworms and..... all the rest of those guys.
If people have no clue what organisms are present, and whether there are enough protozoa and beneficial nematodes to do the job of releasing nutrients from the bacteria and fungi, then those folks are basically doomed to poor fertility, and to falling back on use of inorganic additions to their soil. And that approach fails because nutrients will be lost through leaching, or through volatilization."
I assume that the phosphorous released through this process would be in a form that would be immediately available to plants, would be slow and continuous release. Maybe the higher the levels of the six categories of microorganisms listed above the more available phosphorous would be
immediately accessable by plants like corn with high feeding and nutrient utilization rates. That's why organic agriculture produces
such bountiful, nutrient dense crops and so reliability with the least pest predation. Permaculture farming is the way to go.

Levels of chitin and glomalin must be other important factors at least as forces adding to long term soil quality, tilth, nutrient and moisture retention and habitat for soil organisms.

Strategies involving all this are at the core of practical natural/biointensive/regenerative agriculture.




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