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  • From: "TradingPostPaul" <tradingpost@riseup.net>
  • To: livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [Livingontheland] Understanding the Soil Processes
  • Date: Tue, 28 Mar 2006 16:34:30 -0700

from paul, tradingpost@riseup.net
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Quotes from Understanding the Soil Processes
http://www.rain.org/~sals/Petrik.html

The production of humus is a complex process. In general cyclic substances
like phenol groups and also other like organic acids and vitamins (humus is
also related to crude oil) are polymerized with help of enzymes,like phenol
oxidase. These cyclic compounds are both from plant parts(like lignin) and
are also produced by the microorganisms. Mostly fungi, actinomycetes
(Streptomycets) seem to be responsible for humus formation. Aspergillus,
Pisolithus, Rhizoctonia, Streptomycets are only but a few examples of
microorganisms actually capable of synthesizing cyclic(aromatic) compounds
and form them into humus from non-cyclic materials.

It is impossible for man to produce stable humus synthetically. Man can
properly cultivate the field, supply organic matter and so encourage the
development of stable humus in the soil. Soil with stable humus must always
be protected to maintain the fertility and productivity of the soil.

The production and maintenance of stable humus in the soil should be the
primary goal of every farmer. Good stewardship of the land is necessary to
protect and maintain mankinds most important asset, fertile soil.

For nearly one hundred years soil science in most schools of higher learning
(especially in agricultural colleges) has been primarily concerned with the
physical and mechanical aspects of soil structure. Biological thinking has
become a major concern only in the last few years.

The new approach considers not only the physical properties and mineral
structure of the soil,but also the process by which organic matter is
transformed into humus by microorganisms.
---------

Many farmers are imprisoned in a way of thinking that is only concerned with
levels of chemical fertilizers and must be re-educated to begin considering
the biological processes occurring within the soil. Balanced soil fertility
is a condition which cannot be measured by chemical or physical tests. The
farmer who strives to maintain the bio-organo-mineral complex in correct
balance in his fields can achieve the hightest agricultural production levels
as a result of these biological processes.

Today's popular chemical tests of soil do not tell anything about the
decisive life processes. They are merely a yardstick of the mineral content
of the soil and do not help farmers in knowing how to treat the fields for
future productivity and healthy corps. The whole process misses the basic
point that the true purpose of agriculture is to recycle life to capture the
life factor from decomposing organic material and channel it into new growing
plants. It is only by doing this that vital healthier life can be maintained
in plant, animal and man.

When the farmer decides to begin a biologically balanced fertility program,
soil analyses show minimal values of nutrient reserves and indicate that
large amount of fertilizers should be applied to meet the needs of the crop.
However, after a few years of successful biological farming, analyses can
show high residual levels of available nutrients, although the farmer has not
used any chemical fertilizers during that time.

The absurdity of conventional chemical thinking is revealed in the mistaken
notion that larger quantities of nutrients will continue to result from the
aid of chemical fertilizers. But the truth is ,that by the activity of
microbes, the nutrients are biologically enriched, accumulate in the pores of
the soil aggregates as swarm ions, and will become available to the growing
plants. The farmer who implements the balanced fertility program can achieve
needed levels of nutrients in the soil in a less expensive way, can achieve
the highest possible yields, and a higher quality harvest. By using the wrong
fertilizers, excessive chemicals and heavy machinery we are destroying our
soil, our filds, our farms and our future.

Plants supplied with this kind of nutrient require less water. This assures
the biological farmer a significant saving of water in the production of
crops, an especially important consideration in arid zones and in dry seasons
elsewhere.

We cannot outwit Nature. Nature does not allow a wasting or loss of living
matter in the restless process of mineralization the procedure for
impregnating the soil solution with the mineral elements required for plant
growth. In the final stage of decomposition the remmants of plasma still
contain the essential elements of the life processes. These remnants are then
transformed into soil plasma in the process of producing stable humus.

Stable humus is the crucial center, the focal point of the life cycle.
Adhering to farming practices that assure the production of stable humus thus
becomes the farmer's main objective.






  • [Livingontheland] Understanding the Soil Processes, TradingPostPaul, 03/28/2006

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