Healthy soil and sustainable growing

["tech-terra organics" <techterra@comcast.net>]

Paul, I know you do not think commercially prepared products are a good 
choice, but they do have their place in the grand scheme. While mycorrhizial 
fungi spores are present everywhere, they sometimes need to be added for 
efficient inoculations. I deal with mature trees all the time & have found 
that due to the disturbed sites they live in, inoculation can help. I think 
it timely that the following post came to me independently immediately after 
your post.
Barry Draycott
Tech-Terra Organics, LLC
609-468-1905
techterra@comcast.net

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
Albert Einstein

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Improving Your Clay Soils - Naturally.
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The most frequent articles about mycorrhizal fungi deal with their ability 
to improve the nutrient and moisture uptake for host plants, which are 
obviously important benefits.  However, we can't overlook the powerful 
physical effects that the fungi have on the surrounding soil after they 
colonize a plant's root system.

After the fungi send their many millions of microscopic root-threads 
(hyphae) out into the soil, acting like foraging hair roots, the effect on 
clay soil is to separate "stacked" clay platelets.  This allows air to 
penetrate deep into the root zone and permits water to drain through without 
causing soggy anaerobic conditions.

Some years back, when we moved into a new home, I planted some extra potato 
seeds in extremely heavy clay - had to work to wedge a shovel in. I was 
surprised at how well the plants grew with no fertilizer, and even more 
surprised when I went to dig some new potatoes for dinner one day.  I could 
push my hand down several inches into the soil around the plants with no 
effort.  It was like reaching into a bag of loose potting soil.  About 18 
inches out from each plant, the soil was still rock-hard.  The mycorrhizal 
fungi had, in effect, created ideal growing conditions for their host plants 
out of what would otherwise be a suffocating soil situation.

I also found it interesting that about a month after the final harvest, the 
spots where the potato plants were located went back to being just as 
hard-packed as before.  These fungi are obligate organisms, dependent on 
host plants, and could not continue living after the plant was dead. This is 
part of a normal cycle for annuals, and there would be fungus spores left 
behind in the soil for next year's crop. I still put a small pinch of new 
inoculant on my transplants each spring, but it is probably not necessary as 
long as the soil has not been drenched with liquid fertilizer or fungicides.

Rototilling will fluff up soil for a short time, but having the right type 
of mycorrhizae on plant roots will keep it fluffed for the season.  Both 
commercial growers and home gardeners can use this technique to their 
advantage - putting nature to work for you.

Soil chemistry still dominates our cultural practices, but microbiology is 
gaining ground (or soil?) each year because of advantages in cost, 
performance, and sustainability.  Good healthy soil produces good healthy 
plants.

Cheers, and have a great growing season this year,

Don Chapman
President
BioOrganics, Inc.
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BioOrganics Inc. News
3/8/2007