re soil microbes releasing bound nutrients
Hello bdnow, The CSIRO in Australia have several collections of research papers dedicated to the study of Soil biota and you can find them at www.csiro.au Another text, recommended at the SFI web site, so I bought a copy of it before the AUS $ dived to banana republic levels is: Principles and Applications of Soil Microbiology ISBN 0-13-459991-8 Elaine contributes a chapter on protozoa and nematodes but of interest to the question about refereed scientific publications on activities of mycorrhizal fungi and their symbiotic relationships with plants is David Sylvia chapter Mycorrhizal Symbioses. He quotes studies that stated that though fungal hyphae accounted for less than 20% of total nutrient absorbing surface mass they contributed nearly 80% of the absorbing surface area of pine seedlings In addition three mechanisms are proposed for the release of bound phosphorus from soils, -replace phosphorus sorbed at metal hydroxide surfaces through ligand exchange reactions -dissolve metal oxide surfaces that sorb phosphorus -complex metals in solution and thus prevent precipitation of metal phosphates. You may need a dictionary of scientific terms to follow these ideas, I did! Important to realise that the plant and soil biota see the soil as a solution ie a liquid not a solid. There is a lot of info out there bound up in esoteric Government and University departments and libraries, I suspect that an e-mail to the SFI [EMAIL PROTECTED] would point you most quickly to good references. -- Best regards, John mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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Hello bdnow, I am looking for advice, books netsites etc with information on building with straw bales. I am converting an old hay shed into am above ground winery. Basalt bedrock near the surface means it is much more economical to go up than dig down. Walls will be about 5 metres high and I am concerned that due to the height the small square bales stacked on their edge (about 10 high) will be difficult to stabilise. All advice appreciated. -- Best regards, John mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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Hello bdnow, I am looking through the results from soil and petiole testing of a trial running in a vineyard with a variety of undervine treatments. The compost treatment has shown a significant increase in soil pH. Has anyone out their observed similar outcomes? I enjoy the extraordinary variety of topics that seem to be legitmate content for this discussion group. Keep it up. -- Best regards, John mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
soil pH compost
Gil, The vineyard in question is on acid basalt derived soils with pH around 5.5 under normal treatment and has skipped to 6.1 under compost.Interesting to note that most soil cations have also gone up and their substition for hydrogen may be the reason for the pH in crease. The vineyard was established with 3 tonne per hectare lime application and experienced very little soil pH increase. The compost cost AUS $15 per cubic metre and is much cheaper than lime. I am trolling through petiole analysis from samples taken at the same time to see if any of the increased soil nutrients are also showing highs in the vine. I have followed the cation balancing discussion, Albrecht etc, with tremendous interest and wonder if any one else has come up with why compost should effect soil pH? At Uni I was told that the addition of organic material would lead to an increase in acids used by fungi to digest material and decreasesoil pH leading to peat bog idea of high OM soils being acidic by nature. But what is high? The soils under compost have only 2 - 3 % OM, what outcome would you get as OM approaches 5 -10%? Cheers JL
