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Microorganisms are primarily decomposers and make soil fertile by providing nutrients for plant growth. This very complex process involves many different types of microorganisms.
In order to analyze the soil microbiology in a meaningful way, we examine the number of viable organisms in various functional groups. The 6 groups listed below represent the major bacterial and fungal categories for soil microorganisms. While the functional categories are distinctly different, there may be some overlap between groups. As an example; some actinomycetes are also nitrogen fixers, while some pseudomonads are heterotrophic bacteria.
Bacteria and fungi numbers from any soil sample would be expected to vary according to available nutrients, temperature, available oxygen, moisture, pH, predators and other environmental factors. As an analysis is focusing on actual numbers of microorganisms from the different functional groups, it is also important to analyze the entire bacterial and fungal profile. The comparison of ratios of organisms within a sample can be very helpful
Heterotrophic Bacteria (Aerobic Bacteria)
This functional group utilizes oxygen in their growth stage and represent a very diverse and important section of soil microbes. The number of heterotrophic bacteria is a good indicator of general soil conditions. The total number of these bacteria decreases with an increasing soil depth.
Sufficient numbers are important for good foliar pathogen suppression.
Desired range: Above 10 million CFU/ml (colony forming units per gram)
Average SoilSoup test results: 925 million CFU/ml
Yeasts and Molds
Soil fungi are found primarily in the top 4-6 inches of soil and are most abundant in well aerated soils. While some fungi are pathogenic to plants, many contribute to soil fertility by breaking down organic matter including cellulose, lignin and pectin. Fungi also increases the phosphate uptake in plants as well as binding fine soil particles together to form water-stable aggregates which improves the soil crumb structure. Fungi can normally tolerate a low pH which makes them particularly significant in acidic soils.
Fungi prefer to grow on a solid surface in their filamentous form. Therefore, concentrations of filamentous fungi are usually lower in compost tea than solid compost. Yeast, however, which are non-filamentous fungi, grow readily in compost tea.
Desired range: Above 1000 CFU/ml
Average SoilSoup test results: 5300 CFU/ml
Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria
Nitrogen fixing bacteria are capable of converting atmospheric nitrogen into nitrogen compounds that plants use in order to synthesize proteins. These bacteria can be free living or associated with certain plant roots.
Populations of these free living nitrogen fixers will increase as the available nitrogen in the compost tea decreases.
Desired range: Above 100,000 CFU/ml
Average SoilSoup test results: 3.9 million CFU/ml
Actinomycetes
Actinomycetes comprise a significant proportion of the bacterial population in agricultural soils. They are capable of degrading many complex chemical substances, including chitin. They favor alkaline or neutral soil pH and are intolerant of waterlogged soils. They are responsible for the musty or earthy odor from a freshly plowed field. Most soil actinomycetes are streptomycetes substances, which are well known for the production of antibiotics.
This type of bacteria do not extract and grow very well in most compost teas.
Desired range: Above 100 CFU/ml
Average SoilSoup test results: below 100 CFU/ml
Anaerobic bacteria
Anaerobic bacteria is capable of growth without oxygen. The anaerobic bacterial count is predominantly a count of facultative anaerobes. In other words, organisms that have the ability to live and grow with or without oxygen. High numbers of anaerobic bacteria in the soil usually indicates that the soil is too compact, is possibly water logged and is in need of aeration.
Desired range: 5 times or more aerobes vs. anaerobes
Average SoilSoup test results: 8.9 times more aerobes than anaerobes.
Pseudomonads
Pseudomonads are very nutritionally versatile and capable of degrading many natural and synthetic organic compounds. These organisms are typically aerobic and contribute to the decomposition and nutrient release process by attacking a wide variety of organic substrates, including humic acids and synthetic pesticides. Certain pseudomonads have been linked to the biological control of plant pathogens.
These are very important in nutrient cycling, promotion of plant growth, and the biological control of pathogens. They extract and grow very well in compost tea.
Desired range: Above 1 million CFU/ml
Average SoilSoup test results: 101 million CFU/ml
Conclusion:
SoilSoup scores well above the desired range in all categories, except Actinomycetes.
The overall Species Richness Diversityî for SoilSoup is in the moderate range.
Among the 3 most recognized compost tea brands, SoilSoup had the highest diversity rating.
Test results were reported by BBC Labs.
Ohio State University finds that SoilSoup significantly enhances fruit production
Ohio State University is recognized as having one of the premier agriculture programs in the U.S.
A research team at the O.S.U. Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center at Badger Farm near
Wooster, Ohio recently studied the effects of applying SoilSoup to winter squash (aka cucurbita maxima).
Research on uncovered plots demonstrated that whereas a control plot produced a marketable yield of 1.5 tons per acre, the plots treated with SoilSoup full-strength produced 2.1 tons per acre. (A 40% increase)
The study also indicated a higher percentage of marketable fruit. Even at a 1/3 concentration, SoilSoup produced 63.3% marketable fruit versus 42.1% for the control plot. (A 50% increase)
In the covered plot tests, SoilSoup outperformed the control plots by 2.8 tons/acre to 2.2 tons/acre, and SoilSoup also outperformed every other biological fertilizer that was tested.
This research is important not only in that it provides scientific validation to corroborate the numerous testimonials SoilSoup has received from farmers and gardeners worldwide, but also because it shows that major research institutions are now taking aerobic compost tea seriously as a yield enhancer.
SoilSoup Analysis June 28th, 2005
Dennis 7 Dees, Eastside Store
*Results reported in CFU/ml (Colony Forming Units per milliliter of sample)
** Aerobic spore forming bacteria
Comments: This sample is high in most all of the functional categories, indicating an increased amount of vigor and nutrient cycling. Depending on the environmental conditions of the receiving soils, user will want to supplement with compost or a light organic fertilizer. The above optimum levels in all groups, save chitin degraders, should result in a positive plant response. Again, user will want to supplement with an organic fertilizer to provide plenty of Nitrogen for opportunistic Nitrogen Fixers.
Bacillus spp. (presumptive) i.e., Aerobic spore forming bacteria (spore formers):
This functional group of bacteria utilizes oxygen in their growth and represents a very diverse and important cross-section of soil microorganisms. The heterotrophic bacteria enumeration is a good indicator of general soil conditions with the number of these bacteria decreasing with increasing depth in the soil.
Pseudomonads (total):
These organisms are very nutritionally versatile and capable of degrading many natural and synthetic organic compounds. These organisms are typically aerobic and contribute to the decomposition and nutrient release process by attacking a wide variety or organic substrates including humic acids and synthetic pesticides.
Chitin Degraders:
Chitin is one of the main components of cell walls in fungi, the exoskeleton of insects and other arthropods, and is found in some other animals. It is a polysaccharide, and is quite similar to Cellulose. When broken down properly it contributes greatly to the nutrient cycling necessary for plants to receive the nutrients they need.
Cellulose Degraders:
Cellulose is a major component of plant and paper material, and is essentially fiber. When broken down properly it is an effective source of nutrients for plant life. Cellulose degraders are a specific set of aerobic bacteria that function to break down that material and convert it into a usable form for plants and soil life alike.
Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria:
These convert atmospheric nitrogen into nitrogen compounds used by plants to synthesize proteins. These bacteria can be free living or associated with certain plant roots. There are bacteria of many genera in the soil that are capable of nitrogen fixation and the number of bacteria can fluctuate.
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