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

 

 

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  -  Average SoilSoup test results: 925 million CFU/ml

 

 

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 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 

 

 

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

 

 

SoilSoup scores well above the desired range in all categories, except Actinomycetes.
The overall Species Richness Diversity for SoilSoup is in the moderate range, but it still ranks the highest among the 3 most recognized compost tea brands.  

 

Test results reported by BBC Labs.