dynamic system gassing), and...
TRANSCRIPT
The
Livi
ng S
oil
The
wor
ld b
enea
th o
ur fe
etTh
e w
orld
ben
eath
our
feet
Prep
ared
by
Prep
ared
by
Pat P
atte
rson
, OSU
Lan
e C
o. E
xten
sion
Pat P
atte
rson
, OSU
Lan
e C
o. E
xten
sion
Mas
ter G
arde
ner
Mas
ter G
arde
ner ™™
Soil:
Ani
mal
, Veg
etab
le o
r M
iner
al?
��Tr
aditi
onal
ly th
ey c
lass
ified
soil
by it
s Tr
aditi
onal
ly th
ey c
lass
ified
soil
by it
s ch
emis
try &
stru
ctur
ech
emis
try &
stru
ctur
e��
Ecol
ogic
al S
oil S
cien
ce is
goi
ng a
step
Ec
olog
ical
Soi
l Sci
ence
is g
oing
a st
ep
furth
erfu
rther
��So
il is
now
con
side
red
a pa
rtner
ship
of
Soil
is n
ow c
onsi
dere
d a
partn
ersh
ip o
f m
any
livin
g an
d no
nm
any
livin
g an
d no
n --liv
ing
fact
ors
livin
g fa
ctor
s��
Can
you
nam
e on
e liv
ing
and
one
non
Can
you
nam
e on
e liv
ing
and
one
non --
livin
g fa
ctor
?liv
ing
fact
or?
Soil
Is
A k
ind
of p
lace
nta
A k
ind
of p
lace
nta
that
ena
bles
livi
ng th
ings
th
at e
nabl
es li
ving
thin
gs
to fe
ed u
pon
the
earth
.to
feed
upo
n th
e ea
rth.
Eth
ic o
f car
ing
for t
he e
arth
Eth
ic o
f car
ing
for t
he e
arth
Inte
ract
ing
with
env
ironm
ent
Inte
ract
ing
with
env
ironm
ent
in m
utua
lly b
enef
icia
l way
sin
mut
ually
ben
efic
ial w
ays
Sus
tain
able
Hum
an E
nviro
nmen
tD
ynam
ic S
yste
m
��Se
ason
al a
nd e
vent
Seas
onal
and
eve
nt-- o
rient
ed c
hang
esor
ient
ed c
hang
es��
Moi
stur
e, a
erat
ion,
tem
pera
ture
(int
erna
l),
Moi
stur
e, a
erat
ion,
tem
pera
ture
(int
erna
l),
nutri
ent a
vaila
bilit
y, b
iolo
gica
l act
ivity
nutri
ent a
vaila
bilit
y, b
iolo
gica
l act
ivity
��In
puts
of o
rgan
ic m
atte
r (O
M) &
rain
fall
Inpu
ts o
f org
anic
mat
ter (
OM
) & ra
infa
ll��
Loss
es to
leac
hing
, vol
atili
zatio
n (o
ffLo
sses
to le
achi
ng, v
olat
iliza
tion
(off
--ga
ssin
g), a
nd e
rosi
onga
ssin
g), a
nd e
rosi
on��
Long
Long
-- term
cha
nges
term
cha
nges
��M
iner
al c
ompo
sitio
n &
soil
text
ure
Min
eral
com
posi
tion
& so
il te
xtur
e
The
Trad
ition
al V
iew
of S
oil
��So
il is
cla
ssifi
ed b
y te
xtur
eSo
il is
cla
ssifi
ed b
y te
xtur
e��
Cla
y, si
lt an
d sa
ndC
lay,
silt
and
sand
��C
lay
Cla
yha
s the
smal
lest
par
ticle
size
, hig
hest
ha
s the
smal
lest
par
ticle
size
, hig
hest
C
ECC
EC��
Silt
Silt
has m
idsi
ze p
artic
le si
zeha
s mid
size
par
ticle
size
��Sa
ndSa
ndha
s the
larg
est p
artic
le si
zeha
s the
larg
est p
artic
le si
ze
Whi
te H
ouse
Lim
ousi
ne
Ora
nge
Cla
y
��C
lay
feel
s stic
ky. I
t has
the
grea
test
wat
er
Cla
y fe
els s
ticky
. It h
as th
e gr
eate
st w
ater
an
d nu
trien
t hol
ding
cap
acity
of a
ll so
il an
d nu
trien
t hol
ding
cap
acity
of a
ll so
il te
xtur
es. I
t is t
he b
ank
acco
unt o
f the
soil.
text
ures
. It i
s the
ban
k ac
coun
t of t
he so
il.��
Unf
ortu
nate
ly, c
lay
is a
mis
er, n
ot w
antin
g U
nfor
tuna
tely
, cla
y is
a m
iser
, not
wan
ting
to le
t go
of it
s wea
lth, s
o w
e ad
d O
M to
to
let g
o of
its w
ealth
, so
we
add
OM
to
loos
en it
s pur
se st
rings
and
avo
id
loos
en it
s pur
se st
rings
and
avo
id
com
pact
ion.
com
pact
ion.
��W
et c
lay
form
s a ri
bbon
W
et c
lay
form
s a ri
bbon
-- or a
pot
or a
pot
�Si
ltycl
ay te
xtur
e. T
his s
oil h
as 2
% sa
nd, 5
4% si
lt an
d 44
% c
lay.
It f
orm
s a ri
bbon
nea
rly 3
”lo
ng!
Silt
��Si
lt fe
els l
ike
flour
, sm
ooth
& sl
ick.
Silt
feel
s lik
e flo
ur, s
moo
th &
slic
k.��
Silt
may
form
a p
artia
l rib
bon.
It te
nds t
o Si
lt m
ay fo
rm a
par
tial r
ibbo
n. It
tend
s to
crus
t, bu
t hol
ds a
med
ium
am
ount
of w
ater
cr
ust,
but h
olds
a m
ediu
m a
mou
nt o
f wat
er
& n
utrie
nts.
& n
utrie
nts.
��Si
lt is
rare
ly fo
und
alon
e.Si
lt is
rare
ly fo
und
alon
e.
�Si
ltycl
ay lo
am te
xtur
e. T
his s
oil h
as 3
% sa
nd,
68%
silt,
and
29%
cla
y ..
Sand
��Sa
nd fe
els g
ritty
. It w
ill fo
rm n
o rib
bon.
Sand
feel
s grit
ty. I
t will
form
no
ribbo
n.��
Sand
has
littl
e ca
paci
ty to
hol
d w
ater
or
Sand
has
littl
e ca
paci
ty to
hol
d w
ater
or
nutri
ents
, alm
ost n
o nu
trien
t exc
hang
e nu
trien
ts, a
lmos
t no
nutri
ent e
xcha
nge
capa
city
(CEC
.)ca
paci
ty (C
EC.)
��A
ddin
g O
M a
llow
s the
wel
lA
ddin
g O
M a
llow
s the
wel
l --dr
aini
ng sa
nd
drai
ning
sand
to
als
o m
aint
ain
its b
ank
acco
unt.
to a
lso
mai
ntai
n its
ban
k ac
coun
t.
Loam
is n
ot to
psoi
l!
��T
extu
reT
extu
rere
fers
to th
e am
ount
s of s
and,
silt
refe
rs to
the
amou
nts o
f san
d, si
lt an
d cl
ay in
a so
il.an
d cl
ay in
a so
il.��
Loa
mL
oam
is a
mix
ture
of c
lay,
silt
and
sand
. is
a m
ixtu
re o
f cla
y, si
lt an
d sa
nd.
Thus
we
can
have
sand
y lo
am, c
lay
loam
or
Thus
we
can
have
sand
y lo
am, c
lay
loam
or
silty
silty
loam
.lo
am.
��Th
e cl
ay p
erce
ntag
e sh
ould
not
exc
eed
The
clay
per
cent
age
shou
ld n
ot e
xcee
d 30
%, 2
5% is
pre
fera
ble.
30%
, 25%
is p
refe
rabl
e.��
Tops
oil i
s ofte
n fr
om th
e bo
ttom
of a
hol
e.To
psoi
l is o
ften
from
the
botto
m o
f a h
ole.
�Sa
ndy
loam
text
ure.
Thi
s soi
l has
73%
sand
, 23%
si
lt an
d 4%
cla
y ..
Alte
ring
soil
text
ural
pro
perti
es
��Th
is is
virt
ually
impo
ssib
le!
This
is v
irtua
lly im
poss
ible
!��
Text
ure
oper
ates
on
the
geol
ogic
scal
e of
Te
xtur
e op
erat
es o
n th
e ge
olog
ic sc
ale
of
mill
enia
mill
enia
as a
rule
.as
a ru
le.
Wha
t is s
oil s
truct
ure?
��So
il st
ruct
ure
Soil
stru
ctur
eis
how
the
indi
vidu
al so
il is
how
the
indi
vidu
al so
il bi
ts a
re b
ound
toge
ther
. It i
s wha
t the
bi
ts a
re b
ound
toge
ther
. It i
s wha
t the
ga
rden
er c
hang
es.
gard
ener
cha
nges
.��
Goo
d so
il st
ruct
ure
is c
alle
d go
od
Goo
d so
il st
ruct
ure
is c
alle
d go
od ti
lthtilth
..��
Soil
life
stim
ulat
ed b
y O
M g
lues
soil
Soil
life
stim
ulat
ed b
y O
M g
lues
soil
parti
cles
into
pa
rticl
es in
to ““
peds
peds
””w
hich
then
hav
e go
od
whi
ch th
en h
ave
good
ai
r and
wat
er p
ore
spac
e an
d th
us, t
ilth.
air a
nd w
ater
por
e sp
ace
and
thus
, tilt
h.
Alte
ring
Soil
Stru
ctur
e
��M
any
clay
s, w
hen
com
bine
d w
ith sa
nd,
Man
y cl
ays,
whe
n co
mbi
ned
with
sand
, fo
rm a
low
form
a lo
w-- g
rade
con
cret
e!gr
ade
conc
rete
!��
One
acr
e of
soil
just
1 m
m th
ick
can
wei
gh
One
acr
e of
soil
just
1 m
m th
ick
can
wei
gh
as m
uch
as fi
ve to
ns!
as m
uch
as fi
ve to
ns!
��O
M is
the
clos
est t
hing
to a
cur
eO
M is
the
clos
est t
hing
to a
cur
e --al
l you
all y
ou’’ ll
ll ev
er fi
nd!
ever
find
!
Let’s
Tal
k W
ater
Poro
sity
& P
erm
eabi
lity
��Po
rosi
tyPo
rosi
tyre
fers
to th
e am
ount
of s
pace
(por
e re
fers
to th
e am
ount
of s
pace
(por
e sp
ace)
bet
wee
n pa
rticl
es in
a so
il.sp
ace)
bet
wee
n pa
rticl
es in
a so
il.��
Perm
eabi
lity
Perm
eabi
lity
is h
ow w
ell w
ater
can
mov
e is
how
wel
l wat
er c
an m
ove
thro
ugh
that
por
e sp
ace.
thro
ugh
that
por
e sp
ace.
��G
ood
stru
ctur
e is
ass
ocia
ted
with
larg
e G
ood
stru
ctur
e is
ass
ocia
ted
with
larg
e po
res.
pore
s.��
Soil
life
is e
ssen
tial t
o th
e fo
rmat
ion
and
Soil
life
is e
ssen
tial t
o th
e fo
rmat
ion
and
mai
nten
ance
of g
ood
soil
stru
ctur
e (ti
lth).
mai
nten
ance
of g
ood
soil
stru
ctur
e (ti
lth).
Mac
ropo
res
��R
elat
ivel
y la
rge
pore
s.R
elat
ivel
y la
rge
pore
s.��
Mos
tly o
ccur
bet
wee
n pe
ds (c
rum
bs).
Mos
tly o
ccur
bet
wee
n pe
ds (c
rum
bs).
��D
rain
wel
l (go
od p
erm
eabi
lity)
but
hol
d fe
w
Dra
in w
ell (
good
per
mea
bilit
y) b
ut h
old
few
nu
trien
ts (l
ow C
EC).
nutri
ents
(low
CEC
).
Mic
ropo
res
��R
elat
ivel
y sm
all p
ores
.R
elat
ivel
y sm
all p
ores
.��
Mos
tly o
ccur
with
in p
eds.
Mos
tly o
ccur
with
in p
eds.
��D
rain
poo
rly (l
ow p
erm
eabi
lity)
but
hol
d D
rain
poo
rly (l
ow p
erm
eabi
lity)
but
hol
d th
e m
ajor
ity o
f a so
ilth
e m
ajor
ity o
f a so
il ’’s n
utrie
nts (
high
s n
utrie
nts (
high
C
EC).
CEC
).
Wat
er a
nd so
il
��W
ater
is h
eld
by c
ohes
ion
& a
dhes
ion
in th
e W
ater
is h
eld
by c
ohes
ion
& a
dhes
ion
in th
e po
re sp
aces
. po
re sp
aces
. Coh
esio
nC
ohes
ion
is w
ater
to w
ater
, is
wat
er to
wat
er,
adhe
sion
adhe
sion
is w
ater
to so
il pa
rticl
e.is
wat
er to
soil
parti
cle.
��Pl
ants
can
use
onl
y co
hesi
ve w
ater
. Cla
y Pl
ants
can
use
onl
y co
hesi
ve w
ater
. Cla
y ha
s lot
s of a
dhes
ive
forc
e.ha
s lot
s of a
dhes
ive
forc
e.��
Exce
ss w
ater
mov
es o
ut b
y gr
avity
Exce
ss w
ater
mov
es o
ut b
y gr
avity
Wat
er D
emo
��W
ater
Dem
oW
ater
Dem
o
How
wat
er m
oves
��W
ater
alw
ays f
ills l
ike
soil
befo
re m
ovin
g in
to a
W
ater
alw
ays f
ills l
ike
soil
befo
re m
ovin
g in
to a
ne
w ty
pe so
il, w
heth
er fr
om c
lay
to sa
nd o
r fro
m
new
type
soil,
whe
ther
from
cla
y to
sand
or f
rom
sa
nd to
cla
y w
hen
not i
n co
ntac
t with
free
air.
sand
to c
lay
whe
n no
t in
cont
act w
ith fr
ee a
ir.��
This
is w
hy w
e ca
n cr
eate
a c
lay
pot i
n th
e so
il by
Th
is is
why
we
can
crea
te a
cla
y po
t in
the
soil
by
addi
ng a
diff
eren
t mat
eria
l to
the
hole
. The
pla
nt
addi
ng a
diff
eren
t mat
eria
l to
the
hole
. The
pla
nt
in th
e ho
le m
ay d
ie o
f thi
rst
in th
e ho
le m
ay d
ie o
f thi
rst -- o
r dro
wn!
or d
row
n!��
Unl
ike
laye
rs c
reat
e a
Unl
ike
laye
rs c
reat
e a
““ per
ched
perc
hed ””
wat
er ta
ble
wat
er ta
ble
whe
ther
in a
pot
or a
yar
d.w
heth
er in
a p
ot o
r a y
ard.
Fine
Soi
l ove
r Coa
rse
Soi
l
Late
r
Bre
akth
roug
h
Cat
ion
Exch
ange
Cap
acity
(C
EC)
Nut
rient
Ava
ilabi
lity
��98
% o
f the
min
eral
s use
d by
pla
nts a
re ta
ken
up
98%
of t
he m
iner
als u
sed
by p
lant
s are
take
n up
fr
om th
e so
il so
lutio
n w
ith th
e ai
d of
soil
from
the
soil
solu
tion
with
the
aid
of so
il or
gani
sms.
orga
nism
s.��
pH h
as a
dra
mat
ic e
ffect
on
nutri
ent a
vaila
bilit
y!
pH h
as a
dra
mat
ic e
ffect
on
nutri
ent a
vaila
bilit
y!
See
your
pH
scal
e.Se
e yo
ur p
H sc
ale.
��C
atio
nC
atio
nex
chan
ge o
ccur
s bec
ause
of
exch
ange
occ
urs b
ecau
se o
f cat
ions
catio
nsbe
ing
bein
g kn
ocke
d of
f by
com
petin
g kn
ocke
d of
f by
com
petin
g ca
tions
catio
ns, b
ut m
ainl
y by
, b
ut m
ainl
y by
th
eir b
eing
eat
en a
nd th
en re
leas
ed b
y so
il lif
e.th
eir b
eing
eat
en a
nd th
en re
leas
ed b
y so
il lif
e.
pH e
ffec
ts o
n nu
trien
t ava
ilabi
lity
Wha
t abo
ut g
ypsu
m?
��N
ot w
est o
f the
Cas
cade
s to
softe
n cl
ays!
Not
wes
t of t
he C
asca
des t
o so
ften
clay
s!��
Gyp
sum
onl
y w
orks
in
Gyp
sum
onl
y w
orks
in s
odic
sodi
c(h
igh
in N
a)
(hig
h in
Na)
so
ils.
soils
. NaC
lN
aCl i
s tab
le sa
lt.is
tabl
e sa
lt.��
Na
is S
odiu
m a
nd
Na
is S
odiu
m a
nd C
lC
l is C
hlor
ide
is C
hlor
ide
��G
ypsu
m is
Cal
cium
sulfa
teG
ypsu
m is
Cal
cium
sulfa
te��
It m
ay b
e ad
ded
to a
dd C
a &
sulfu
r with
out
It m
ay b
e ad
ded
to a
dd C
a &
sulfu
r with
out
chan
ging
pH
.ch
angi
ng p
H.
Wha
t is t
he S
igni
fican
ce o
f the
ne
xt sl
ide?
Rul
e of
nut
rien
t ava
ilabi
lity
Elem
ents
in S
oil S
uspe
nsio
n��
Thes
e el
emen
ts a
re n
ot a
ttach
ed to
soil
parti
cles
Th
ese
elem
ents
are
not
atta
ched
to so
il pa
rticl
es
and
are
thus
an
d ar
e th
us ““
cash
in h
and
cash
in h
and ””
for t
he p
lant
for t
he p
lant
’’ s u
se.
s use
.��
We
need
to c
aptu
re a
ny
We
need
to c
aptu
re a
ny ““
extra
sex
tras ””
so th
ey d
o no
t so
they
do
not
leac
h in
to th
e gr
ound
wat
er.
leac
h in
to th
e gr
ound
wat
er.
��M
obile
in so
il: N
, S,
Mob
ile in
soil:
N, S
, Cl
Cl ,
B, N
a, B
, Na
��So
mew
hat i
mm
obile
: K, C
a, M
gSo
mew
hat i
mm
obile
: K, C
a, M
g��
Imm
obile
: P, F
e,
Imm
obile
: P, F
e, M
nM
n , C
u, Z
n, M
o, C
u, Z
n, M
o��
Soil
supp
lies
Soil
supp
lies
at le
ast
at le
ast 1
3 ad
ditio
nal e
ssen
tial
13 a
dditi
onal
ess
entia
l pl
ant n
utrie
nts.
plan
t nut
rient
s.
The
Nitr
ogen
Cyc
le
��R
oot
Roo
t -- nod
ulat
ing
nodu
latin
grh
izob
iarh
izob
iaba
cter
ia fo
und
in
bact
eria
foun
d in
le
gum
es (e
.g. p
eas,
vetc
h, c
love
r) a
re c
apab
le o
f le
gum
es (e
.g. p
eas,
vetc
h, c
love
r) a
re c
apab
le o
f fix
ing
atm
osph
eric
Nfix
ing
atm
osph
eric
N22
in th
e so
il. O
ther
s wor
k in
the
soil.
Oth
ers w
ork
with
oth
er m
icro
bes t
o do
this
(i.e
. ald
er)
with
oth
er m
icro
bes t
o do
this
(i.e
. ald
er)
��N
itrog
en c
an a
lso
be lo
st to
the
atm
osph
ere
by
Nitr
ogen
can
als
o be
lost
to th
e at
mos
pher
e by
ch
angi
ng to
a g
aseo
us fo
rm.
chan
ging
to a
gas
eous
form
.��
Alw
ays i
ncor
pora
te N
ferti
lizer
s!A
lway
s inc
orpo
rate
N fe
rtiliz
ers!
��R
emem
ber,
don
Rem
embe
r, do
n ’’t a
dd N
Ht a
dd N
H44
(am
mon
ium
) fer
tiliz
ers w
ith
(am
mon
ium
) fer
tiliz
ers w
ith
limin
g m
ater
ials
!lim
ing
mat
eria
ls!
The
Nitr
ogen
Cyc
le
��H
ere
Her
e ’’s a
noth
er e
xam
ple
of N
cyc
ling
in th
e so
il.s a
noth
er e
xam
ple
of N
cyc
ling
in th
e so
il.��
Bac
teria
hav
e a
C:N
of 5
:1 (n
arro
wes
t kno
wn)
.B
acte
ria h
ave
a C
:N o
f 5:1
(nar
row
est k
now
n).
��Pr
otoz
oans
hav
e a
C:N
of 3
0:1.
Prot
ozoa
ns h
ave
a C
:N o
f 30:
1.��
Prot
ozoa
ns re
leas
e ex
cess
N a
fter c
onsu
min
g Pr
otoz
oans
rele
ase
exce
ss N
afte
r con
sum
ing
bact
eria
.ba
cter
ia.
��A
ddin
g N
resu
lts in
a d
ecre
ase
in O
M d
ue to
A
ddin
g N
resu
lts in
a d
ecre
ase
in O
M d
ue to
bl
oom
ing
bact
eria
l pop
ulat
ions
.bl
oom
ing
bact
eria
l pop
ulat
ions
.
Nitr
ogen
��N
itrog
en is
a m
acro
nutri
ent,
need
ed b
y al
l N
itrog
en is
a m
acro
nutri
ent,
need
ed b
y al
l pl
ants
. It a
nd su
lfur c
reat
e pr
otei
ns.
plan
ts. I
t and
sulfu
r cre
ate
prot
eins
.��
Add
ing
N to
soil
imm
edia
tely
incr
ease
s the
A
ddin
g N
to so
il im
med
iate
ly in
crea
ses t
he
mic
robi
al p
opul
atio
n, g
iven
cor
rect
m
icro
bial
pop
ulat
ion,
giv
en c
orre
ct
tem
pera
ture
, moi
stur
e an
d or
gani
c m
atte
r.te
mpe
ratu
re, m
oist
ure
and
orga
nic
mat
ter.
��Sl
ow re
leas
e N
is a
lmos
t Sl
ow re
leas
e N
is a
lmos
t alm
ost
alm
ost a
lway
s al
way
s pr
efer
able
to fa
st re
leas
e.pr
efer
able
to fa
st re
leas
e.
The
Nitr
ogen
Cyc
le in
Rev
iew
��Th
e N
cyc
le is
driv
en la
rgel
y by
the
activ
ity
The
N c
ycle
is d
riven
larg
ely
by th
e ac
tivity
of
soil
mic
robe
s.of
soil
mic
robe
s.��
The
activ
ity o
f tho
se sa
me
soil
mic
robe
s is
The
activ
ity o
f tho
se sa
me
soil
mic
robe
s is
cont
rolle
d by
env
ironm
enta
l fac
tors
such
as
cont
rolle
d by
env
ironm
enta
l fac
tors
such
as
tem
pera
ture
and
moi
stur
e.te
mpe
ratu
re a
nd m
oist
ure.
��Th
us th
e N
cyc
le is
dep
ende
nt u
pon
the
Thus
the
N c
ycle
is d
epen
dent
upo
n th
e sa
me
envi
ronm
enta
l fac
tors
that
con
trol t
he
sam
e en
viro
nmen
tal f
acto
rs th
at c
ontro
l the
ac
tivity
of s
oil m
icro
bes a
nd p
lant
s.ac
tivity
of s
oil m
icro
bes a
nd p
lant
s.
Prob
lem
s with
Nitr
ogen
��A
ll N
pro
blem
s are
incr
ease
d if
it is
rapi
d A
ll N
pro
blem
s are
incr
ease
d if
it is
rapi
d re
leas
e.re
leas
e.��
Mos
t org
anic
N d
oes n
ot le
ach
as re
adily
as
Mos
t org
anic
N d
oes n
ot le
ach
as re
adily
as
it is
hel
d by
soil
orga
nism
s, bu
t ove
r it
is h
eld
by so
il or
gani
sms,
but o
ver
appl
icat
ion
of a
ny N
can
resu
lt in
run
off,
appl
icat
ion
of a
ny N
can
resu
lt in
run
off,
leac
hing
and
vol
atili
zatio
nle
achi
ng a
nd v
olat
iliza
tion ——
all b
ad re
sults
.al
l bad
resu
lts.
��Pl
ants
are
luxu
ry fe
eder
s on
N, r
esul
ting
in
Plan
ts a
re lu
xury
feed
ers o
n N
, res
ultin
g in
in
crea
sed
inse
ct a
nd d
isea
se p
robl
ems.
incr
ease
d in
sect
and
dis
ease
pro
blem
s.
Phos
phor
us
��Ph
osph
ate
rock
is th
e pr
imar
y so
urce
of a
ll Ph
osph
ate
rock
is th
e pr
imar
y so
urce
of a
ll Ph
osph
orus
. Bon
e m
eal
Phos
phor
us. B
one
mea
l ’’ s P
com
es to
the
anim
al
s P c
omes
to th
e an
imal
fr
om p
lant
s whi
ch p
roba
bly
got t
he P
from
som
e fr
om p
lant
s whi
ch p
roba
bly
got t
he P
from
som
e fo
rm o
f roc
k ph
osph
ate
or b
ones
.fo
rm o
f roc
k ph
osph
ate
or b
ones
.��
Org
anic
P is
in m
anur
e an
d pl
ant r
esid
ues.
Org
anic
P is
in m
anur
e an
d pl
ant r
esid
ues.
��D
oubl
e su
per P
is fr
om ro
ck p
hosp
hate
trea
ted
Dou
ble
supe
r P is
from
rock
pho
spha
te tr
eate
d w
ith su
lfuric
aci
d.w
ith su
lfuric
aci
d.��
Trip
le su
per P
from
rock
pho
spha
te tr
eate
d w
ith
Trip
le su
per P
from
rock
pho
spha
te tr
eate
d w
ith
phos
phor
ic a
cid.
phos
phor
ic a
cid.
Phos
phor
us
��R
ock
phos
phat
e is
min
ed. O
rigin
ally
from
R
ock
phos
phat
e is
min
ed. O
rigin
ally
from
fo
ssil
shel
ls o
n th
e oc
ean
floor
. 3fo
ssil
shel
ls o
n th
e oc
ean
floor
. 3-- 7
%7%so
lubl
e. L
asts
abo
ut 5
yea
rs. N
eeds
aci
d so
lubl
e. L
asts
abo
ut 5
yea
rs. N
eeds
aci
d so
il. V
ery
effic
ient
as t
imed
to re
leas
e by
so
il. V
ery
effic
ient
as t
imed
to re
leas
e by
le
vel o
f mic
robi
al a
ctiv
ity.
leve
l of m
icro
bial
act
ivity
.��
Col
loid
al ro
ck p
hosp
hate
is fr
om w
ashe
d C
ollo
idal
rock
pho
spha
te is
from
was
hed
rock
pho
spha
te. L
ower
tota
l pho
spha
te.
rock
pho
spha
te. L
ower
tota
l pho
spha
te.
Als
o co
ntai
ns c
ollo
idal
cla
y.A
lso
cont
ains
col
loid
al c
lay.
Phos
phor
us
��R
aw b
one
mea
l is 5
Raw
bon
e m
eal i
s 5-- 7
% N
and
12
7% N
and
12 --
18%
P.
18%
P.
By
By --
prod
uct o
f the
slau
ghte
r ind
ustry
. pr
oduc
t of t
he sl
augh
ter i
ndus
try.
Attr
acts
car
nivo
res.
Attr
acts
car
nivo
res.
��St
eam
ed b
one
mea
l has
less
N a
nd is
not
St
eam
ed b
one
mea
l has
less
N a
nd is
not
ve
ry a
ttrac
tive
to c
arni
vore
s.ve
ry a
ttrac
tive
to c
arni
vore
s.��
Fish
bon
e m
eal i
s mor
e ac
cept
ed n
ow a
nd is
Fi
sh b
one
mea
l is m
ore
acce
pted
now
and
is
also
a g
ood
sour
ce o
f tra
ce m
iner
als.
16%
Pal
so a
goo
d so
urce
of t
race
min
eral
s. 16
% P
Pota
ssiu
m (K
)
��Th
e or
igin
al so
urce
was
ash
es, i
.e. P
otTh
e or
igin
al so
urce
was
ash
es, i
.e. P
ot-- A
sh. T
his w
as
Ash
. Thi
s was
fo
rmed
by
mix
ing
ashe
s and
hot
wat
er a
nd fi
lterin
g. T
he
form
ed b
y m
ixin
g as
hes a
nd h
ot w
ater
and
filte
ring.
The
re
sulti
ng sl
urry
was
then
drie
d. It
con
tain
ed m
ost o
f the
re
sulti
ng sl
urry
was
then
drie
d. It
con
tain
ed m
ost o
f the
m
iner
als a
ccum
ulat
ed b
y th
e bu
rned
mat
ter.
min
eral
s acc
umul
ated
by
the
burn
ed m
atte
r.��
Gre
ensa
nd is
a m
ined
pot
assi
um. T
race
ele
men
ts.
Gre
ensa
nd is
a m
ined
pot
assi
um. T
race
ele
men
ts.
��Po
tass
ium
sulfa
te is
min
ed. I
t is s
olub
le.
Pota
ssiu
m su
lfate
is m
ined
. It i
s sol
uble
.��
Sul
Sul -- p
opo-- m
agm
agis
a n
atur
al m
iner
al sa
lt.is
a n
atur
al m
iner
al sa
lt.��
Mur
iate
Mur
iate
of P
otas
h (p
otas
sium
chl
orid
e) is
a n
atur
al sa
lt, b
ut
of P
otas
h (p
otas
sium
chl
orid
e) is
a n
atur
al sa
lt, b
ut
not a
llow
ed o
rgan
ical
ly.
not a
llow
ed o
rgan
ical
ly.
��M
ost o
f our
soils
hav
e ad
equa
te K
nat
ural
ly.
Mos
t of o
ur so
ils h
ave
adeq
uate
K n
atur
ally
.
Ferti
lizer
: Wha
t and
Whe
n
��Se
ed is
inde
pend
ent
Seed
is in
depe
nden
t��
P 1
P 1s
tst15
% o
f life
15%
of l
ife��
Mix
som
e fe
rtiliz
er
Mix
som
e fe
rtiliz
er
into
the
botto
m o
f in
to th
e bo
ttom
of
plan
ting
hole
for
plan
ting
hole
for
trans
plan
ts.
trans
plan
ts.
��Si
dedr
ess i
f not
Si
dedr
ess i
f not
en
ough
resi
dual
en
ough
resi
dual
nu
trien
ts (b
uild
ing
nutri
ents
(bui
ldin
g bl
ocks
) B
est t
o bl
ocks
) B
est t
o sc
ratc
h in
to so
il.sc
ratc
h in
to so
il.
Wha
t abo
ut a
soil
sam
ple?
��So
il te
sts a
re n
ot a
lway
s nec
essa
ry.
Soil
test
s are
not
alw
ays n
eces
sary
.��
Alw
ays s
ampl
e at
the
sam
e tim
e of
yea
r.A
lway
s sam
ple
at th
e sa
me
time
of y
ear.
��Fa
ll is
a g
ood
time
to sa
mpl
e, b
ecau
se sl
owFa
ll is
a g
ood
time
to sa
mpl
e, b
ecau
se sl
ow--
actin
g am
endm
ents
(suc
h as
lim
e) th
at n
eed
actin
g am
endm
ents
(suc
h as
lim
e) th
at n
eed
to b
e ad
ded
will
hav
e pl
enty
of t
ime
to ta
ke
to b
e ad
ded
will
hav
e pl
enty
of t
ime
to ta
ke
effe
ct o
ver t
he w
inte
r.ef
fect
ove
r the
win
ter.
��M
aint
ain
good
rec
ords
!M
aint
ain
good
rec
ords
!
Lear
ning
to K
now
You
r Soi
l
��R
un p
H te
stR
un p
H te
st��
Soil
judg
ing
(fee
ling
& ja
r tes
t)So
il ju
dgin
g (f
eelin
g &
jar t
est)
��O
bser
vatio
n of
wee
ds a
nd p
lant
gro
wth
Obs
erva
tion
of w
eeds
and
pla
nt g
row
th
The
Web
of L
ifeSo
il Li
fe
��M
oles
to m
icro
bes,
the
Mol
es to
mic
robe
s, th
e so
il is
aliv
e an
d so
il is
aliv
e an
d te
emin
g.te
emin
g.��
Plan
t roo
ts in
fluen
ce
Plan
t roo
ts in
fluen
ce
othe
r pla
nts.
othe
r pla
nts.
��If
any
par
t of t
he so
il If
any
par
t of t
he so
il w
eb is
dis
turb
ed, a
ll w
eb is
dis
turb
ed, a
ll pa
rts a
re d
istu
rbed
. pa
rts a
re d
istu
rbed
. Ti
ll as
littl
e as
pos
sibl
eTi
ll as
littl
e as
pos
sibl
e
The
Big
OM
��O
rgan
ic M
atte
rO
rgan
ic M
atte
ris
the
keys
tone
of a
live
soil
is th
e ke
ysto
ne o
f a li
ve so
il��
help
s soi
l for
m p
eds
help
s soi
l for
m p
eds
��im
prov
es a
erat
ion,
Him
prov
es a
erat
ion,
H22O
pen
etra
tion,
HO
pen
etra
tion,
H22O
&
O &
nu
trien
t ret
entio
nnu
trien
t ret
entio
n��
prov
ides
a b
ank
of p
lant
nut
rient
spr
ovid
es a
ban
k of
pla
nt n
utrie
nts
��bu
ffer
s che
mic
al c
hang
es &
det
oxifi
esbu
ffer
s che
mic
al c
hang
es &
det
oxifi
es��
incr
ease
s CEC
incr
ease
s CEC
��is
the
ener
gy so
urce
for s
oil
is th
e en
ergy
sour
ce fo
r soi
l bio
life
biol
ife
The
Web
of L
ife
The
live
part
of so
il is
te
mpe
ratu
re d
riven
. It f
unct
ions
be
st a
t 50o F
or a
bove
. If t
he
dive
rse
popu
latio
n of
mic
robe
s in
the
soil
wer
e to
fail
in th
eir
func
tions
, life
for h
ighe
r pla
nts
and
anim
als w
ould
cea
se.
Mos
t ben
efic
ial o
rgan
ism
s pr
efer
aer
ated
soil
BPG
T A
ND
BPG
G
��B
ug p
oop
grow
s tre
es a
nd g
arde
ns!
Bug
poo
p gr
ows t
rees
and
gar
dens
!��
Mac
roM
acro
-- org
anis
ms i
n th
e so
il in
clud
e th
e or
gani
sms i
n th
e so
il in
clud
e th
e vi
sibl
e or
gani
sms f
rom
mol
es to
mite
s.vi
sibl
e or
gani
sms f
rom
mol
es to
mite
s.��
Mic
roM
icro
-- org
anis
ms a
ctua
lly d
o m
ost o
f the
or
gani
sms a
ctua
lly d
o m
ost o
f the
w
ork
and
are
dom
inat
ed b
y ba
cter
ia a
nd
wor
k an
d ar
e do
min
ated
by
bact
eria
and
fu
ngi,
alth
ough
mite
s and
oth
er te
eny
fung
i, al
thou
gh m
ites a
nd o
ther
teen
y cr
itter
s plu
s the
root
hai
rs a
lso
func
tion.
critt
ers p
lus t
he ro
ot h
airs
als
o fu
nctio
n.
Why
Do
Early
Pla
nts T
urn
Yel
low
an
d N
ot T
hriv
e?
Wha
t do
all t
hese
bei
ngs d
o?
��D
rive
the
ferti
lizer
cyc
leD
rive
the
ferti
lizer
cyc
le��
Aer
ate
soil
Aer
ate
soil
��A
ct a
s a c
atal
yst
Act
as a
cat
alys
t��
Add
hug
e am
ount
s of
OM
Add
hug
e am
ount
s of
OM
��Pr
even
t dis
ease
Prev
ent d
isea
se��
Act
as a
buf
ferin
g ag
ent
Act
as a
buf
ferin
g ag
ent
��Fo
rm m
ycor
rhiz
al a
ssoc
iatio
nsFo
rm m
ycor
rhiz
al a
ssoc
iatio
ns
Fung
al o
r Bac
teria
l?
��A
ll liv
ing
soils
con
tain
hig
h po
pula
tions
of
All
livin
g so
ils c
onta
in h
igh
popu
latio
ns o
f fu
ngi a
nd b
acte
ria.
fung
i and
bac
teria
.��
Whe
ther
the
soil
is p
rimar
ily ru
n by
fung
i or
Whe
ther
the
soil
is p
rimar
ily ru
n by
fung
i or
bact
eria
dep
ends
on
the
plan
t life
pre
sent
.ba
cter
ia d
epen
ds o
n th
e pl
ant l
ife p
rese
nt.
��A
fore
st is
A
fore
st is
fung
ally
fung
ally
dom
inat
ed.
dom
inat
ed.
��A
fiel
d or
gar
den
is
A fi
eld
or g
arde
n is
bac
teri
ally
bact
eria
llydo
min
ated
.do
min
ated
.
Bac
teria
: the
Hor
de
��B
acte
ria d
o th
e lio
nB
acte
ria d
o th
e lio
n ’’s s
hare
of w
ork
in th
e s s
hare
of w
ork
in th
e so
il. T
hey
will
be
pres
ent a
t 10
soil.
The
y w
ill b
e pr
esen
t at 1
01212cl
ose
to th
e cl
ose
to th
e ro
ots o
f pla
nts.
root
s of p
lant
s.��
Bac
teria
are
the
heav
iest
use
rs o
f N a
t 5:1
Bac
teria
are
the
heav
iest
use
rs o
f N a
t 5:1
��A
wel
lA
wel
l -- bal
ance
d so
il w
ill h
ave
a ba
lanc
ed s
oil w
ill h
ave
a pr
epon
dera
nce
of
prep
onde
ranc
e of
““go
odgo
od””
bact
eria
, a k
illed
ba
cter
ia, a
kill
ed
soil
will
be
soil
will
be
reco
loni
zed
reco
loni
zed
by
by ““
bad
bad ””
ones
.on
es.
Bac
teria
Wor
k H
ard
Soil
Bac
teria
Fung
i-the
con
veye
r bel
t
��Fu
ngi h
ave
mile
s of m
ycel
ial s
trand
s in
a Fu
ngi h
ave
mile
s of m
ycel
ial s
trand
s in
a he
alth
y so
il.he
alth
y so
il.��
Fung
i ent
er in
to re
cipr
ocal
agr
eem
ents
with
Fu
ngi e
nter
into
reci
proc
al a
gree
men
ts w
ith
the
plan
ts, a
s do
the
bact
eria
.th
e pl
ants
, as d
o th
e ba
cter
ia.
��Fu
ngi e
xten
d th
e us
able
nut
rient
and
wat
er
Fung
i ext
end
the
usab
le n
utrie
nt a
nd w
ater
ar
ea fo
r a p
lant
area
for a
pla
nt’’ s
root
s.s r
oots
.��
Plan
ts o
ften
inte
ract
thro
ugh
the
Plan
ts o
ften
inte
ract
thro
ugh
the
myc
orrh
izae
myc
orrh
izae
..
Fung
al M
ycel
ium
Ecto
myc
orrh
izae
Fung
i Las
soin
g di
nner
It’s a
“m
itey”
wor
ld
200
Diff
eren
t Mite
s
Dec
ompo
ser M
ite
Oro
batid
Turtl
e M
ite
Sprin
gtai
l
Psoc
id
Sym
phyl
an
Mill
iped
e
Sow
bugs
and
Pill
Bug
s
Dam
pwoo
dTe
rmite
Pred
ator
& P
rey
Cen
tiped
e
Har
vest
er a
nts
Plan
t Par
tner
s?
��A
bout
60%
of t
he p
lant
Abo
ut 6
0% o
f the
pla
nt’’ s
suga
rs g
o to
the
s sug
ars g
o to
the
root
s and
1/2
of t
hat i
s put
into
the
soil
root
s and
1/2
of t
hat i
s put
into
the
soil
med
ium
to a
ttrac
t and
feed
bac
teria
and
m
ediu
m to
attr
act a
nd fe
ed b
acte
ria a
nd
fung
i.fu
ngi.
��Th
e dr
awin
g in
of t
he m
icro
The
draw
ing
in o
f the
mic
ro-- o
rgan
ism
s the
n or
gani
sms t
hen
build
s the
soil
stru
ctur
e, re
leas
es n
utrie
nts
build
s the
soil
stru
ctur
e, re
leas
es n
utrie
nts
and
min
imiz
es d
isea
ses.
Soil
toxi
ns a
re a
lso
and
min
imiz
es d
isea
ses.
Soil
toxi
ns a
re a
lso
then
bro
ken
dow
n.th
en b
roke
n do
wn.
How
can
we
enha
nce
bene
ficia
l O
rgan
ism
s in
the
soil?
��Im
itate
nat
ure.
Imita
te n
atur
e.��
Put b
ack
wha
t you
rem
ove.
Par
tially
Pu
t bac
k w
hat y
ou re
mov
e. P
artia
lly
deco
mpo
sed
OM
is a
maj
or fo
od so
urce
.de
com
pose
d O
M is
a m
ajor
food
sour
ce.
��So
il lif
e ne
eds
Soil
life
need
s al
lal
l the
nut
rient
ele
men
ts.
the
nutri
ent e
lem
ents
.��
Hyd
ropo
nic
or m
iner
al b
ase
med
ia w
ill
Hyd
ropo
nic
or m
iner
al b
ase
med
ia w
ill
grow
pla
nts,
but n
ever
be
a ba
lanc
ed
grow
pla
nts,
but n
ever
be
a ba
lanc
ed
ecos
yste
m.
ecos
yste
m.
��R
espe
ct h
ow li
ttle
we
know
Res
pect
how
littl
e w
e kn
ow
How
Abo
ut B
uyin
g in
the
Org
anis
ms?
��Th
ere
are
man
y pr
oble
ms w
ith su
bstit
utin
g Th
ere
are
man
y pr
oble
ms w
ith su
bstit
utin
g pa
ckag
ed o
rgan
ism
s for
the
natu
ral o
nes.
pack
aged
org
anis
ms f
or th
e na
tura
l one
s.��
The
mai
n pr
oble
m is
how
littl
e w
e re
ally
kno
w
The
mai
n pr
oble
m is
how
littl
e w
e re
ally
kno
w
abou
t the
se o
rgan
ism
s and
how
they
inte
ract
.ab
out t
hese
org
anis
ms a
nd h
ow th
ey in
tera
ct.
��A
s with
wor
ms,
if yo
u cr
eate
the
prop
er h
abita
t, A
s with
wor
ms,
if yo
u cr
eate
the
prop
er h
abita
t, th
e re
st w
ill fo
llow
.th
e re
st w
ill fo
llow
.��
The
soil
and
plan
ts w
ill se
lect
whi
ch o
nes t
hey
The
soil
and
plan
ts w
ill se
lect
whi
ch o
nes t
hey
need
/wan
t.ne
ed/w
ant.
��B
ewar
e of
mira
cle
cure
s.B
ewar
e of
mira
cle
cure
s.
How
Soi
l Die
s��
Eros
ion
Eros
ion
��C
ompa
ctio
n is
one
key
Com
pact
ion
is o
ne k
ey(A
nyth
ing
that
rem
oves
the
oxyg
en fr
om so
il)(A
nyth
ing
that
rem
oves
the
oxyg
en fr
om so
il)��
Imba
lanc
e of
nut
rient
sIm
bala
nce
of n
utrie
nts --
exce
ss sa
ltex
cess
salt
��O
verc
ropp
ing
Ove
rcro
ppin
g ,,O
verti
lling
Ove
rtilli
ng,, M
onoc
ropp
ing
Mon
ocro
ppin
g ,,ex
cess
N a
ll re
duce
OM
and
soil
life
exce
ss N
all
redu
ce O
M a
nd so
il lif
e di
vers
itydi
vers
ity��
Bio
cide
sB
ioci
des
Love
that
Till
er?
��R
esea
rch
has c
lear
ly sh
own
that
soil
ecol
ogy
Res
earc
h ha
s cle
arly
show
n th
at so
il ec
olog
y di
stur
banc
e ca
n ca
use
grea
t har
m.
dist
urba
nce
can
caus
e gr
eat h
arm
.��
In li
ne o
f dam
age
from
wor
st to
leas
t: ro
tary
In
line
of d
amag
e fro
m w
orst
to le
ast:
rota
ry
tille
rs, p
low
s, sh
ovel
turn
ing,
fork
turn
ing,
til
lers
, plo
ws,
shov
el tu
rnin
g, fo
rk tu
rnin
g,
wor
king
a sm
all a
rea
at a
tim
e, le
avin
g a
rese
rvoi
r w
orki
ng a
smal
l are
a at
a ti
me,
leav
ing
a re
serv
oir
of a
ctiv
e so
il lif
e to
reco
loni
ze, p
erm
acul
ture
.of
act
ive
soil
life
to re
colo
nize
, per
mac
ultu
re.
��A
s ave
rage
veg
etab
le g
arde
ners
, we
just
do
the
As a
vera
ge v
eget
able
gar
dene
rs, w
e ju
st d
o th
e be
st w
e ca
n.be
st w
e ca
n.
Res
earc
h sh
ows t
hat t
he n
utrit
iona
l qu
ality
of t
he p
lant
, the
def
ense
sy
stem
s of t
he p
lant
, the
imm
une
syst
ems o
f the
pla
nt e
ater
s and
the
susc
eptib
ility
of t
he p
lant
to d
isea
ses
and
inse
cts m
ay a
ll hi
nge
on th
e B
ALA
NC
E in
the
grow
ing
med
ium
.
……I s
eem
to h
ave
been
onl
y lik
e a
boy
I see
m to
hav
e be
en o
nly
like
a bo
y pl
ayin
g on
the
sea
shor
e, a
nd d
iver
ting
play
ing
on th
e se
a sh
ore,
and
div
ertin
g m
ysel
f in
now
and
then
find
ing
a m
ysel
f in
now
and
then
find
ing
a sm
ooth
er p
ebbl
e or
a p
retti
er sh
ell
smoo
ther
peb
ble
or a
pre
ttier
shel
l ……, ,
whi
lst t
he g
reat
oce
an o
f tru
th la
y al
l w
hils
t the
gre
at o
cean
of t
ruth
lay
all
undi
scov
ered
bef
ore
me.
undi
scov
ered
bef
ore
me.
----Is
aac
New
ton
Isaa
c N
ewto
n(A
lso
the
Mas
ter G
arde
ner
(Als
o th
e M
aste
r Gar
dene
r ™™m
otto
)m
otto
)
The
End
...or
just
the
begi
nnin
g?
��w
e m
ay b
e ab
le to
dec
ide
we
may
be
able
to d
ecid
e
Bib
liogr
aphy
��Ed
apho
sEd
apho
s : D
ynam
ics o
f a N
atur
al S
oil
: Dyn
amic
s of a
Nat
ural
Soi
l Sy
stem
Syst
emby
Pau
l D. S
achs
by P
aul D
. Sac
hs��
Team
ing
with
Mic
robe
s: A
Gar
dene
rTe
amin
g w
ith M
icro
bes:
A G
arde
ner ’’
ssG
uide
to th
e So
il Fo
od W
eb
Gui
de to
the
Soil
Food
Web
by
Jeff
Lo
wen
fels
and
Way
ne L
ewis
�A
n A
gric
ultu
ral T
esta
men
t by
Sir
Alb
ert
How
ard
�w
ww
.soilf
oodw
eb.c
om