Soil Science
11 pages
- Biological Inoculants and Soil Microbe Products — Overview of bacterial soil inoculants, plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), and biological fertiliser products. Based on two articles in Di…
- Brix, Manganese and Plant Health — The relationships between Brix levels (dissolved solids in plant sap), magnesium, manganese, and overall crop health. Based on James Warne (Soil Fi…
- Earthworms Under No-Till — Earthworms are a key indicator and driver of soil health. Populations increase dramatically under zero-till regimes and are crucial to the soil reh…
- Humus Formation — The Science of Building Soil Organic Matter — The conversion of organic matter to humus is a complex biological process governed by the C:N ratio of inputs, the balance between fungal and bacte…
- Insect Behaviour and Plant Health — Dr Tom Dykstra — Insects are attracted to unhealthy plants, not healthy ones. Raising plant health (measured via Brix) above a threshold eliminates insect damage wi…
- Mycorrhizal Fungi Under No-Till — Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) form symbiotic relationships with plant roots, facilitating nutrient uptake — especially phosphorus — in exchang…
- Nutrient Stratification in No-Till Soils — Research evidence that nutrient stratification (concentration of P and K near the soil surface) in no-till systems is a natural phenomenon that doe…
- Soil Calcium — Role in Soil Health and Crop Production — Calcium is the dominant cation in most soils and plays a critical role in soil aggregation, biology, and plant health — yet its importance is commo…
- Soil Carbon and Organic Matter — Soil organic carbon (SOC) is the primary indicator of soil fertility and biological activity. Building SOC is a central goal of conservation agricu…
- Soil Health Monitoring — In-Field Tests and Tools — Practical in-field soil assessment methods for farmers, based on the “How to Become a Soil Health Expert” article (Sectormentor/PFLA) and AHDB Soil…
- The Albrecht Method — Base Cation Saturation Ratios — Soil management approach based on the work of William Albrecht (University of Missouri, mid-20th century), focusing on the balance of base cations …