What is the phone number for Earthfort in Corvallis OR?

You can reach them at: 541-257-2612. It’s best to call Earthfort during business hours.

What is the address for Earthfort on southwest western boulevard in Corvallis?

Earthfort is located at this address: 635 Southwest Western Boulevard Corvallis, OR 97333.

What are Earthfort(Corvallis, OR) store hours?

Earthfort store hours are as follows: Mon-Fri: 8:30AM - 4:30PM, Sat-Sun: Closed.

Earthfort on southwest western boulevard, Corvallis, OR

Latest

Gomphus clavatus, commonly known as #pig'sears or the #violetchanterelle, is an edible species of fungus in the genus Gomphus native to Eurasia and North America. #fungifriday Typically found in coniferous forests, G. clavatus is #mycorrhizal, and is associated with tree species in a variety of coniferous genera, particularly spruces and firs. It is more common at elevations of greater than 2,000 ft, in moist, shady areas with plenty of leaf litter. Gomphus clavatus is edible; it is rated as choice by some, while others find it tasteless or experience gastric upsets. It has an earthy flavor and meaty texture that has been regarded as suiting red meat dishes. Like many edible fungi, consumption may cause gastrointestinal distress in susceptible individuals.

We are having a sale from October 1st October 31st 20% OFF SF Organics Fish Hydrolysate This 2-2-0 product is a “live, microbial product” that provides the rewards of enhancing your soils’ eco-system by adding necessary proteins, nutrients, bacteria and minerals. The liquid fish aids in the replenishment of micro-nutrients/microbiology that has been lost due to overuse of chemical pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and over-tilling. 25%OFF Be-1 Be-1’s proprietary blend of amino-acids are the building blocks of proteins and of all cell formation. They are a vital part of many processes in plants, including photosynthesis. With a non-salt based NPK of 3-6-5 Be-1 allows beneficial microorganisms to promote plant nutrient intake, resulting in soil conditioning that is intensified naturally. Click the link for these #soilboostingproducts https://www.earthfort.com/earthfort-products/

In undisturbed ecosystems, especially forest 🌲🥦, organic remains of fallen leaves 🍂🍃 and other plant and animal material tend to accumulate on the surface. There they under go varying degrees of physical and biochemical breakdown and transformation so that layers of older partially decomposed materials may underlie the freshly added debris, together, these organic layers at the soil surface are the O Horizons. #forestsoils #soilbroughttolife

Regenerative Agriculture develops out of the living system of connection between humans and their ecosystem through agriculture. Like living systems, #RegenerativeAgriculture will evolve and grow. ( Terra-genesis.com)

#Soildegradation is a critical problem because it threatens our ability to produce enough healthy food for a growing human population and contributes to climate change. In response, large companies, nonprofits, scientists and government agencies are working together to restore soil health. The first step to improving soil health is to stop the bleeding. Instead of leaving fields barren in between crops, which leads to erosion, farmers are increasingly planting cover crops such as rye grass, oats and alfalfa. They also are replacing intensive tilling with no-till practices to prevent the breakdown of soil structure. In addition to protecting soil, cover crops take carbon out of the atmosphere as they grow and funnel it into the soil. Unlike cash crops that are harvested and removed from the soil, cover crops are left to decompose and contribute to #soilformation. Increasing the supply of plant carbon in this way is an important first step in rebuilding soil carbon. But new research suggests that it may be insufficient.

#Mineralization of nutrients is crucial to the survival of plants in a #naturalsystem. The waste product that's created by protozoa & #nematodes that consume fungi and bacteria are critical important workings of the #soilfoodweb. These wastes contain carbon and other nutritional compounds that had been immobilized, but are now once again mineralized and made available to plants. About 80% of nitrogen that plant needs comes from the waste produced by bacteria/fungi eating nematodes and protozoa. Since bacteria and fungi are attracted by plant #exudates to the rhizosphere and that is where protozoa consume them as a huge source of #plantfood is delivered. #microbemonday #soilbroughttolife

Lactarius deliciosus, commonly known as the #saffronmilk cap and #redpinemushroom, is one of the best known members of the large milk-cap genus Lactarius in the order Russulales. It is found in Europe and has been accidentally introduced to other countries under conifers and can be found growing in pine plantations. #fungifriday This mushroom forms mycorrhizal association with conifers--especially northern white-cedar and eastern white pine; growing alone, scattered, or around cold conifer bogs and low, wet woods; summer and fall; Michigan and, probably, throughout northeastern North America. This milkcap is good if cut into thin strips and grilled with steak and onions. Some people prefer them cooked slowly to remove any bitterness and the slightly fibrous texture that they can have if they are simply flash fried. Young caps, with their exaggeratedly in rolled margins, are generally considered the best ones for eating.

Her project focused on the NATURAL process of carbon sequestration through plants and soil. https://archenvironment.uoregon.edu/landscape-architecture-alumna-wins-asla-award You go Deanna Lynn! Congratulations!!!!!! ARCHENVIRONMENT.UOREGON.EDU Landscape Architecture Alumna Wins ASLA Award

Individual plants can control the numbers and the different kinds of #fungi and #bacteria attracted to the #rhizosphere by the exudates they produce. During different times of the growing season populations of rhizosphere bacteria and fungi wax and wane depending on the nutrient needs of the plant and the exudate they produce. #soilbroughttolife

Plants need biology in the soil to do its job before they can do theirs. Bacteria and fungi need to be present in soils to break down these valuable nutrients and convert them to a form the plants can uptake. It is the roots of the plants that provide the habitat for these microorganisms to live. Disturbing the root systems disturbs the biology. They starve to death without constant organic matter throughout the entire year. Diversity in the biology allows for resistance and resilience in the plants. ( AGWEEK )

#Wildfires have a significant impact on the properties of the soil. The heat of the fire 🔥 burns away all of the vegetation 🌳 and organic matter on the surface of the soil, which makes some nutrients more readily available to the soil while turning others into gases that are lost (chiefly nitrogen). In addition, the heat of the fire alters the #soilbiome and can affect the physical properties of the #soil. Wildfires have many effects on soils, some beneficial and some not so beneficial. By careful testing of the soil after the fire and engaging in appropriate soil management, the not so beneficial effects of fire can be mitigated and the nutrients released into the soil by the fire can be optimally used.

When any member of the #soilfoodweb dies it essentially becomes food for other members of the community. The nutrients in these bodies are passed to other members of the soil community. A larger predator may eat them alive or either be decayed after they die. One way or another #fungi and #bacteria get involved, be it decaying the organism directly or working on the dung of the successful eater. Nutrients are preserved and eventually stored in the bodies of the smallest bacteria and fungi. When these are in the rhizosphere, they release nutrients in #plantavailable form when they in turn are consumed. #microbemonday #soilbroughtolife

Russula claroflava, commonly known as the #yellowswamprussula or yellow swamp brittlegill, is a basidiomycete mushroom of the genus Russula. It is found in wet places under birch and aspen woodlands across Europe and North America. It has a yellow cap, white gills and stipe and bruises grey. It is mild-tasting and regarded as good to eat. #fungifriday

Food is seen as a basic human right, and yet one in nine people globally experience chronic hunger. As far back as 1945 the United Nations recognized food as not a privilege, but a right, and that’s why they created #WorldFoodDay, observed annually on October 16, in 1979. It’s a day of observance to draw attention to the plight of the hungry. Ninety-eight percent of the farms in the world are family farms. They usually practice sustainable agriculture with plants that are indigenous to the area, rotating crops and limited use of pesticides. Sadly, many family farmers are unable to produce the variety of crops needed for their own survival and without support, can suffer from malnutrition themselves. On World Food Day, shop locally and support family farms.

https://piphaiti.salsalabs.org/virtualrun0?wvpId=fc09648a-e69c-425b-a869-6ca4bf6095df Check out this virtual race you can participate in to help provide access to information technology in rural Haiti! "More than 600 children and teachers from EGD and other local schools will learn basic computer skills and be able connect to online sources of information for improving teaching and learning. Farmers and other community members will have internet access for literacy education; self-learning in agriculture, health and nutrition; and creating new links to markets " PIPHAITI.SALSALABS.ORG Donate today to provide access to information technology to rural Haiti

Decomposition of organic matter is largely #biological process that occurs naturally. Its speed is determined by three major factors #Soilorganisms #physical environment and the #quality of organic matter. In the decomposition process, different products are released: CO2, energy, water, plant nutrients and resynthesized organic carbon compounds.

A #Fall activity for many growers is preparing the #gardensoil. Soil preparation gives a jump start on spring planting as soil is ready is ready accept for a small amount of raking. Spading or Tilling in the fall allows for the winter conditions of freezing and thawing to naturally break the soil into particles. This results in crumbly state desirable for spring planting.

#Soillife plays a major role in many natural processes that determine #nutrient and #wateravailability for agricultural productivity. The primary activities of all living organisms are growing and reproducing. By products from growing roots and #plantresidues feed soil organisms. In turn, soil organisms support plant health as they #decompose organic matter, cycle #nutrients, enhance soil structure and control populations of other organisms, both beneficial and harmful in terms of crop productivity.

Auricularia auricula-judae, the #JellyEarFungus, is mainly seen in winter and spring. It grows mainly on dead elder trees and on fallen branches, but occasionally you may also find it growing on other kinds of hardwood. Saprobic, on dead and decaying Elder wood; also on the branches of Elder trees that are dying, and sometimes as a weak parasite on the trunks of living elders. #fungifriday The fungus is a popular ingredient in many Chinese dishes, such as hot and sour soup, and also used in Chinese medicine. It is also used in Ghana, as a blood tonic. Modern research into possible medical applications has variously concluded that A. auricula-judae has antitumour, hypoglycemic, anticoagulant and cholesterol-lowering properties.

More plants 🌱 for the office. Yesterday @therealanelespinosa propagated some Polka Dot Plants ( Hypoestes Phyllostachya ) they should take about 1 week to take root!🤞🏾

Dont forget about our sale!!! Earthfort October 1 at 11:46 AM · We are having a sale from October 1st October 31st 20% OFF SF Organics Fish Hydrolysate This 2-2-0 product is a “live, microbial product” that provides the rewards of enhancing your soils’ eco-system by adding necessary proteins, nutrients, bacteria and minerals. The liquid fish aids in the replenishment of micro-nutrients/microbiology that has been lost due to overuse of chemical pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and over-tilling. 25%OFF Be-1 Be-1’s proprietary blend of amino-acids are the building blocks of proteins and of all cell formation. They are a vital part of many processes in plants, including photosynthesis. With a non-salt based NPK of 3-6-5 Be-1 allows beneficial microorganisms to promote plant nutrient intake, resulting in soil conditioning that is intensified naturally. Click the link for these #soilboostingproducts https://www.earthfort.com/earthfort-products/

Most #soilorganicmatter originates from plant tissue. Plant residues contain 60-90% moisture. The remaining dry matter consist of #carbon, oxygen, Hydrogen, and small amounts of S ( Sulfur ) N ( Nitrogen ) P ( Phosphorous ) K ( Potassium ) Ca ( Calcium ) and Mg ( Magnesium ). Although present in small amounts these nutrients are very important from a soil fertility management point of view.

Unless the #SOIL is #ALIVE, truly alive, artificial stimulants like chemical fertilizers only sustain plant growth by bypassing the natural process. Chemical fertilizers are derivatives of mineral salts in a concentrated form. The high salts in chemical fertilizers DESTROY #soillife. Plants existing on only chemical require increased amounts of pesticides because the plant cannot build natural immunities. #soilbroughttolife

The ability of microorganisms to #recycle #carbon can provide indirect health benefits to plant communities. Soils that contain larger amount of #organicmatter and microbial biomass tend to have higher rates of microbial activity and as such, some organisms can heave the ability to out compete other organisms including pathogens #badguys. This type of suppression of plant pathogens is known is general suppression. Soils that contain high levels of organic matter may also support specific antagonistic microorganisms that have an explicit means of suppressing pathogens such as the production of antibiotics. #suppressivesoils

As soil breathes in an out it interacts in many ways with Earths blanket of air. That is, soils absorb oxygen and other gases such as methane while they release gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O). These gas exchanges between the soil and atmosphere have a significant influence on atmospheric composition and global climate change ( YES, its real ) The evaporation of soil moisture is a major source of water vapor in the atmosphere, altering air temperature, composition, and weather patterns. In places where soil is dry, poorly structured, and unvegetated, soil particles can be picked up by winds and contribute great quantities of dust to the atmosphere, reducing visibility, increasing human health hazards from breathing dirty air and altering the temperature of the air and earth its self. Moist, well vegetated and structured soils can prevent such laden air.

Fall harvest has started, and at this time growers should think about planting 🍀 #covercrops. Cover crops can be beneficial to soil health and could potentially improve your crops. Keeping soil covered over winter protects it from erosion and helps support all the beneficial life associated with it. It also gives weeds less opportunity to establish, meaning cleaner beds for sowing or planting in spring. Dig the cover crop into the ground at the end of winter and it will rot down to add valuable organic matter, helping to feed the plants that follow.

Headwaters Harvest Festival 2020 Live In-Person Events, Community Gatherings, Online Workshops and Classes... something for everyone! Are you interested in getting the (w)hole picture about your soils? Tune in on 10/29 with Matt Slaughter for a presentation on Holistic Soil Management. Check out the link to get your FREE PASS and to see the schedule of all presenters! https://events.oakridgechamber.com/pages/schedule

Cover crops improve plant #biodiversity by growing live roots which promotes higher numbers and types of #soilorganisms, leading to healthier soil. Growing cover crops such as cereal rye before soybeans, and oats, radishes or crimson or Balansa clover before corn—improves diversity. Many farmers add wheat and then grow diverse cover crop mixes. For livestock, these cover crop mixes can be grazed or used for forage, and the animal manure benefits soil biology. Beef and dairy cattle, sheep, and horses can utilize the forage. In the past, buffalo herds foraged prairies, increasing soil organic matter leading to increased soil productivity. Livestock manure from cover crop forages builds organic matter and improves soil health. Cover crops create high-quality forage in late #fall or early #spring for immediate farm profit. What kinds of cover crops are you guys planting this fall/winter? Photo: Sandy Black

Mites and springtails ate the two common soil arthropods that are responsible for recycling about 30% of the leaves and woody debris deposited on a temperate forest floor. When there is not enough dead organic matter arthropods will attack living sources of organic nutrients and if the supply of available organic matter is abundant enough to fees any reasonable arthropod some insist on roots anyway. Fungus gnat larvae for example hatch and immediately start eating root hairs, eventually eating their way into the roots and stem to the great detriment of the plant. Still other arthropods eat other members of the soil food web to survive; by removing their fellows, these predator arthropods make room for other arthropods to fill emptied niche, helping create complete digestion of soil organic matter and like protozoa some arthropods feed on fungi and bacteria, releasing nutrients on a bigger scale.

Headwaters Harvest Festival 2020 Live In-Person Events, Community Gatherings, Online Workshops and Classes... something for everyone! Fungi play vital roles in the biosphere. They are essential to the recycling of nutrients in all terrestrial habitats because they are the dominant decomposers of the complex components of plant debris, such as cellulose and lignin. Tune in on 11/03 with Matt Slaughter for a presentation on THE IMPORTANCE OF FUNGI 🍄. Check out the link to get your FREE PASS and to see the schedule of all presenters! https://events.oakridgechamber.com/pages/schedule

Soil organisms are like other living things-they have waste product. These waste are very beneficial to the #soil. The waste of decomposition process provides the dark color that indicates soil is rich in nutrients. The dark color also helps absorb sunlight and heat. Microorganisms waste can also act like sticky glues, holding sand, silt and clay particles together, giving the soil structure. Strong structure is essential to having pores of water, air, and roots to move though and for giving soil the stability against compaction and erosion when used for walking, building and #agriculture

All #bacteria compete with each other and with other organisms for the finite amount of food the soil offers and doing so they keep each others population in balance. #Soils with high diversity of bacterial types are more likely to have a larger number of non pathogenic bacteria out competing pathogenic bacteria for space and nutrients. The natural defenses of the #soilfoodweb can keep bag guys in check. #soilbroughttolife

Did you know that modern farming practices that minimize soil disturbance (plowing) and return plant residues to the soil, such as no-till farming and crop rotations, are slowly rebuilding the Nation's stock of soil and organic matter.

Aleuria aurantia has the common name #OrangePeelFungus because it looks like a discarded orange peel resting on the forest floor. The Orange Peel Fungus is a cup fungus but is a bit more saucer-shaped than cup-shaped. Often, the mushrooms become lobed and somewhat folded in on themselves. This really makes them look like orange peels, which also become wavy if the pieces are large enough. The Orange Peel Fungus is a saprobic species that inhabits poor soils. You find the mushrooms fruiting from disturbed ground in areas with lots of clay or gravel. This is good for mushroom hunters because it means the fungus regularly appears on trails and dirt roads. A. aurantia fruits from summer through fall in temperate climates and from fall through spring in more moderate areas. The mushroom appears across the globe and can probably be found on every continent except Antarctica. #fungifriday Photo: Aiwok Kirchweder, Hamburg GERMANY

Organic matter serves as not only as a source of food for microorganisms but also supplies energy for the vital processes of metabolism which are characteristics of all living organisms. Organic matter in the soil the potential source of NITROGEN, PHOSPHORUS, and SULFUR for #plantgrowth. Microbial decomposition of organic matter releases the unavailable nutrients in available form. The proportion of organic matter in the soil ranges from 3-6% of the total volume ( Experiments in Soil Biology and Biochemistry )

Did you know that a single spade full of rich garden soil contains more species of organisms than can be found above ground in the entire Amazon rain forest.

Soil is a critical resource-the way that it is managed can improve or degrade the quality of that resource. Soil is a complex ecosystem where living microorganisms and plant roots bind mineral particles and organic matter together into dynamic structure that regulates water, air, and nutrients. In an #agricultural context, soil health often refers to the ability of the soil to sustain agricultural productivity and protect environmental resources.

The #microbes in the soil are #essential to ecosystem functioning because they breakdown organic matter and allow for chemical elements to be re-used. Some are nitrogen fixers, which is necessary for plants and the ecosystem as a whole. Earthworms are a vital part of soil biota, providing support for important ecosystem functioning. The tunnels they create go deep into the soil, creating pores for #moisture and #oxygen to to travel. They also breakdown dead organic matter and incorporate new organic matter into soil.

Vox posted an episode of Vox for Kids. September 3 at 12:45 PM · Not all dirt is created equal. In a new Kids Week episode Liz Scheltens dives into the secret history of dirt. Roll up your sleeves!

#Yeast are fungi adapted to life in aqueous environment often of high osmotic potential, through growth of separate cells that divide by budding or fission. Many yeast are found in association with fruits 🍓🍇, flowers and other high rich sources of readily assimilated sugars and carbohydrates. Yeasts like rhodosporidium, rhodotorula and sporobolomyces are found in #soil, where they may be closely associated with plant roots or some important decomposers breaking down plant and animal waste. #fungifriday Photo: Felice Frankel

#SoilWater affects the moisture available to organisms as well as soil aeration status, the nature and amount of soluble materials, the osmotic pressure, and the pH of the soil solution. Water acts as an agent of transport by mass flow and as a medium through, which reactants diffuse to and from sites of reaction. It acts chemically as a solvent, as a reactant in important chemical and biological reactions and as a chemical buffer.

#SoilQuality and SoilHealth is generally seen as the foundation of successful organic crop production systems. Sustaining and improving the quality of the soil are terms that are identified by organic growers as their primary management goal. By understanding how the soil processes that support plant growth and regulate environmental quality are affected by management practices, it is possible to design a crop and soil management system that improves and maintains soil health over time.

#Micronutrients essential for plants include #calcium, #sulfur, #iron, #magnese, #boron, #copper, #zinc, molybdenum, and nickel. In BIOLOGICALLY active soil with good Cation Exchange Capacity ( CEC ) and balanced pH, micronutrient deficiencies are rare. Micronutrient problems tend to occur with some sandy soils and in soils with low levels of organic matter.

During the decomposition process nutrients held in an organic form are mineralized, which means they are converted into inorganic forms that can be utilized by plants. In the case of NITROGEN for example, enzymes produced by bacteria break down #proteins, #chitins, and other nitrogen containing materials into smaller molecules that are then metabolized to produce #ammonium (NH4). A relatively small group of nitrifying bacteria then convert ammonium into #nitrate (NO3)

Many types of dry and liquid commercial fertilizers are available for use in certified organic production. Most of these products are by products of #fish 🐟 #livestock 🐄 and FOOD 🌽 and other processing industries. Various single source and blended organic products are available from different fertilizers suppliers and distributors. Some examples of organic fertilizer sources include pelleted chicken poop🐔 💩, seabird guano, pelleted seabird guano, #feathermeal, and blood meal. Commercial organic fertilizers are more concentrated nitrogen sources than compost with improved handling, nitrogen placement, and nitrogen availability. Photo: Cali Kim Garden and Home

Happy Thanksgiving! We hope you all have a wonderful day celebrating all there is to be thankful for.

MICROBES!!!! https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201124190536.htm SCIENCEDAILY.COM Microbes help unlock phosphorus for plant growth

DID YOU KNOW...….. That the top 30 cm ( about 10 in ) of the worlds soil contains about twice as much carbon as the entire atmosphere. After oceans 🌊, soil is the largest natural #carbonsink, surpassing forest and other vegetation in its capacity to capture CO2 from the air.

Since protozoa mainly feed on bacteria their presence affects the composition and activity of the microbial community, particularly in the #rhizosphere, where a ready supply of bacterial prey is always available. However, their main effects is on the nutrient supply. A large portion of the nutrients ingested by protozoa are excreted into the soil environment in mineral form, where they are available for plant uptake. #microbemonday

The role that larger animals play in a garden is very different from the role they play in other parts of the yard or farm. But wherever they roam, their role is important and underpinned by micro arthropods and microorganisms, which far out number them in the #soilfoodweb community. The #dung of all #reptiles, #mammals, and #birds serve as a food source for other members of the soil food web, which recycles into nutrients. They also carry microbes on their bodies and feet from one location to the other, and in death their bodies are decayed by soil life, returning all nutrients from the animal back to the soil. (Teaming with Microbes)

With the agricultural communities growing understanding of soil as a #livingsystem with many vital functions in relation to #crops, #livestock, natural ecosystems, and #globalclimate, the term SOIL HEALTH has come into wide spread use. NRCS has defined soil health as " capacity of soil to function as a natural living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals and humans" (Kucera, 2015) Photo: Elaine Casap

Earthworms are classified as #shredders. As they search for food, they break down the leaf litter in the garden and on the lawn, greatly speeding up the decomposition of plant material directly and indirectly. They open up leaves and other organic matter giving #bacteria and #fungi better access to cellulose and lignin in the organic matter. The end result of worms shredding and digesting are small particles of organic litter that #microorganisms can eat. Microbial populations in the soil are also enhanced because some microbes are mixed into worm fecal pellets during their formation and elimination, creating protected enclaves of fungi and bacteria. Photo of Earthworms : Dr. Manuel Liebke, Max Planck Institute

Various fungi facilitate the uptake of nutrients by plants, particularly #phosphorus. Numerous fungi live in close association with plant roots. One group, #vesiculararbuscularmycorrhizal fungi form both #vesicles and #arbuscules ( knot like structures ) on the surface and within plant roots. They also colonise soil animals including earthworms and woodlice. They are known to be found in the top 5 inches of #soil. They can help provide protection to the host plant, their presence being associated with decreased colonization of pathogens. It was found that wheat plants inoculated with VAM ( vesicular arbuscular mycorrhiza) were more tolerant than plants without VAM #fungifriday https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/10/9/3286/pdf

The #rhizosphere is a micro ecological zone that is near the plant roots. The actual extent of rhizosphere is dependent on the zone of influence of the plant roots and associated organisms. This area of soil is considered to be of the most biodiverse and dynamic habitats on earth. The rhizosphere is also metabolically busier and a more competitive environment than the surrounding soil, also known as #bulksoil. Unlike the soil associated with the rhizosphere, bulk soil is not penetrated with plant roots, and typically has fewer microbial activity/communities within it. In contrast the rhizosphere is an area heavily influenced by microorganisms that feed on compounds exuded by the roots within the soil. In addition, displays of symbiotic relationships between plants and microorganisms are shown when plant roots release nutrients such as #sugars #aminoacids through water soluble compounds that sustain and provide for microbial existence.

https://youtu.be/hbdsHOnd_gw YOUTUBE.COM Keep soil alive, protect soil biodiversity

Organic soils tend to have greater biological activity, greater soil stability, more biomass, and higher diversity than conventionally managed soils. Organically managed soils also tend to have higher water holding capacity, porosity and aggregate stability than conventional soils, which can lead to yield advantages in extreme weather events such as droughts and flooding, meaning that organic soil may fare better as our planet continues to experience climate change.

The ability of bacteria to thrive in soil is due to their unequalled metabolic versatility, which allows them to utilize a wide range of nutrient sources, together with their capacity to colonies the vastly different niche habitats that are found in soil. Their numbers are typically high in the organic rich layer near the soil surface, and they multiply prolifically in the #rhizosphere.

Soil is the backbone of our food security. Without healthy soils, #farmers wouldn’t be able to provide us with #feed, #fiber, #food, and #fuel. Soil is made up of organic remains, clay and rock particles, found on the Earth’s surface. It contributes to food, reduces biodiversity loss, and secures energy. Problems like deforestation, bad agricultural practices and pollution causes soil degradation and erosion. Soils are incredibly resilient, but they are also fragile and can be easily damaged or lost. If we are really committed for a better future for all of us and the next generations, let’s start working from the ground, our soils. HAPPY WORLD SOIL DAY EVERYONE!!!!

Cantharellus cinnabarinus (#RedChanterelle) is a fungus native to eastern North America. It is a member of the genus Cantharellus along with other chanterelles. It is named after its red color, which is imparted by the carotenoid canthaxanthin.It is edible, fruiting in association with hardwood trees in the summer and fall. Mycorrhizal with hardwoods--especially beech and oaks, but also with shagbark hickory, big-toothed aspen, and other hardwoods; growing alone, scattered, or gregariously; summer and fall; widely distributed in eastern North America #fungifriday Photo: Emily Stanley, Maryland Biodiversity Project 2018

Organic matter and Soil life play a central role in soil health and fertility. In natural plant communities the daily consumption and assimilation of organic residues by soil organisms provides the primary source of plant nutrition. In both natural and agricultural ecosystems, the continual processing of organic residues by the soil food web supports the beneficial functions of soil. Without regular inputs of organic matter derived from photosynthesis and other life processes, soil organisms go hungry and the soils capacity to support agriculture and provide ecosystem services degrades. #soilbroughtolife Microscope Photo: Molly C Haviland, Haviland Earth Regeneration Worm Photo : Ecofarm Daily

Gyromitra esculenta is an ascomycete fungus from the genus Gyromitra, widely distributed across Europe and North America. It normally fruits in sandy soils under coniferous trees in spring and early summer. The fruiting body, or mushroom, is an irregular brain-shaped cap dark brown in colour that can reach 10 centimetres (4 inches) high and 15 cm (6 in) wide, perched on a stout white stipe up to 6 cm (2 1⁄2 in) high. The Gyromitra esculenta fungus is a false morel unlike true morels, this species of fungus, commonly called the brain mushroom, was found to be poisonous and should not be eaten. The Gyromitra esculenta is characterized by its ruddy red-brown cap that resembles the human brain. #fungifriday Photo: PietervH@Flickr

A healthy balanced #soilecosystem provides a habitat for crops 🌾 to grow without the need for interventions such as soil fumigants and drunch pesticides. Replacing and building soil organic enables sustainable cycling of nutrients.

https://youtu.be/hbdsHOnd_gw YOUTUBE.COM Keep soil alive, protect soil biodiversity

Because their simple structure many kinds of bacteria can freeze without harm. Unlike more complicated organisms, bacteria have membranes that do not burst when their internal fluids turn to ice. With soil rich in humus, bacteria can hibernate, through the cold weather well protected within their carbon habitat. Soil that drains well with a humus content of 10% is an ideal environment for over wintering microbes. (Lincoln Landscaping 2017)

To promote soil life during #fall and #winter it's a good idea for growers to add compost, mulch or straw as well as feeding your soil with a diverse microbial population. Soil ReVive and Soil ProVide can supercharge the soil and roots with microbial life during the cold winter months. Soil ProVide is a liquid packed with microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. Soil ReVive is water soluble powder comprised of humic acid. Humic Acids: are the portions of the alkali extracted humic substances that are only water soluble at pH values greater than 2. They are produced by bio-degradation of dead organic matter. They can be used as either soil amendments, foliar applications, or blended with liquid fertilizers. A perfect complement to Soil ReVive is a soil inoculum full of living organisms in Soil ProVide which play a major role in many natural processes that determine nutrient and water availability for plant productivity. Bulk sizes/pricing also available, contact us for details! https://www.earthfort.com/earthfort-products/#Amendments

Hydnellum auratile is a tooth fungus in the family Bankeraceae. Fruit bodies of the fungus consist of closely grouped, funnel-shaped caps up to 5 cm in diameter. The caps are initially bright orange with a white rim, and have a felt-like surface. The fungus is widely spread in Europe, and has also been reported from the Pacific Northwest region of North America.It is considered endangered in Switzerland. #fungifriday Photo: Irene Andersson

When you buy organic food, you’re supporting the health of your family, animals, plants, and our earth and most importantly, the SOIL. #Soil has been referred to as the skin of the earth, and without healthy soil, crops aren't able to grow. It is a living system within itself, and much like the microbiome, soil has thriving bacteria, fungus, and microorganisms, all of which it needs to stay healthy. ( Good Earth Natural Food )

The #carbon to #nitrogen ( C:N ) ratio of organic inputs can impact #soilhealth. Materials with very low C:N ( Poultry Litter 7:1) or very high C:N ( Corn Residues 35:1 ) are less beneficial than materials with moderate C:N ( #dairymanure ~ straw bedding compost C:N 20 ) A diverse mix of organic inputs #covercrops, compost, and other amendments that include both high and low C:N materials can be especially effective in building #SOILORGANICMATTER and enhancing nitrogen use efficiency 📸: Milosz Guzowski @miloszguz1

Christmas lichen(Cryptothecia rubrocincta) is a crustose lichen, and is commonly called the Christmas lichen due to its spectacular red and very light green color. The red color often encircles the thallus of the lichen, like a wreath. Lichens are flaky moss-like organisms that grow on the bark and branches of our landscape trees or shrubs. Lichen is an algae and a fungus living together mutualistically, an association which is advantageous to both organisms. The Christmas lichen is typically found on the sides of trees in open areas that get a lot of sunlight. (iNaturalist)

After the first snowfall, the soil remains underneath, frozen in a rock like layer. It appears to be sterile and lifeless at first sight; yet there are millions upon millions of microorganisms all ready to supply a buffet of nutrients once warm weather returns. Understanding this replenishing process that occurs deep in the winter garden soil help us understand why our fall gardening practices are so important.

The rhizosphere is a busy region of biological activity where bacteria and fungi colonise around sand, silt and clay particles, engulfing minerals into their cells through enzymatic action. Predation on these bacteria and fungi by protozoa and nematodes release soluble plant nutrients into the rhizosphere, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi link plant roots with other plants and microbes though their fungal hyphae to share information via biochemical messaging. These plant microbe relationships are symbiotic where plants provide the sugars via photosynthesis and the microbes bring nutrients and water to the plants that would otherwise be inaccessible to them.

Earthworms have an interesting method for surviving the winter. Before the soil freezes, common earthworms burrow down to the subsoil, below the frostline as much as 6ft deep. There they form a slime coated ball and hibernate in a state called estivation. The mucus that is wrapped around the worm allows them to survive long periods without moisture until spring rains wake them from their slumber. 📷: Belinda Robinson plot7marshlane.blogspot.

WINTER SALE!!!!!!! 30% OFF SF Organics Fish Hydrolysate This 2-2-0 product is a “live, microbial product” that provides the rewards of enhancing your soils’ eco-system by adding necessary proteins, nutrients, bacteria and minerals. The liquid fish aids in the replenishment of micronutrients/microbiology that has been lost due to overuse of chemical pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and over-tilling. 25% OFF Be-1 Be-1’s proprietary blend of amino-acids are the building blocks of proteins and of all cell formation. They are a vital part of many processes in plants, including photosynthesis. With a non-salt based NPK of 3-6-5 Be-1 allows beneficial microorganisms to promote plant nutrient intake, resulting in soil conditioning that is intensified naturally. Click the link for these #soilboostingproducts https://www.earthfort.com/earthfort-products/

During the winter months certain fungi do not actively survive the winter, but instead they set spores. As soon as they temperature in the soil raises, those spores begin to sprout, sending out masses of thread like hyphae, connecting them to their prefered source of nutrients. Most fungi are beneficial to the soil community breaking down organic matter to produce plant nutrients and humus. #fungifriday 📸 Foraging, Fungi, Medicine 12,2014

Check this out!!! Microbes are the main force behind decomposition!! Today we received two soil samples, and in those samples included one piece of paper in each. One labeled "highest concentration of microbes" ( on the left ) and another labeled "No Microbes" ( on the right ). As you can see the piece of paper on the left labeled "highest concentration of microbes" has decomposed more than the piece of paper on the right. The biological activity in soil plays an important part in recycling nutrients and making them available to plants, as well as maintaining soil structure and contributing to soil health.

Did you know.... That perennial plants that grow in colder climates, such as grasses, shrubs, and trees are able to withstand freezing. They develop a root system below the frost layer. The root system of these plants perform a number of tasks that protect them from cold. Roots can release a lot of water from their cells into the surrounding soil. This allows roots to endure colder temperatures without the risk of internal water expanding and damaging cells. Water within roots also contain higher concentration of sugars and salts, that assist in lowering the freezing point of water inside and between cells.

Nature, with minimal human intervention developed biologically diverse, richly fertile soils and ecosystems with little by the way of inputs other than the accumulation of dust, periodic rainfall, fresh air, and sunlight. Rainforest are fertile ecosystems with rich biodiversity of microbial, plant, and animal species. While rainforest can be quite fertile the world's deepest richest topsoils evolved as grazing lands, prairies, steppes, plains, savannahs, and meadows that grew legumes and herbaceous plants and supported herds of herbivores along with predators they attracted ( Hugh Lovel, EcoFarmDaily 2014 )

Plants are not able to use minerals in the soil unless they are in plant available form. 78% of the atmosphere is nitrogen, although plants need nitrogen, they are not able to use that form of nitrogen. There is plenty of nitrogen in the body of a dead mouse, but a plant can't use that nitrogen ( yet )...... It remains locked away in a organic form. Some bacteria in the soil like #rhizobia can take nitrogen from the air and convert it to a form of nitrogen the plants can use. Other soil bacteria and fungi can break down organic chemicals from the bodies of dead plants and animals and turn it into nutrients a plant can uptake. The bacteria and fungi are helped in their breakdown work by #bettles, #worms, and other soil dwelling arthropods, who feed on dead things and breakdown into smaller parts that bacteria and fungi can get to more easily.

DID YOU KNOW...... That in natural systems when nutrients run low trees and plants will exude compounds through their roots to "recruit" fungi and bacteria that are able to provide for them in a mutualistic manner.

Food security and nutrition rely on healthy soils which are the foundation of our food systems. Nearly 80 per cent of the average calorie intake per person comes from crops directly grown in the soil. Nearly all plant nutrients are taken up from the soil and need to be present in sufficient quantity and availability in the soil. The nutrient supply to our crops and food relies in the first place on the nutrients present in soils. Two million people still suffer from lack of nutritional deficiencies. Soils are deteriorating worldwide, becoming less fertile. They provide less nutrients to plants, leading to serious nutrient deficiencies in crops, with direct consequences on human being. ( Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations )

A way to protect LIFE in the soil including worms 🐛 is organic mulching. Deep mulch decreases soil temperature variations that can cause problems with soil life and overwintering plants. It also reduces the amount of freezing and retains soil moisture. One thing to be cautious about is the type of wood used for wood mulches. Certain woods can leach chemicals that can affect pla

Many protozoa respond to extreme weather by encysting. They secrete a thick, tough wall around themselves and effectively enter a inactive state comparable to hibernation. The ability to form a cyst is widespread among different kinds of protozoa. The cyst is important for #soil protozoa, it serves as refuge for when the moisture disappears or when the soil water becomes frozen. In soils that are subject to freezing the periodic short term thawing the protozoa rapidly excyst, feed, and reproduce and then encyst again when the soil conditions become more unfavorable again. Protozoa play an important role in the fertility of soils. By grazing on bacteria they regulate bacterial populations and maintain them in a state of "physiological youth" in their active growing phase. This enhances the rates at which bacteria decompose #organicmatter. Protozoa also excrete #nitrogen and #phosphorus in the form of ammonium (NH₄⁺) and orthophosphate (PO₄³⁻) as products of their metabolism. (Julia M. Diaz Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute )

Soil microbes are the mediators that convert the bigger organic pieces , such as plant matter, insect skeletons and worm castings into #ammonium NH₄⁺ and phosphate PO₄³⁻ that the plants can use .Organic matter not only feeds #microbes, it can also regulate acidity levels. It also helps problem soils, for example : #claysoils with #drainage and sandy soils with retaining moisture and nutrients. Organic matter feeds the organisms that create #aggregates ( #sand #silt #clay ) joining together to form larger granules. The larger granules create crumbly soil which improves #rootgrowth and provides beneficial habitat soil organisms.

The idea of green manuring ( using green manures ) or the use of cover crops is to keep the soil covered with the living or dead biomass of these crops for as long as possible, with the purpose of protecting the soil from direct impacts of rainfall and wind and to maintain and improve soils physical, biological and chemical characteristics. ( Valdemar Hercilio de freitas, Soil Management and Conservation for Small Farms, 2000)

Soil organisms fulfil key processes in the soil, such as decomposition and nutrient mineralization. Many microorganisms engage in mutualistic interactions with plant host, aiding in uptake of nutrients and water ( Mycorrhizal Fungi ) in exchange for photosynthates or other plant metabolites. Other groups of soil micro and macro organisms have antagonistic effects on plant health via pathogenicity ( pathogenic fungi ) or herbivory ( Heinen R Biere, Harvey JA & Bezemer TM 2018 Effects of Soil Organisms on Above Ground Plant Insect Interactions in the Field Frontiers of Ecology V6:106 2018 )

https://www.crescent-news.com/on_the_wire/editors_pick/healthy-soils-suppress-pests/article_ffd4109b-3221-5f39-83cc-98042cc9322d.html CRESCENT-NEWS.COM Healthy soils suppress pests

Fungal hyphae ust be in close contact with living or dead organic soil residues to absorb nutrients, so they usually grow in association with other soil microbes. They compete aggressively for scarce nutrients, and competition sometimes results in succession or change in the microbial composition as nutrients are absorbed or depleted. Initial colonizers absorb simple sugars, amino acids, and vitamins from plant parts such as fruit, seeds, and vegetables and are classified sugar fungus. The dominance of these fungi is short lived because the quick accumulation of waste product. . . . . #fungifriday #Saccharomyces #soillife 📸 Gerhard Saueracker

Dead plant residues and plant nutrients becomes food for microbes in the soil. Soil organic matter is basically all the organic substances ( anything with carbon ) in the soil, both living and dead. Soil organic matter includes plants, algaes, microbes, and the fresh and decomposing organic matter from plants, animals and microorganisms.

Soil organisms form a complex food web, and soil organic matter is the base of the web. Most soil microorganisms use organic compounds in soil organic matter as carbon and energy sources. Some soil organisms directly feed on living roots, but most depend on dead plant matter. Small insects such as #springtails, break up plant residue into smaller pieces, which accelerates further decomposition by microorganism. Within the #soilfoodweb, there are also carnivores, predators, and parasites. As in an above ground system, these organisms are interdependent and help cycle nutrients from organic to inorganic form that are available to crops. ( Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education on Soil Organic Matter and Biology, 2020)

DID YOU KNOW..... That the hair like hyphae of fungi can spread for hundreds of feet underground. In undisturbed forests, these hyphae can stretch for acres and acres. The #largest living organisms is a single giant specimen or #oystermushroom 🍄 ( Armillaria ostoyae ) in Malheur National Forest, Oregon which occupies an area of 2,385 acres, that's almost 1350 soccer fields! 😮

When farms convert from conventional tillage to conservation tillage systems, there is a potential to lower production cost and improve farm profitability.The agronomic benefits associated with conservation tillage practices can be ..... -Reduced Soil Erosion -Improved Soil Health -Improved Water Conservation -Improved Wildlife Habitat -Lower Production Costs -Improved Crop Yields and Revenue Opportunities . . . While this potential benefits exist, profitability of the cropping enterprise depends on factors like CLIMATE, PEST PRESSURE, #SOILSUSTAINABILITY , and EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT.

Ramaria botrytis, commonly known as the clustered coral, the pink-tipped coral mushroom, or the cauliflower coral, is an edible species of coral fungus in the family Gomphaceae. Its robust fruit body can grow up to 15 cm in diameter and 20 cm tall, and resembles some marine coral. 🍄 An ectomycorrhizal species, Ramaria botrytis forms mutualistic associations with broadleaf trees, particularly beech. In a study to determine the effectiveness of several edible ectomycorrhizal fungi in promoting growth and nutrient accumulation of large-fruited red mahogany (Eucalyptus pellita), R. botrytis was the best at improving root colonization and macronutrient uptake.[28] Records of associations with conifers probably represent similar species. Fruit bodies grow on the ground singly, scattered, or in small groups among leaves in woods. 🍄 📸 Michael Wood

Microbes need regular supplies of active soil organic matter in order to survive in the soil. Long term no tilled soils have significantly greater levels of microbes, more active carbon, more soil organic matter and more stored carbon than conventional tilled soils. A majority of the microbes in the soil exist under starvation Active soil organic matter is ‘fresh meat’ to microbes. It is the readily digestible and easily decomposed portion of fresh organic (meaning carbon-containing) residues. As it is decomposed by soil organisms it helps stabilize soil aggregates, it releases nutrients by mineralization, and it provides food for microbial activity, which can lead to suppression of plant diseases and enhanced plant growth. (Vern Grubinger, Soil Organic Matter: The Living, the Dead, and the Very Dead, University of Vermont Extension )

What many people think are individual problems may just be symptoms of a degraded, poor-quality soil. These symptoms are usually directly related to depletion of soil organic matter, lack of a thriving and diverse population of soil organisms, and compaction caused by use of heavy field equipment. Farmers have been encouraged to react to individual symptoms instead of focusing their attention on general soil health management. A new approach is needed to help develop farming practices that take advantage of the inherent strengths of natural systems. In this way, we can prevent the many symptoms of unhealthy soils from developing, instead of reacting after they develop. If we are to work together with nature, instead of attempting to overwhelm and dominate it, the buildup and maintenance of good levels of organic matter in our soils are as critical as management of physical conditions, pH, and nutrient levels. ( BUILDING SOILS FOR BETTER CROPS: SUSTAINABLE SOIL MANAGEMENT, Fred Magdoff and Harold Van Es )

Plant residues, cover crops, and mulches left on the soil surface play an important role in protecting the soil from the harsh impacts of rain and wind, reduce evaporation of water from soil, catch and retain snow, and provide a good habitat for organisms that live near the soil surface. However, it is the living root systems that feed the organisms below the soil surface that allow carbon to be retained in the soil. The root systems also develop stable soil aggregates that allow the soil to take in water and allow for the exchange of gases with the atmosphere. With the combination of ground cover, cover crops, plant residues, and having winter hardy plants in the soil will not only protect the soil from degradation, but it will keep your soil biology happily fed during the winter.

Soil microbes through their numerous activities help to supply nutrients in the soil. They break down large chunks and complex organic matter into simple and usable chemical compounds. This process allows the uptake of these minerals by plants. Different groups of soil microbes decompose different forms of organic matter. Their population helps to break down almost all organic matter.

Thelephora penicillata is a kind of earthfan fungus that forms rosette-like clusters among mosses on the forest floor, most often under spruce trees. These short-lived fruit bodies can be found from late summer through to the end of autumn. (This and other earthfans are known to form mycorrhizal relationships with forest trees; however, it is likely that they can also live as saprobes, feeding on dead and decaying timber, needles and leaves on the forest floor.) 📸 Leif Goodwin

Each field, pasture and forest has a unique soil food web with a particular proportion of soil bacteria, fungi, and other groups and a particular level of complexity within each group of organisms. These differences are the result of soil vegetation, and climate factors, as well as land management.

Our wonderful Marketing Team dropped these beautiful flowers here for us today (and some tasty treats that swiftly disappeared) in celebration of a full year of growth together! Thank you #BenuCreative!! 😀

As air moves down the soil profile, its composition changes. The oxygen concentration is greatest near the surface and diminishes with depth. The rate of reduction is dependent on soil texture. Soils with small pores such as clay soils, tend to have problems with oxygen to diffuse with greater depths. The higher oxygen content near the soil surface is one of the reasons why biological activity is higher on the top 6 inches of soil.

Some growers sow cover crops during the winter to enrich their soil with nutrients for the upcoming year. When the time comes to plant again in the spring, the cover crops can be worked back into the soil as they will decay and provide vital organic matter for the upcoming grow season.

Bacteria and Fungi are the primary decomposers in the soil. If they weren't present, we would be standing on a giant pile of dead plant and animal matter that never breaks down. The carbon and nutrients that make up all living matter is constantly being recycled through the actions of soil biology. The microbes in the soil also help break down toxic compounds like herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides often used in conventional agriculture.

A soil amendment can help rejuvenate soil with life. Soil ProVide and Soil ReVive are great choices as they can put beneficial microbes and blends of food for tiny organisms. These two products work hand in hand together. ProVide is jam packed with soil microbes like trichoderma and bacillus that can help plants protect themselves from certain pest/pathogens. ReVive is the food source for the microbes its composed of humic acid, kelp, complex carbohydrates, and amino acids. It provides a natural way of feeding the microorganisms in the soil

Soils are the primary provider of nutrients and water for most of plant life on earth. There are about 18 elements that are essential for plant healthy plant growth, most of which are made available to plants through root uptake from soils. Soil nutrients are dissolved in soil water as either positive or negative charged ions; soil particles are also charged and thereby are able to electrically hold these ions. https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/mauisoil/c_nutrients.aspx

Limiting the use of toxic compounds that are toxic to beneficial microbes, you can provide the basis for a healthy environment to build soil biology There are several things that can be done to promote healthy microbial growth... One is to maintain organic matter and micronutrient levels. Traditionally, typical fertilizers contain only N, P, K. The application of these types of synthetic fertilizers helps supplement those specific nutrients, but not the additional micronutrient that are also necessary for plant growth. Maintaining and supplementing micronutrients in not only for healthy plant🌱, trees🌳, and turf⛳️ but also for healthy microbial growth. Organic matter provides the carbon necessary for microbes to grow. Organic derived fertilizers such as seaweeds, compost, manures, and fish can provide carbon matter as well as micronutrients and will stimulate healthier plant and microbial growth. 📸pundapanda/Shutterstock.com

The actinobacteria known as Frankia is known to produce nitrogen fixing nodules on non legume plants. While legumes provide agricultural soils with atmospheric nitrogen, non legumes are major means of adding nitrogen to forest, bogs, and arid areas especially in temperate areas. #microbemonday 📸 Gerhard Schuster ( Nodules on Alder Root ) 📸 Wikimedia userKuchoo ( Frankia hyphae )

Did you know.......... That microorganisms can help rid of toxins. If there organic are toxins in the soil, such as gasoline and some pesticides certain microbes might be able to utilize them as food. Some of these chemicals are toxic to higher organisms like humans, but not microbes. Through biodegradation microbes eat the toxins, grow new cells and release less harmful by-product.

The soil microbes along with organic matter that is produced as a function of the actions of soil biology are the retention and delivery system of the soil. Microbe populations grow to the capacity of their environments. As nutrients are added through compost, mulch or fertilization ( organic ) microbes will reproduce and carbon, nutrients, and water will locked in their bodies. As the nutrients and water supplies start to decrease, microbes begin to die and re-release those components, acting like a living buffer system. Fungi have a complex branching system of hyphae that allow that act like a plumbing system to transport nutrients and water that would otherwise not be accessible to roots.

Stereum ostrea is often called the "False Turkey Tail," since it mimics Trametes versicolor.While it might be said that Stereum ostrea is more red, more of the time, the tell-tale difference between true and false Turkey Tails is found underneath the cap: Stereum ostrea lacks a pore surface, and therefore has a smooth underside. In other words, it is a crust fungus rather than a polypore. #fungifriday Saprobic on the dead wood of hardwoods; growing in open clusters, often from gaps in the bark; causing a white rot of the heartwood; often serving as a host to algae; sometimes parasitized by jelly fungi; apparently sometimes associated with Phlebia incarnata ; spring, summer, fall, and winter; widely distributed in North America. ( Michael Kuo, mushroomexpert.com) 📷 Anel Espinosa

Floccularia is a genus of fungi in the order Agaricales. There are four recognized species in the genus, which have a widespread distribution, especially in northern temperate regions In North America, this small group of species is apparently limited to western locations, from the Rocky Mountains to the West Coast, where they are saprobes that act like mycorrhizal mushrooms, Mycorrhizal with Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir; terrestrial, growing alone or scattered; late summer and fall. #fungifriday

Microbe population can change in soil as organic matter is added , consumed, and recycled. The amount, the type, and the availability of the #organicmatter will determine the microbial population and how it evolves. Each individual organism bacteria, fungi and protozoa have certain enzymes and complex chemical reactions that help that orgasism assimilate carbon. As waste products are generated and the original organic residues are decomposed new organisms may take over, feeding on the waste products. #soilmicrobes #soilbroughttolife

Most good practices in soil organic carbon management revolve around integrated water and nutrient management, erosion control measures, and maintaining groundcover. For example, Conservation Agriculture ensures minimum tillage, soil mulching and crop rotation, which combine to increase soil organic matter and fertility. Sustainable Rangeland Management emphasises managing the duration, timing and intensity of grazing to ensure optimal herbivore impact, such as seed dispersal, manuring, and removal of dead vegetation. Agroforestry is a system in which trees or shrubs are grown among crops or pastureland to increase the productivity, diversity and resilience of farms. These practices all apply principles of synergy and complementarity in order to conserve soil structure, soil moisture and nutrients and eventually increase carbon storage ability. ( Soil Biodiversity and Soil Organic Carbon : Keeping Drylands Alive. Peter Laban, Graciela Metternicht, and Jonathan Davies )

A fertile and healthy soil is the basis for healthy plants 🌾 animals 🐑 and humans 👪. Soil organic matter is the very foundation for healthy productive soils. Understanding the role of organic matter in maintaining a healthy soil is essential for developing ecological sound agricultural practices.

One important bacterial grazer in soil is, amoebas. Due to their high biomass and turnover and specialized feeding modes. Compared to suspension and filter feeders like bacteria eating nematodes and other protozoa, amoeba graze bacterial biofilms and colonies attached to root and soil surfaces, giving them access to most of the bacteria in the soil. With the aid of their pseudopodia, amoeba can reach bacterial colonies in soil pores and even inside inaccessible to other predators. #soilbroughttolife #soillife #soilfoodweb (Protozoa & Plant Growth, Michael Bonkowski 2003)

Earthfort

Contact Us

Hours

Location

About

Photos

Latest

Information

FAQs

Nearby

Cornerstone Landscape Maintenance

Rose Valley Home Services, LLC

Good Earth Pest Company

Merlin Home Magic

Bullfrog Landscape, Lawn & Landscape Maintenance

Corvallis Hydroponics and Organics