soil article

Doc Bud;2468815 said:

SweetSue;2468546 said:

It's an interesting soil approach and at some odds with what LOS provides. Do the synthetic salts in the HB kit have any detrimental effect on the biota? I ask because one of the foundational beliefs of LOS is the danger synthetics pose to the mycorrhizae. This is my greatest stumbling block going in Doc. My training is to assist the growth of the biota, and the mychorrizae turn out to be responsible for the majority of the soil structure as well as the major facilitators of balanced distribution of available nutrients as per the needs of individual plants. Do you have any evidence of the effects of the kit ingredients on the mycorrhizae? Has anyone thought to look?

I'm holding to your description of it being closer to having the biota exercise a bit more. Can you understand how this feels at odds with my core beliefs about the SFW? Much of it is cross over. I use enzyme teas fortified with kelp meal, aloe gear and fulvic acid. I also use regular drenches of aloe vera juice and coconut water. Occasionally a humic acid tea with micro nutrients. Neem seed meal for Integrated Pest a Management (IPM).

Two different soil mixes. I'm not sure how different the biota would be. No denying each soil grows fabulous plants. Interesting.

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Synthetics? Not really.....they are naturally occuring substances that are found in all soils and they have no ill effects on biota! T'hey DO help plants grow much better and in the way we desire them to grow, but to label them synthetic is wrong and to claim that they damage the Soil Food Web is a wrong statement.

AS for evidence, let me politely remind you that the science behind HB is extremely solid, with papers published over many decades, not the mention the day-to-day results seen amending many types of soil all over the world. Far from damaging myco, the ingredients are carefully designed to ENHANCE microbial activities.

I'm at a loss to understand why you continue to worry that somehow you're going to hurt the myco! Why do you say that? Why would a lab that specializes in INCREASING biota design products that hurt it?

Has anyone thought to look? You asked this question above......the answer is yes. Dozens of phD's who have focused their entire careers on biological farming including the SFW have not only "looked," they have done everything humanly possible to IMPROVE the health and activity of the biota.

Why do you continue to doubt that?

As for intergrated pest management in LOS....have you found that the addition of Neem Seed Meal in the soil has kept the pests down? Or, like many other organic farmers, do you have gnats?

I have ZERO insect pressure in HB. None. Sure, there's a few bugs around, but no flying swarms, no need for sticky traps, no leaf damage and no worries. No neem seed meal either. Healthy plants manage their own IPM.

So, I invite you to entertain the idea that perhaps there is more than one way to grow healthy crops! No-till is great. But there is something to be said for CULTIVATION. Learning about nature and creating an environment to harness and direct nature's power is different than no-till.

You'll notice that this is the first time I've given you a polite, measured "jab" with my words. The reason is that you continue to say "synthetic" "damage SFW" and then ask things like "has anyone checked to see what it does to the myco?"

I hope I've answered your concerns again.

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