Low-cost Microscope for Soil Biology
The right tool to evaluate soil biology, is a microscope. Dr. Ingham, in a 4 minute video, tells what to look for.
Living Soil
Mycorrhizal Fungi: Internet of the Soil
The hyphae of mycorrizal fungi allow plants to share resources. Part of the soil microbe biome, they increase drought tolerance
Biochar, A Soil Biology Perspective
Biochar. plus soil microbes, creates a catch and release mechanism for plant nutrient cycling and water molecules.
What is Robust Compost?
Robust Compost not commodity compost. It contains the complete soil microbe biome and biologically active. See: BioComplete or Soil Food Web
AstroNematode: Biocontrol Agent
Significant BioAg Practice Advancing Pest Control Heroes can come from the most unexpected places. Particularly, a tiny worm like an AstroNematode of the soil microbe biome can be a valiant protector of high value crops. This post explains how. Biocontrol and its advantages Chemical pesticides are traditionally used as defense against crop damage. But chemical …
Mycorrhizal Fungi and Soil Food Web
Fungi are among the 7 life forms in the complete soil microbe biome. Video on Mycorrhizal fungi which coexist with most plants.
AstroNematodes Reach For The Stars
Important Soil Microbe Biome Link Studied for Significant Pest Control …3…2…1…Blast Off!! A nematode named Steinernema feltiae – a.k.a. AstroNematode – just spent the past month aboard the International Space Station. Scientists hope the data collected on these creatures when exposed to the extreme microgravity environment will help us learn more about these useful pest …
Worms and Nematodes in Space!
The announcement from the USDA Agricultural Research Service starts: Starship Nematode! One tiny step for a nematode, One Big Step towards sustainable agriculture! In February, it was announced that small round worms (nematodes) would be sent into space to see how they reacted to the low gravity environment of the International Space Station. This is …
Climate Change News from UN
Today’s NYTimes Headline “Climate Change Threatens the World’s Food Supply, UN Warns” is hardly news. 3 Years ago, the FAO said “60 years of food left” In May of this year, they reiterated this with a report that said,”Yes our assessment was right. Now there are 57 years” Why did I, personally, go from Finance …
Amsterdam Has a Museum for Microbes
Smithsonian Magazine ran an article about Micropia, a museum for microbes. If you have read other material from SymSoil, you probably already know that all of life as we know it is dependent upon the life in the top six inches of soil, and the fact it rains. You may have heard one of talk about …