AND HOW UNDERSTANDING IT CAN MAKE GARDENING EASIER FOR YOU The Hidden Soil Food Web
The Soil Food Web
Benefits of a healthy Soil Food Web Captures, stores, and makes available essential plant nutrients. Especially nitrogen. Builds healthy soil structure that stores water and holds nutrients Provides natural disease prevention, protection, and suppression
It all starts with plants
How do plants use carbon for their benefit? Root exudates in the rhizosphere
The Soil Food Web
Bacteria Bacteria capture, store, and make nutrients available
Bacteria Bacteria are “fertilizer packets” for plants
Bacteria Bacteria build healthy soil structure
Importance of organic matter in soil
Other roles of bacteria Bacteria keep pathogens in check
Fungi Fungi are the primary decomposers
Fungi Mycorrhizal fungi provide nutrients, water, and disease protection for plants
Fungi Fungi are fertilizer packets
Protozoa
Benefits of Protozoa Protozoa are fertilizer spreaders Protozoa keep bacterial and fungal populations balanced
Nematodes Nematodes are fertilizer spreaders
The rest of the soil food web
Benefits of a healthy Soil Food Web Capture, store, and make available essential plant nutrients. Especially nitrogen. Build healthy soil structure that stores water and nutrients Natural disease prevention, protection, and suppression
The implications of the soil food web Don’t destroy it!
The implications of the soil food web Build and foster your soil food web!
How to build your soil food web Compost
How to build your soil food web Compost tea
How to build your soil food web Mulch
How to build your soil food web Cover Cropping
Resources Teaming with Microbes: The Organic Gardener’s Guide to the Soil Food Web by Jeff Lowenfels and Wayne Lewis The Rodale Book of Composting: Easy Methods for Every Gardener The Rodale Institute