# What is the Soil Food Web? | Dr. Elaine Ingham | Soil Biology

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIQwy0Xn9AU

[00:05] thank you very much everyone for attending these meetings the soil summit
[00:11] um
[00:12] very happy to be able to bring this program to you so no further ado let's get going
[00:19] i want to talk about the soil food web for a few minutes this morning
[00:24] what is it what's comprised you know exactly what it does it do those kinds of questions
[00:30] and i always like to start out with this particular slide
[00:34] because it reminds me of a lot of the information that i need to put out
[00:40] this was a picture that was taken by the lexicon for sustainability group out in pennsylvania
[00:48] and i love the fact that they put the soil food web diagram overlaid of me out in that field holding up my hands kind of saying like yeah see
[00:58] i can get dirty um
[01:01] um we i the field always reminds me of.
[01:04] we i the field always reminds me of what i need to talk about a little bit.
[01:07] what i need to talk about a little bit when you're looking at this sort of.
[01:09] when you're looking at this sort of field one of the things you want to ask.
[01:12] field one of the things you want to ask yourself is is this soil.
[01:14] yourself is is this soil or is this dirt.
[01:16] or is this dirt and some people are surprised that those.
[01:19] and some people are surprised that those are really truly two different things.
[01:21] are really truly two different things when we're talking about soil it has to.
[01:24] when we're talking about soil it has to have all of the food web organisms in it.
[01:27] have all of the food web organisms in it and it needs to have some organic matter.
[01:29] and it needs to have some organic matter as well.
[01:31] as well when i look at the color of this field.
[01:33] when i look at the color of this field this recently tilled field.
[01:36] this recently tilled field i get a little concerned because this is.
[01:38] i get a little concerned because this is not the rich dark brown.
[01:41] not the rich dark brown 70 cocoa chocolate color that i want to.
[01:44] 70 cocoa chocolate color that i want to see.
[01:45] see in a good soil this light tan color says.
[01:49] in a good soil this light tan color says to me.
[01:50] to me we got some problems here.
[01:52] we got some problems here we don't have the complete food web.
[01:54] we don't have the complete food web what's lacking what what's missing.
[01:57] what's lacking what what's missing what do we need to get back into the.
[01:59] what do we need to get back into the system and how are you going to put that.
[02:01] system and how are you going to put that back into the system?
[02:03] Back into the system.
[02:05] Another thing that I look at when I I'm looking at this particular field is all of these big clods.
[02:10] This dirt has been compacted and then they came along and tilled it.
[02:16] Probably to get rid of that compaction because your roots won't go down very far until when they hit that compaction layer at you know two to or four to six inches.
[02:28] The roots aren't going to go any further.
[02:30] The roots of terrestrial plants are obligate aerobes and when you're in a compacted condition there's very little oxygen in there because the few microorganisms that were present in that material to begin with utilized all of the oxygen.
[02:50] So it's gone anaerobic and your roots can't grow into it or your roots will be harmed.
[02:55] They may well die because of that experience and certainly they will grow out sideways then instead.
[03:03] they will grow out sideways then instead of down.
[03:05] of down if your roots are going out sideways.
[03:06] if your roots are going out sideways it's going to be trying to steal
[03:08] it's going to be trying to steal nutrients from the plant next to it so
[03:11] nutrients from the plant next to it so you're going to have some problems those
[03:13] you're going to have some problems those plants are going to be stressed they're
[03:14] plants are going to be stressed they're not getting the full nutrition that they
[03:16] not getting the full nutrition that they require.
[03:17] require so
[03:19] so tells me quite a bit just looking at a
[03:22] tells me quite a bit just looking at a field
[03:24] field to discover those kinds of problems so
[03:26] to discover those kinds of problems so how do we fix those things how do we
[03:28] how do we fix those things how do we rebuild structure
[03:30] rebuild structure how do we get that organic matter back
[03:32] how do we get that organic matter back to what it needs to be so this soil and
[03:35] to what it needs to be so this soil and this
[03:36] this field
[03:38] field is probably
[03:39] is probably well or significantly lower than the
[03:42] well or significantly lower than the minimum of three percent that you really
[03:44] minimum of three percent that you really need to have in soil in order to grow
[03:47] need to have in soil in order to grow plants without requiring pesticides or
[03:50] plants without requiring pesticides or inorganic fertilizers and such.
[03:52] inorganic fertilizers and such i'd like to give a little bit of
[03:54] i'd like to give a little bit of introduction about who i am i am dr
[03:57] introduction about who i am i am dr elaine ingham i have all that lineup of
[04:00] elaine ingham i have all that lineup of alphabet soup after my name tada.
[04:04] alphabet soup after my name tada.
[04:07] I started out as a soil microbiologist and I've really turned into a soil ecologist if you will.
[04:11] But of course my focus is on the organisms that live in the soil.
[04:16] I'll let you read through the through the list here, you don't need me to do that for you.
[04:23] So looking at what the soil food web is, what the soul food web does is really where I want to go today.
[04:30] So what is the food web?
[04:33] The processes in soil, and that's important to recognize that we're talking about soil.
[04:37] The processes in soil are done by the microorganisms for the most part.
[04:43] All the critically important things that are supposed to happen in soil happen because the biology is present.
[04:53] So just a reminder, if you want to go to our website and take a look at all of the different things that Seoul Food Web School does, please go enjoy the website.
[05:02] Remember to
[05:04] please go enjoy the website remember to go to all the way down to the bottom of.
[05:06] go to all the way down to the bottom of the pages because there's more interesting information.
[05:09] interesting information the links to those that information down at the bottom of the page is not necessarily at the top just to keep you on your toes.
[05:13] the links to those that information down at the bottom of the page is not necessarily at the top just to keep you on your toes.
[05:14] at the bottom of the page is not necessarily at the top just to keep you on your toes.
[05:16] necessarily at the top just to keep you on your toes.
[05:18] on your toes so the soil food web in a picture model if you will this is really a flow of carbon through the food web or you can also think of it as the movement of energy from sunlight through this system or any nutrient you could reasonably be following.
[05:20] so the soil food web in a picture model if you will this is really a flow of carbon through the food web or you can also think of it as the movement of energy from sunlight through this system or any nutrient you could reasonably be following.
[05:24] in a picture model if you will this is really a flow of carbon through the food web or you can also think of it as the movement of energy from sunlight through this system or any nutrient you could reasonably be following.
[05:27] really a flow of carbon through the food web or you can also think of it as the movement of energy from sunlight through this system or any nutrient you could reasonably be following.
[05:30] through the food web or you can also think of it as the movement of energy from sunlight through this system or any nutrient you could reasonably be following.
[05:32] think of it as the movement of energy from sunlight through this system or any nutrient you could reasonably be following.
[05:36] from sunlight through this system or any nutrient you could reasonably be following.
[05:39] nutrient you could reasonably be following.
[05:40] following where those nutrients are getting to in the biology that should be present in your ecosystems.
[05:43] where those nutrients are getting to in the biology that should be present in your ecosystems.
[05:46] in the biology that should be present in your ecosystems.
[05:47] your ecosystems in a community in a watershed.
[05:49] in a community in a watershed.
[05:52] in a watershed so we want to understand how biology affects these things.
[05:55] so we want to understand how biology affects these things.
[05:58] biology affects these things i remember when i first came to colorado state university to work on my phd back in 1978.
[06:00] i remember when i first came to colorado state university to work on my phd back in 1978.
[06:03] state university to work on my phd back in 1978.
[06:05] in 1978 um one of the first things that my major um one of the first things that my major professor had me do was to go to every professor had me do was to go to every professor at colorado state university that dealt with soil in any way so to hydroponics people to horticulturalists to the crop scientists.
[06:22] to the soil science department to the agronomy department and talk to those professors about what it is that these organisms do in soil why are they there what is their function and purpose.
[06:38] and i wanted to work on a project where we were going to look at how do you measure fungi and bacteria and protozoa and nematode all in one sample so we could get that information out to the grower as rapidly as possible could we get this information returned to the grower within 20 minutes.
[06:59] typically it took back then it took a good two to six weeks to get the information about just these.
[07:07] to get the information about just these few groups of organisms back to people
[07:10] few groups of organisms back to people and that's way too long growers need that information right now
[07:11] and that's way too long growers need that information right now
[07:14] that information right now so
[07:15] so what
[07:16] what do these organisms do in the soil is the question i was asking to all of those professors at colorado state university
[07:19] do these organisms do in the soil is the question i was asking to all of those professors at colorado state university
[07:21] professors at colorado state university and
[07:24] and was i wise to put together a phd program that focused on those organisms would there be a job for me
[07:25] and was i wise
[07:26] was i wise to put together a phd program that focused on those organisms would there be a job for me
[07:30] to put together a phd program that focused on those organisms would there be a job for me what i when i came uh got done with my phd
[07:32] that focused on those organisms would there be a job for me what i when i came uh got done with my phd
[07:35] there be a job for me what i when i came uh got done with my phd
[07:37] uh got done with my phd and that every single person that i talked to there they said
[07:39] and that every single person that i talked to there they said
[07:41] talked to there they said
[07:42] they said that's a bad idea there is no job market you're not going to have a job when you get done with your four years of the graduate program
[07:44] that's a bad idea there is no job market you're not going to have a job when you get done with your four years of the graduate program
[07:47] no job market you're not going to have a job when you get done with your four years of the graduate program
[07:49] job when you get done with your four years of the graduate program
[07:51] four years of the graduate program
[07:53] the graduate program these organisms aren't important in soil they don't do anything to help your plant grow they're just they're just there
[07:55] these organisms aren't important in soil they don't do anything to help your plant grow they're just they're just there
[07:58] they don't do anything to help your plant grow they're just they're just there
[07:59] plant grow they're just they're just there
[08:01] there
[08:01] and i remember at the time thinking what's wrong with these people
[08:04] i remember at the time thinking what's wrong with these people
[08:06] what's wrong with these people because
[08:07] because nature has kept these organisms alive.
[08:09] nature has kept these organisms alive and active on this planet for
[08:12] and active on this planet for well take bacteria we know there are in
[08:15] well take bacteria we know there are in the fossil wet record there are bacteria
[08:19] the fossil wet record there are bacteria that we can show that material is
[08:23] that we can show that material is four billion years old and it has
[08:27] four billion years old and it has bacteria in it
[08:28] bacteria in it from that time
[08:30] from that time and so mother nature has kept those
[08:32] and so mother nature has kept those bacteria around for four billion years
[08:34] bacteria around for four billion years they have to be doing something or
[08:37] they have to be doing something or mother nature would have kind of let
[08:38] mother nature would have kind of let them go and they wouldn't be present
[08:41] them go and they wouldn't be present amongst us
[08:43] amongst us how about fungi 3.5 billion years that
[08:46] how about fungi 3.5 billion years that fungi have existed protozoa a little bit
[08:49] fungi have existed protozoa a little bit shorter time nematodes as you go through
[08:52] shorter time nematodes as you go through the whole
[08:54] the whole evolutionary system
[08:56] evolutionary system these organisms have been around for a
[08:58] these organisms have been around for a lot longer than human beings have been
[09:00] lot longer than human beings have been around
[09:01] around and nature doesn't keep things that
[09:04] and nature doesn't keep things that aren't important that aren't performing
[09:06] aren't important that aren't performing a function so just because we as human
[09:09] a function so just because we as human beings have not paid attention to what these organisms do or if they're important doesn't mean we should take such a callous attitude for them because of course i went ahead and did my phd work starting to show what the role and function of these organisms were in the soil.
[09:30] of course i worked with a huge number of other people you know david coleman pat reed vern cole all sorts of people at colorado state as well as the university of georgia and then when i've arrived here at oregon state continuing to work on these organisms what they do and so understanding what's going on so sunlight energy for example is fixed through photosynthesis and pulling into carbon dioxide um molecules into the plant material it's going to store the energy from that sunlight.
[10:09] sunlight in the carbon carbon bond from those two.
[10:13] in the carbon carbon bond from those two carbons coming from carbon dioxide the.
[10:15] carbons coming from carbon dioxide the waste compound oxygen blown off into the.
[10:18] waste compound oxygen blown off into the atmosphere for which we are eternally.
[10:20] atmosphere for which we are eternally grateful so we can breathe and we will.
[10:22] grateful so we can breathe and we will return the co2.
[10:24] return the co2 for those.
[10:26] for those plants to now recycle and use.
[10:30] plants to now recycle and use of course you can't grow plant tissue on.
[10:33] of course you can't grow plant tissue on carbon to carbon.
[10:36] carbon to carbon bound materials.
[10:38] bound materials our plants nothing on this planet grows.
[10:41] our plants nothing on this planet grows on carbon chains alone so.
[10:44] on carbon chains alone so those sugars which is what you would.
[10:46] those sugars which is what you would call them the short chain or slightly.
[10:49] call them the short chain or slightly complex sugar compounds being produced.
[10:52] complex sugar compounds being produced above ground.
[10:53] above ground are going to be used as the transporters.
[10:56] are going to be used as the transporters of the nutrients that the the plant has.
[11:00] of the nutrients that the the plant has to have in order to grow that we have to.
[11:02] to have in order to grow that we have to have in order to grow so.
[11:04] have in order to grow so.
[11:06] so these sugars are going to be sent down.
[11:08] these sugars are going to be sent down into the roots.
[11:10] into the roots in order to pick up nitrogen phosphorus.
[11:12] in order to pick up nitrogen phosphorus sulfur magnesium calcium sodium.
[11:13] sulfur magnesium calcium sodium potassium iron zinc all the nutrients.
[11:16] potassium iron zinc all the nutrients that your plant requires.
[11:19] that your plant requires is there any nutrient on the periodic.
[11:21] is there any nutrient on the periodic table.
[11:22] table that your plant doesn't need well some.
[11:25] that your plant doesn't need well some of them we don't need very much of.
[11:28] of them we don't need very much of but almost everything.
[11:30] but almost everything on the.
[11:32] on the chart of elements.
[11:34] chart of elements has to in some concentration is required.
[11:38] has to in some concentration is required by your plant.
[11:39] by your plant so all of those nutrients have to be.
[11:42] so all of those nutrients have to be picked up in the soil so okay that.
[11:45] picked up in the soil so okay that sounds pretty good here are the roots.
[11:47] sounds pretty good here are the roots the sugars are going to be transported.
[11:49] the sugars are going to be transported down into the soil and.
[11:52] down into the soil and your plants are going to pick up the.
[11:54] your plants are going to pick up the nitrogen phosphorus cell or magnesium.
[11:56] nitrogen phosphorus cell or magnesium calcium etc well.
[11:58] calcium etc well but where did that nitrogen phosphorus.
[12:00] but where did that nitrogen phosphorus sell for magnesium calcium etc where did.
[12:03] sell for magnesium calcium etc where did that come from it didn't just like.
[12:05] that come from it didn't just like magically show up around the root.
[12:06] magically show up around the root systems of the plants where did it come.
[12:09] systems of the plants where did it come from how did it get here and in high.
[12:11] from how did it get here and in high enough concentration that your plant can
[12:14] enough concentration that your plant can take up what it needs
[12:16] take up what it needs tie those nutrients onto the sugars and
[12:19] tie those nutrients onto the sugars and now we start calling those amino acids
[12:21] now we start calling those amino acids or proteins or lipopolysaccharides or
[12:24] or proteins or lipopolysaccharides or any one of the other gazillion nutrients
[12:27] any one of the other gazillion nutrients of organic compounds in your plant
[12:29] of organic compounds in your plant so where did those nutrients come from
[12:33] so where did those nutrients come from so you have to understand that this
[12:35] so you have to understand that this plant is going to put out exudates
[12:38] plant is going to put out exudates which are basically sugars and
[12:41] which are basically sugars and the kind of exudate it is
[12:45] the kind of exudate it is is meant to wake up
[12:47] meant to wake up specifically wake up specific species of
[12:52] specifically wake up specific species of bacteria it's going to be food released
[12:54] bacteria it's going to be food released out into that root system right around
[12:56] out into that root system right around the roots
[12:57] the roots so that it will grow those bacteria and
[12:59] so that it will grow those bacteria and those bacteria will get the message that
[13:02] those bacteria will get the message that what your plant requires
[13:04] what your plant requires is some iron is some zinc
[13:07] is some iron is some zinc same thing for fungi the plant puts out
[13:09] same thing for fungi the plant puts out exudates which are specifically meant
[13:12] exudates which are specifically meant for the fungal hyphae and they get that message to make the enzymes to be able to pull the nutrients off of the sand sill clays rocks pebbles parent material and start accumulating those nutrients restoring them in the fungal hyphae or in the bacterial bodies so we're starting the process of converting those inorganic soluble not soluble forms of nutrients out in the rocks and pebbles and such into bacterial biomass into an organic form inside the bacteria inside the fungi and then they store those nutrients until the plant making certain that it's got lots and lots of bacteria around that root system and oh yeah protecting the roots of your plants from diseases and pests and other predators attacking those root systems and destroying the.
[14:14] those root systems and destroying the root system.
[14:15] root system so very important in protecting your.
[14:18] so very important in protecting your plant if we don't have the right biology.
[14:20] plant if we don't have the right biology in the soil we're not going to be able.
[14:23] in the soil we're not going to be able to protect the plant.
[14:25] to protect the plant so the protectors the castle wall the.
[14:27] so the protectors the castle wall the knights and shining white armor.
[14:29] knights and shining white armor protecting your root system.
[14:31] protecting your root system will prevent the disease-causing.
[14:33] will prevent the disease-causing organisms from being able to germinate.
[14:35] organisms from being able to germinate no food.
[14:36] no food no space.
[14:37] no space not enough.
[14:38] not enough anything for those.
[14:41] anything for those bad guys to grow if you will.
[14:43] bad guys to grow if you will so bud bacterium fungi well i haven't.
[14:45] so bud bacterium fungi well i haven't really kind of gotten around to.
[14:47] really kind of gotten around to explaining to you.
[14:48] explaining to you how it is that we get soluble inorganic.
[14:52] how it is that we get soluble inorganic nutrients around that root system in the.
[14:54] nutrients around that root system in the form that your plant needs what how does.
[14:56] form that your plant needs what how does that happen we've got nutrients tied up.
[14:58] that happen we've got nutrients tied up in the bacterium fungi we're protecting.
[15:00] in the bacterium fungi we're protecting the roots against diseases but what's.
[15:02] the roots against diseases but what's the next step well you have to have the.
[15:04] the next step well you have to have the third trophic level.
[15:06] third trophic level groups of organisms the predators.
[15:09] groups of organisms the predators of the fungi and the predators of the.
[15:11] of the fungi and the predators of the bacteria so bacteria just follow the.
[15:13] bacteria so bacteria just follow the lines.
[15:14] lines to the protozoa
[15:16] to the protozoa the two good guy protozoa the aerobic
[15:18] the two good guy protozoa the aerobic ones and remember everything down here
[15:20] ones and remember everything down here needs to be aerobic or it's going to be
[15:22] needs to be aerobic or it's going to be killing your root system it's going to
[15:24] killing your root system it's going to be harming its ability to take up the
[15:27] be harming its ability to take up the nutrients so we want the aerobic
[15:29] nutrients so we want the aerobic organisms present and functioning in
[15:32] organisms present and functioning in that soil so
[15:34] that soil so the amoeba and the flagellates
[15:37] the amoeba and the flagellates but there are bad guys in the protozoa
[15:40] but there are bad guys in the protozoa bad guys that we can use if we're
[15:43] bad guys that we can use if we're looking at our soil using a microscope
[15:46] looking at our soil using a microscope we can
[15:47] we can have to see those ciliates and if we're
[15:50] have to see those ciliates and if we're starting to get a lot of ciliates in our
[15:52] starting to get a lot of ciliates in our soil we can know
[15:54] soil we can know that things are not good that
[15:57] that things are not good that this soil isn't really soil
[16:01] this soil isn't really soil how much many of the bad guys do you
[16:03] how much many of the bad guys do you have to have until you start calling it
[16:05] have to have until you start calling it what it is
[16:06] what it is dirt so we need to have the good guys we
[16:10] dirt so we need to have the good guys we don't need the bad guys how do you
[16:11] don't need the bad guys how do you select against the bad guys it's all
[16:14] select against the bad guys it's all about the conditions in that soil you
[16:16] about the conditions in that soil you have to have the right conditions to have to have the right conditions to grow the good guys.
[16:20] grow the good guys what are the conditions that grow the what are the conditions that grow the good guys.
[16:23] good guys it's aerobic conditions if you go anaerobic you're going to be growing the bad guys.
[16:25] it's aerobic conditions if you go anaerobic you're going to be growing the bad guys.
[16:27] anaerobic you're going to be growing the bad guys and that's why we call them bad guys.
[16:29] bad guys and that's why we call them bad guys is because they let you know something very bad is starting to happen in your soil and you need to fix it now.
[16:33] something very bad is starting to happen in your soil and you need to fix it now.
[16:34] is starting to happen in your soil and you need to fix it now.
[16:36] and you need to fix it now.
[16:38] you need to fix it now well then also bacteria are eaten by bacterial feeding nematodes same thing.
[16:40] well then also bacteria are eaten by bacterial feeding nematodes same thing.
[16:42] bacterial feeding nematodes same thing the good guys like it aerobic the bad guys they kind of want it reduced oxygen conditions.
[16:45] the good guys like it aerobic the bad guys they kind of want it reduced oxygen conditions.
[16:48] guys they kind of want it reduced oxygen conditions.
[16:49] conditions fungi are eaten by protozoa the fungal feeding nematodes and.
[16:50] fungi are eaten by protozoa the fungal feeding nematodes and.
[16:54] are eaten by protozoa the fungal feeding nematodes and.
[16:56] nematodes and the i think i said fungal feeding protozoa.
[16:57] the i think i said fungal feeding protozoa.
[17:00] i think i said fungal feeding protozoa so i'm going to back up so then the fungi are eaten by the fungal feeding nematodes.
[17:02] so i'm going to back up so then the fungi are eaten by the fungal feeding nematodes.
[17:05] fungi are eaten by the fungal feeding nematodes.
[17:07] nematodes as well as the fungal feeding microarthropods.
[17:08] as well as the fungal feeding microarthropods.
[17:10] microarthropods so when any of these predators eat any of their prey group.
[17:11] so when any of these predators eat any of their prey group.
[17:12] when any of these predators eat any of their prey group.
[17:15] any of these predators eat any of their prey group.
[17:18] eat any of their prey group the nutrient concentration in bacteria.
[17:21] The nutrient concentration in bacteria is way higher than any other organism on this planet.
[17:24] Is way higher than any other organism on this planet, nothing can beat bacteria for the storage capacity of all the nutrients that your plants going to need.
[17:30] For the storage capacity of all the nutrients that your plants going to need or that you're going to need.
[17:34] Or that you're going to need, so when these guys eat the bacteria.
[17:35] So when these guys eat the bacteria.
[17:36] When these guys eat the bacteria, there's way too much nitrogen, way too much phosphorus, sulfur, magnesium, calcium, etc.
[17:39] There's way too much nitrogen, way too much phosphorus, sulfur, magnesium, calcium, etc.
[17:43] Much phosphorus, sulfur, magnesium, calcium, etc.
[17:44] Etc, and so all of that excess has to be dumped out into the soil in a soluble inorganic form.
[17:46] And so all of that excess has to be dumped out into the soil in a soluble inorganic form that your plant can very easily take up.
[17:50] Dumped out into the soil in a soluble inorganic form that your plant can very easily take up.
[17:52] Inorganic form that your plant can very easily take up when you think about the what the form of nitrogen for example coming out of the bacteria or the fungi.
[17:56] That your plant can very easily take up when you think about the what the form of nitrogen for example coming out of the bacteria or the fungi.
[17:57] When you think about the what the form of nitrogen for example coming out of the bacteria or the fungi because the same thing is happening there.
[17:59] The what the form of nitrogen for example coming out of the bacteria or the fungi because the same thing is happening there.
[18:01] Example coming out of the bacteria or the fungi because the same thing is happening there.
[18:03] The fungi because the same thing is happening there, the fungal feeding nematodes, the fungal feeding microarthropods when they eat fungi.
[18:05] Happening there, the fungal feeding nematodes, the fungal feeding microarthropods when they eat fungi.
[18:06] Nematodes, the fungal feeding microarthropods when they eat fungi, way too high a concentration for them to stay alive.
[18:09] Microarthropods when they eat fungi, way too high a concentration for them to stay alive.
[18:12] Too high a concentration for them to stay alive.
[18:12] Stay alive, and so they are going to poop out those excess nutrients and of course.
[18:18] Alive, and so they are going to poop out those excess nutrients and of course.
[18:20] those excess nutrients and of course where is that going to be happening
[18:23] where is that going to be happening right in the rain zone
[18:24] right in the rain zone because here's where the highest
[18:25] because here's where the highest concentration of bacterium fungi are
[18:29] concentration of bacterium fungi are so of course the predators are going to
[18:31] so of course the predators are going to come into the system eat the bacterium
[18:33] come into the system eat the bacterium fungi and release those nutrients in
[18:35] fungi and release those nutrients in plant available forms and so your plant
[18:38] plant available forms and so your plant just says
[18:39] just says takes it grabs it pulls it into its body
[18:41] takes it grabs it pulls it into its body ties it up on the sugars and off they go
[18:44] ties it up on the sugars and off they go to do their job of translocating to into
[18:47] to do their job of translocating to into the different parts of the plant all the
[18:49] the different parts of the plant all the nutrients that that plant requires
[18:52] nutrients that that plant requires so when we're thinking about nitrogen
[18:54] so when we're thinking about nitrogen for example
[18:55] for example the form it's released that is released
[18:58] the form it's released that is released from the predators eating the prey
[19:01] from the predators eating the prey groups
[19:03] groups the form is nh4 ammonium
[19:07] the form is nh4 ammonium when we're in a bacterial dominated soil
[19:10] when we're in a bacterial dominated soil the ph of the glues that these bacteria
[19:13] the ph of the glues that these bacteria make are going to be alkaline so in
[19:16] make are going to be alkaline so in typically in grasslands that are very
[19:19] typically in grasslands that are very productive so in the soil
[19:22] productive so in the soil where we have a lot of bacteria
[19:25] where we have a lot of bacteria we're going to have so much
[19:28] we're going to have so much alkaline or
[19:30] alkaline or high ph
[19:32] glue material being produced that it
[19:35] glue material being produced that it will cause that soil to be on the
[19:38] will cause that soil to be on the alkaline side and alkaline conditions
[19:41] alkaline side and alkaline conditions are what nitrifying bacteria need to
[19:44] are what nitrifying bacteria need to take the nh4 that is present in high
[19:47] take the nh4 that is present in high concentrations
[19:48] concentrations and convert that into no3 nitrate
[19:53] and convert that into no3 nitrate so early in succession we'll talk a lot
[19:56] so early in succession we'll talk a lot more about succession not tomorrow but
[19:58] more about succession not tomorrow but the next day so we want to have
[20:02] the next day so we want to have the right amount of nitrate if what
[20:05] the right amount of nitrate if what you're trying to grow are early
[20:06] you're trying to grow are early successional plants but of later
[20:08] successional plants but of later successional plants plants require the
[20:10] successional plants plants require the nh4
[20:12] nh4 so it is the biology in your soils that
[20:15] so it is the biology in your soils that control the chemistry
[20:17] control the chemistry not the other way around
[20:19] not the other way around it's the organisms well and remember
[20:21] it's the organisms well and remember who's feeding them
[20:23] who's feeding them those organisms are being fed by the
[20:25] those organisms are being fed by the plant
[20:26] plant and so what's the plant that's going
[20:28] and so what's the plant that's going that is in the system
[20:30] that is in the system it's going to be trying to maintain that
[20:32] it's going to be trying to maintain that ratio of fungal biomass to bacterial
[20:35] ratio of fungal biomass to bacterial biomass
[20:36] biomass so that plant
[20:38] so that plant will be
[20:40] will be highly productive produce a lot of
[20:42] highly productive produce a lot of offspring
[20:43] offspring so do we need then the higher level
[20:46] so do we need then the higher level organisms in this food web
[20:49] organisms in this food web well yeah we do
[20:50] well yeah we do because if we get too many of these
[20:52] because if we get too many of these third trophic level organisms they're
[20:55] third trophic level organisms they're going to overeat the bacteria and fungi
[20:57] going to overeat the bacteria and fungi and all of the nutrient cycling is shut
[21:00] and all of the nutrient cycling is shut down yeah your plant's going to be
[21:02] down yeah your plant's going to be hurting bad
[21:04] hurting bad so we've got to have these higher level
[21:06] so we've got to have these higher level predators in the system to keep this
[21:09] predators in the system to keep this trophic level
[21:11] trophic level at the right
[21:12] at the right level not too many not too few so right
[21:15] level not too many not too few so right at the right level
[21:17] at the right level so the bacterium fungi will constantly
[21:20] so the bacterium fungi will constantly be eaten and released any excess
[21:23] be eaten and released any excess nutrients that don't get taken up by
[21:24] nutrients that don't get taken up by your plant will be taken up by the
[21:26] your plant will be taken up by the bacterium fungi that didn't get eaten by
[21:29] bacterium fungi that didn't get eaten by their predators
[21:31] their predators do we need the higher level groups well
[21:33] do we need the higher level groups well yeah because we don't want this group we
[21:36] yeah because we don't want this group we don't want the fourth trophic level to
[21:38] don't want the fourth trophic level to get really high in numbers and overeat
[21:40] get really high in numbers and overeat all of our third trophic level which
[21:43] all of our third trophic level which means nutrient cycling would shut down
[21:45] means nutrient cycling would shut down and your plants in a world of hurt again
[21:48] and your plants in a world of hurt again so we have to have the balance all the
[21:49] so we have to have the balance all the way through the system
[21:51] way through the system mother nature is all about balance it's
[21:53] mother nature is all about balance it's very important to understand what's
[21:56] very important to understand what's going on in these systems
[21:59] going on in these systems so
[22:01] so when you look at the organisms in the
[22:03] when you look at the organisms in the soil food web with the bacteria we
[22:06] soil food web with the bacteria we separate the aerobic bacteria the
[22:08] separate the aerobic bacteria the facultative anaerobes
[22:11] facultative anaerobes and the true anaerobic
[22:14] and the true anaerobic species of bacteria if we have aerobic
[22:17] species of bacteria if we have aerobic conditions in the soil
[22:19] conditions in the soil if we're growing microorganisms we want
[22:22] if we're growing microorganisms we want to maintain aerobic conditions so this
[22:25] to maintain aerobic conditions so this is the set of good guys
[22:27] is the set of good guys the facultative anaerobes a huge number
[22:31] the facultative anaerobes a huge number probably the greatest number of our
[22:33] probably the greatest number of our pathogenic or disease-causing bacteria
[22:37] pathogenic or disease-causing bacteria occur
[22:38] occur in this group the facultative anaerobes
[22:40] in this group the facultative anaerobes they have to make enzymes that allow
[22:43] they have to make enzymes that allow them to function in aerobic conditions
[22:45] them to function in aerobic conditions as well as in anaerobic conditions
[22:49] as well as in anaerobic conditions so they're having to produce two sets of
[22:52] so they're having to produce two sets of enzymes and therefore they cannot
[22:54] enzymes and therefore they cannot compete
[22:56] compete against the truly aerobic organisms that
[22:58] against the truly aerobic organisms that only have to make one set of enzymes in
[23:01] only have to make one set of enzymes in order to
[23:03] order to function
[23:05] function the anaerobic bacteria of course they're
[23:08] the anaerobic bacteria of course they're they need really low levels less than
[23:11] they need really low levels less than four parts per million oxygen whereas
[23:14] four parts per million oxygen whereas aerobic need above six parts per million
[23:17] aerobic need above six parts per million oxygen so we separate these good guys
[23:20] oxygen so we separate these good guys from the bad based on
[23:23] from the bad based on their response to oxygen
[23:25] their response to oxygen actinobacteria
[23:27] actinobacteria are found very early in succession so we
[23:29] are found very early in succession so we want them there
[23:31] want them there when you're trying to grow the brassica
[23:33] when you're trying to grow the brassica the coal the kale crops the
[23:35] the coal the kale crops the non-mycorrhizal plants because many not
[23:38] non-mycorrhizal plants because many not all but many of the actinobacteria are
[23:42] all but many of the actinobacteria are suppressive
[23:43] suppressive they will not allow the mycorrhizal
[23:46] they will not allow the mycorrhizal fungal hyphae to get from the spore once
[23:49] fungal hyphae to get from the spore once it germinates to the root system of the
[23:51] it germinates to the root system of the plant the actinobacteria may suppress
[23:54] plant the actinobacteria may suppress the growth of the mycorrhizal fungi
[23:57] the growth of the mycorrhizal fungi after they have colonized and so
[24:00] after they have colonized and so your plant doesn't get the benefit
[24:02] your plant doesn't get the benefit so we want the actinobacteria around at
[24:04] so we want the actinobacteria around at certain times but certainly not if
[24:07] certain times but certainly not if you're trying to grow a mycorrhizal
[24:08] you're trying to grow a mycorrhizal plant
[24:10] plant well different actinobacteria for
[24:12] well different actinobacteria for different kinds of conditions and places
[24:14] different kinds of conditions and places and things like that so so those are all
[24:16] and things like that so so those are all factors that we have to contin consider
[24:20] factors that we have to contin consider the filamentous fungi
[24:22] the filamentous fungi are aerobic
[24:25] are aerobic mycorrhizal fungi are filamentous fungi
[24:29] mycorrhizal fungi are filamentous fungi and they require the aerobic conditions
[24:31] and they require the aerobic conditions obligately aerobic or their enzymes are
[24:34] obligately aerobic or their enzymes are not going to function and the organism's
[24:37] not going to function and the organism's going to die
[24:39] going to die the yeasts only a few of the yeasts are
[24:41] the yeasts only a few of the yeasts are aerobic all the rest of them require
[24:44] aerobic all the rest of them require reduced oxygen conditions oh my seats
[24:47] reduced oxygen conditions oh my seats have kind of been their their place in
[24:51] have kind of been their their place in the taxonomy
[24:53] the taxonomy of organisms is has kind of been
[24:55] of organisms is has kind of been changing over the last um 10 15 years
[25:00] changing over the last um 10 15 years it's not really clear where
[25:02] it's not really clear where oh my seats are really going to end up
[25:05] oh my seats are really going to end up are they going to be a whole new kingdom
[25:07] are they going to be a whole new kingdom they're not even going to be fungi
[25:08] they're not even going to be fungi anymore well but they look exactly like
[25:10] anymore well but they look exactly like fungi they behave much like fungi they
[25:13] fungi they behave much like fungi they have the same kinds of spores and well
[25:16] have the same kinds of spores and well so for me
[25:18] so for me they're fungi
[25:19] they're fungi and sometimes you know you've got to
[25:21] and sometimes you know you've got to differentiate between the splitters and
[25:23] differentiate between the splitters and the lumpers
[25:24] the lumpers splitters want to
[25:26] splitters want to give everything its own kingdom
[25:28] give everything its own kingdom based on
[25:30] based on morphology and function whereas i tend
[25:32] morphology and function whereas i tend to be a lumper where hey if they all
[25:34] to be a lumper where hey if they all look the same if they all look like a
[25:37] look the same if they all look like a duck they smell like a duck they quack
[25:39] duck they smell like a duck they quack like a duck they're a duck
[25:41] like a duck they're a duck so
[25:42] so that's my definition of oh my seats they
[25:45] that's my definition of oh my seats they tend to be very narrow diameter in soil
[25:49] tend to be very narrow diameter in soil now take those um hyphy of oh my seeds
[25:52] now take those um hyphy of oh my seeds and put them on a petri dish with no
[25:54] and put them on a petri dish with no competition and massive concentrations
[25:58] competition and massive concentrations of food and those oh my seeds become
[26:00] of food and those oh my seeds become couch potatoes
[26:02] couch potatoes big fat
[26:03] big fat blobby kind of hyphy
[26:06] blobby kind of hyphy they don't look at all like a
[26:08] they don't look at all like a haifa hyphen
[26:09] haifa hyphen fungal
[26:11] fungal organism once you put on put them into a
[26:13] organism once you put on put them into a plate count but in the soil
[26:16] plate count but in the soil where they don't have massive amounts of
[26:18] where they don't have massive amounts of food and they're in competition all the
[26:20] food and they're in competition all the time
[26:21] time yep they're not going to be able to win
[26:24] yep they're not going to be able to win under aerobic conditions and so guess
[26:26] under aerobic conditions and so guess where most of the disease-causing fungi
[26:28] where most of the disease-causing fungi are found
[26:29] are found in these two groups
[26:32] in these two groups a few in the ascomycetes for example in
[26:35] a few in the ascomycetes for example in the deuteromycetes yeah there's some but
[26:38] the deuteromycetes yeah there's some but the majority
[26:39] the majority so
[26:40] so we're i'm a i'm a lumper
[26:44] we're i'm a i'm a lumper put together things that have similar
[26:45] put together things that have similar function and similar
[26:48] function and similar appearance
[26:49] appearance so in the food web then now we're into
[26:51] so in the food web then now we're into those things that eat the bacteria and
[26:54] those things that eat the bacteria and fungi the flag is in the maybe
[26:56] fungi the flag is in the maybe the ciliates of the bad guys the
[26:58] the ciliates of the bad guys the nematodes the good guys the bacterial
[27:00] nematodes the good guys the bacterial feeders the fungal feeders the predatory
[27:02] feeders the fungal feeders the predatory nematodes predatory nematodes eat other
[27:05] nematodes predatory nematodes eat other nematodes
[27:07] nematodes root feeding nematodes of course the
[27:08] root feeding nematodes of course the bane
[27:09] bane of growers everywhere you don't want
[27:11] of growers everywhere you don't want root feeding nematodes in your soil
[27:14] root feeding nematodes in your soil so how do we identify them we teach
[27:17] so how do we identify them we teach people how to do these identifications
[27:20] people how to do these identifications we're not going to take you down to the
[27:21] we're not going to take you down to the species level we're not going to take
[27:23] species level we're not going to take you to the genus level
[27:25] you to the genus level there doesn't seem seem to be a lot of
[27:28] there doesn't seem seem to be a lot of reason to do that
[27:31] reason to do that so
[27:31] so maybe i'm just you know too wide-sighted
[27:34] maybe i'm just you know too wide-sighted to see what
[27:36] to see what the identifying things to genus and
[27:38] the identifying things to genus and species might have when we're trying to
[27:41] species might have when we're trying to look at general function in the soil is
[27:43] look at general function in the soil is your plant going to grow or not it's a
[27:45] your plant going to grow or not it's a pretty generous question
[27:47] pretty generous question so that's what we're looking for is that
[27:49] so that's what we're looking for is that kind of information
[27:51] kind of information what's the fungal the bacterial biomass
[27:53] what's the fungal the bacterial biomass ratio which will help us understand what
[27:55] ratio which will help us understand what kind of plant will grow what are the
[27:58] kind of plant will grow what are the constraints
[28:00] constraints of course microarthropods we're in the
[28:02] of course microarthropods we're in the process of adding these organisms into
[28:05] process of adding these organisms into our soil food web picture so when we go
[28:08] our soil food web picture so when we go back to this picture you'll notice that
[28:10] back to this picture you'll notice that we've got one microarthropod that's
[28:12] we've got one microarthropod that's representing a group of organisms that
[28:15] representing a group of organisms that are
[28:16] are they're individuals the individual
[28:18] they're individuals the individual species are in the hundreds of thousands
[28:22] species are in the hundreds of thousands maybe even you know a million or more
[28:24] maybe even you know a million or more how many species of bacteria are there
[28:27] how many species of bacteria are there we don't know because we haven't even
[28:29] we don't know because we haven't even begun to get around to
[28:31] begun to get around to identifying them all um every time we do
[28:34] identifying them all um every time we do uh dna analysis there's uh you know a
[28:37] uh dna analysis there's uh you know a whole bunch you know maybe 50 or 60
[28:40] whole bunch you know maybe 50 or 60 species of something
[28:42] species of something but we
[28:43] but we only have those new sequences for them
[28:45] only have those new sequences for them so we don't know where they belong we
[28:47] so we don't know where they belong we don't know
[28:48] don't know yeah so
[28:49] yeah so this is a frontier folks that you're
[28:52] this is a frontier folks that you're walking into and
[28:53] walking into and a lot of unanswered questions
[28:56] a lot of unanswered questions have yet to be answered
[28:58] have yet to be answered so we're looking at this from a very
[29:00] so we're looking at this from a very general point of view but who are the
[29:02] general point of view but who are the shredders who are the commenters the sap
[29:04] shredders who are the commenters the sap suckers this you know so
[29:07] suckers this you know so when you think about an earthworm
[29:09] when you think about an earthworm they are common neuters earthworms do
[29:12] they are common neuters earthworms do not
[29:13] not digest organic matter they are not
[29:15] digest organic matter they are not decomposers nowhere in their genetic
[29:18] decomposers nowhere in their genetic material are there and
[29:20] material are there and dna for coding
[29:23] dna for coding for those enzymes that do decomposition
[29:26] for those enzymes that do decomposition they chop up
[29:28] they chop up whatever they're chewing on
[29:30] whatever they're chewing on improving
[29:32] improving the
[29:33] the surface area the substrate available for
[29:36] surface area the substrate available for bacteria and fungi to grow on so you get
[29:38] bacteria and fungi to grow on so you get a massive burst of growth
[29:41] a massive burst of growth because the bacteria and fungi have more
[29:43] because the bacteria and fungi have more more food it's not the earthworm that's
[29:45] more food it's not the earthworm that's doing that work the earthworm did the
[29:48] doing that work the earthworm did the chomp chomp chomp broke things down into
[29:50] chomp chomp chomp broke things down into small bites which the bacterium fungi
[29:53] small bites which the bacterium fungi now can just have a heyday growing on
[29:55] now can just have a heyday growing on them so we have to understand well i'm
[29:57] them so we have to understand well i'm certain
[29:58] certain there are other things that
[30:00] there are other things that microarthropods do as a community
[30:03] microarthropods do as a community working together with the other
[30:06] working together with the other organisms that we have not even begun to
[30:09] organisms that we have not even begun to suspect
[30:11] suspect we've got a lot of work left to do
[30:13] we've got a lot of work left to do it's the interactions of these organisms
[30:16] it's the interactions of these organisms that form the higher level functions our
[30:20] that form the higher level functions our overarching principles
[30:22] overarching principles of what biology does in the soil are all
[30:26] of what biology does in the soil are all based on the interactions
[30:28] based on the interactions of these organisms
[30:30] of these organisms if you don't have a fungi
[30:32] if you don't have a fungi you're going to miss a whole bunch of
[30:35] you're going to miss a whole bunch of the overarching beneficial principles
[30:38] the overarching beneficial principles of what goes on in soil
[30:41] of what goes on in soil so
[30:42] so the benefits of organisms microorganisms
[30:46] the benefits of organisms microorganisms they are the ones doing all the work and
[30:48] they are the ones doing all the work and we've just talked about most of these
[30:50] we've just talked about most of these nutrient cycling we've talked about that
[30:52] nutrient cycling we've talked about that retaining nutrients yeah bacterium fungi
[30:55] retaining nutrients yeah bacterium fungi suppressing disease yep the whole food
[30:57] suppressing disease yep the whole food web working together we'll do that
[30:59] web working together we'll do that suppressing weeds
[31:01] suppressing weeds what we see and part of the reason i
[31:03] what we see and part of the reason i related a little bit of this information
[31:05] related a little bit of this information about nitrate and ammonium
[31:08] about nitrate and ammonium was
[31:08] was as you have really high levels of
[31:11] as you have really high levels of bacteria
[31:12] bacteria all turning all the nh4
[31:16] all turning all the nh4 into no3
[31:18] into no3 you are selecting four weeds
[31:21] you are selecting four weeds there's a recent set of paper scientific
[31:23] there's a recent set of paper scientific papers from
[31:25] papers from japan i believe it's the university of
[31:27] japan i believe it's the university of tokyo
[31:28] tokyo nakatani is the
[31:31] nakatani is the person who is leading the charge on
[31:33] person who is leading the charge on writing those papers
[31:35] writing those papers has showed that the more nitrate you
[31:38] has showed that the more nitrate you have in the soil
[31:40] have in the soil the more weeds you've got
[31:42] the more weeds you've got as you reduce the amount of nitrate and
[31:44] as you reduce the amount of nitrate and increase the amount of ammonium
[31:47] increase the amount of ammonium the weeds
[31:48] the weeds cannot grow
[31:50] cannot grow they will not be healthy and your crop
[31:53] they will not be healthy and your crop is going to win whatever your crop needs
[31:55] is going to win whatever your crop needs to be
[31:56] to be you need to exit from a strictly
[31:59] you need to exit from a strictly bacterial dominated soil and turn that
[32:02] bacterial dominated soil and turn that back into something with a lot of fungi
[32:05] back into something with a lot of fungi in it just think though every time we
[32:07] in it just think though every time we till we slice and dice and crush the
[32:09] till we slice and dice and crush the very organisms that you need
[32:12] very organisms that you need to move things back into nh4
[32:16] to move things back into nh4 every time you apply a pesticide and you
[32:18] every time you apply a pesticide and you kill
[32:19] kill most of the good guys in your soil what
[32:21] most of the good guys in your soil what are you selecting for
[32:23] are you selecting for weeds we're doing it to ourselves
[32:26] weeds we're doing it to ourselves because we don't understand
[32:29] because we don't understand what we're doing
[32:31] what we're doing okay so building soil structure
[32:34] okay so building soil structure we have structure so water and oxygen
[32:37] we have structure so water and oxygen and roots and your organisms will be
[32:39] and roots and your organisms will be held
[32:40] held in an aerobic condition and if you have
[32:44] in an aerobic condition and if you have that there will be no erosion
[32:47] that there will be no erosion you will not have runoff
[32:49] you will not have runoff no leaching
[32:51] no leaching everything is retained in that soil so
[32:54] everything is retained in that soil so we stop destroying water quality of
[32:57] we stop destroying water quality of everything that's downstream of us
[32:59] everything that's downstream of us we have to stop pouring all those
[33:01] we have to stop pouring all those nutrients out into the ocean that's not
[33:04] nutrients out into the ocean that's not where we need those nutrients we need
[33:06] where we need those nutrients we need those nutrients up here on the land
[33:08] those nutrients up here on the land stop letting them wash downstream we're
[33:11] stop letting them wash downstream we're just crazy
[33:12] just crazy to be doing this
[33:14] to be doing this when we sequester carbon
[33:16] when we sequester carbon putting all that elevated co2 back into
[33:19] putting all that elevated co2 back into the soil from whence it came
[33:22] the soil from whence it came and we can do that please go watch the
[33:24] and we can do that please go watch the animations on the soul food web school
[33:27] animations on the soul food web school website especially the one about
[33:29] website especially the one about sequestration of carbon because we go
[33:31] sequestration of carbon because we go through the math
[33:33] through the math that talks about all of this if we could
[33:35] that talks about all of this if we could all start composting correctly it has to
[33:39] all start composting correctly it has to remain aerobic through the whole
[33:42] remain aerobic through the whole composting process you've got to have
[33:44] composting process you've got to have all those nutrients
[33:46] all those nutrients nutrients and organisms present in that
[33:49] nutrients and organisms present in that compost
[33:51] compost so go through those animations and you
[33:53] so go through those animations and you can see the calculations
[33:55] can see the calculations that within six years
[33:57] that within six years if everyone composted
[33:59] if everyone composted all that elevated co2 in the atmosphere
[34:01] all that elevated co2 in the atmosphere would be back down into the soil
[34:04] would be back down into the soil and climate change would go away
[34:08] and climate change would go away well
[34:09] well do we have the will to do that
[34:11] do we have the will to do that who are we battling who are we fighting
[34:13] who are we battling who are we fighting yeah follow the money
[34:15] yeah follow the money and you'll realize why
[34:17] and you'll realize why what we've been working on hasn't been
[34:20] what we've been working on hasn't been paid attention to
[34:21] paid attention to so now that we're moving in that
[34:23] so now that we're moving in that direction where most people have heard
[34:25] direction where most people have heard about this people are starting to
[34:27] about this people are starting to understand
[34:28] understand we need to be the rock
[34:31] we need to be the rock that
[34:32] that explains to people
[34:34] explains to people why
[34:36] why soil life is important how is it that we
[34:39] soil life is important how is it that we can get all those that carbon sequester
[34:42] can get all those that carbon sequester back in the soil in such a short period
[34:44] back in the soil in such a short period of time
[34:45] of time maybe we should double the estimate
[34:46] maybe we should double the estimate maybe we should be saying well you know
[34:48] maybe we should be saying well you know given that we have to start up this
[34:50] given that we have to start up this whole industry and we've got to have
[34:52] whole industry and we've got to have composting operations all over and and
[34:55] composting operations all over and and the a lot of the regs that that
[34:58] the a lot of the regs that that are governing composting processes
[35:00] are governing composting processes should be thrown out the window
[35:03] should be thrown out the window the correct ones should be implemented
[35:06] the correct ones should be implemented so
[35:07] so lots of work there
[35:08] lots of work there and decomposing toxins
[35:10] and decomposing toxins all those pesticides all those toxic
[35:12] all those pesticides all those toxic materials that we've been putting out
[35:13] materials that we've been putting out into the soil for so long we have to
[35:16] into the soil for so long we have to come decompose them well guess what
[35:18] come decompose them well guess what organisms have been doing that
[35:21] organisms have been doing that for the last 3.5 billion years
[35:23] for the last 3.5 billion years yeah fungi
[35:26] yeah fungi i have not found
[35:28] i have not found a toxic chemical that we cannot
[35:31] a toxic chemical that we cannot decompose
[35:32] decompose there is something somewhere out there
[35:35] there is something somewhere out there that will deal with whatever toxic
[35:37] that will deal with whatever toxic material you want to deal with
[35:40] material you want to deal with so let's get that decomposition going so
[35:43] so let's get that decomposition going so we don't have those problems in our
[35:45] we don't have those problems in our fields
[35:47] fields we're not having plans translocate those
[35:50] we're not having plans translocate those toxins into the food that our animals or
[35:53] toxins into the food that our animals or that we as human beings are
[35:56] that we as human beings are consuming so when we think about what we
[35:59] consuming so when we think about what we do with the school
[36:01] do with the school we do all the things that i've just been
[36:04] we do all the things that i've just been talking about we identify the microbes
[36:06] talking about we identify the microbes please come and learn how to identify
[36:09] please come and learn how to identify whether you got the good guys or we
[36:10] whether you got the good guys or we whether you have the bad guys
[36:12] whether you have the bad guys we have to measure biomass or numbers
[36:16] we have to measure biomass or numbers of the organisms we need to know about
[36:18] of the organisms we need to know about diversity do you have somebody working
[36:21] diversity do you have somebody working every second of every day
[36:24] every second of every day regardless if it's cold or if it's hot
[36:26] regardless if it's cold or if it's hot or somewhere in between whether it's wet
[36:28] or somewhere in between whether it's wet or it's dry or someplace in between or
[36:30] or it's dry or someplace in between or if you've got this kind of toxin in the
[36:32] if you've got this kind of toxin in the soil or you've got this kind of food
[36:35] soil or you've got this kind of food we need to have massive
[36:37] we need to have massive diversity in our soils where do you find
[36:39] diversity in our soils where do you find that where do you locate it and that's
[36:42] that where do you locate it and that's why you need to come and take the
[36:43] why you need to come and take the foundation courses
[36:45] foundation courses we
[36:46] we want to select for the desired organisms
[36:49] want to select for the desired organisms and against
[36:50] and against the problem organisms and i've already
[36:52] the problem organisms and i've already given you a big hint you have to keep
[36:54] given you a big hint you have to keep things aerobic
[36:56] things aerobic we teach people methods to enhance the
[37:00] we teach people methods to enhance the desirable organisms microorgan organisms
[37:03] desirable organisms microorgan organisms in the soil and on your foliage oh yeah
[37:06] in the soil and on your foliage oh yeah there's the above ground part of the
[37:07] there's the above ground part of the plant
[37:08] plant and all of the organisms on the above
[37:10] and all of the organisms on the above ground part of the plant originally come
[37:13] ground part of the plant originally come from the soil
[37:16] from the soil if you've got good biology in your soil
[37:17] if you've got good biology in your soil you will have good biology
[37:19] you will have good biology on the above ground part of your plant
[37:21] on the above ground part of your plant and you don't have the diseases you
[37:23] and you don't have the diseases you don't have the pests you don't have the
[37:25] don't have the pests you don't have the all of those problems
[37:27] all of those problems we want to help people so we help people
[37:30] we want to help people so we help people learn how to interpret
[37:32] learn how to interpret the interaction so with one microbe is
[37:35] the interaction so with one microbe is high and the other one is low what does
[37:37] high and the other one is low what does that mean
[37:38] that mean if this is not quite right but that is
[37:41] if this is not quite right but that is what does that mean
[37:43] what does that mean and so we teach you how to make those
[37:45] and so we teach you how to make those interpretations
[37:47] interpretations we want to enhance the beneficial
[37:48] we want to enhance the beneficial organisms on the surfaces of food
[37:52] organisms on the surfaces of food for our animals or for us when you take
[37:54] for our animals or for us when you take a bite out of a carrot
[37:57] a bite out of a carrot you should want
[37:58] you should want some of the soil you should want some of
[38:01] some of the soil you should want some of the organic matter on that carrot
[38:04] the organic matter on that carrot because that's going to be carrying the
[38:05] because that's going to be carrying the organisms that you require in your
[38:09] organisms that you require in your digestive system
[38:11] digestive system how do we make certain that you are
[38:13] how do we make certain that you are consuming on a daily basis those
[38:16] consuming on a daily basis those organisms that will replenish
[38:20] organisms that will replenish whatever sets of organisms got killed in
[38:22] whatever sets of organisms got killed in your digestive system because
[38:25] your digestive system because you ate something with glyphosate on it
[38:29] you ate something with glyphosate on it so we've got to get away from the
[38:31] so we've got to get away from the vitamins you've got to get away from
[38:33] vitamins you've got to get away from taking a pill popping a pill
[38:35] taking a pill popping a pill you don't retain most of the vitamins or
[38:38] you don't retain most of the vitamins or most of the minerals that are that you
[38:39] most of the minerals that are that you get
[38:40] get if you're popping vitamin pills
[38:43] if you're popping vitamin pills you're wasting your money
[38:45] you're wasting your money but you can see it yet another big
[38:48] but you can see it yet another big part of the
[38:50] part of the pharmaceutical world
[38:53] pharmaceutical world with a lot of money to try to convince
[38:55] with a lot of money to try to convince people that vitamins and mineral pills
[38:58] people that vitamins and mineral pills are required and that they're worthwhile
[39:01] are required and that they're worthwhile when in fact
[39:03] when in fact they aren't
[39:04] they aren't you have to have the organisms in your
[39:06] you have to have the organisms in your digestive system in order to be able to
[39:08] digestive system in order to be able to deal with what you put into it
[39:13] deal with what you put into it so how do you get those organisms you
[39:15] so how do you get those organisms you eat them
[39:16] eat them on the food that you're consuming
[39:20] on the food that you're consuming so microscopes yeah we teach you how to
[39:23] so microscopes yeah we teach you how to use those microscopes we're going to
[39:25] use those microscopes we're going to show you all kinds of
[39:27] show you all kinds of different ways of assessing the biology
[39:30] different ways of assessing the biology this happens to be the surface of some
[39:32] this happens to be the surface of some compost and you can't even see the
[39:35] compost and you can't even see the surface
[39:36] surface of the organic material in here because
[39:38] of the organic material in here because it is so covered with all these
[39:40] it is so covered with all these organisms we've got lots of bacteria in
[39:42] organisms we've got lots of bacteria in here we've got all these strands of
[39:44] here we've got all these strands of fungal hyphae and you can see how some
[39:46] fungal hyphae and you can see how some of them are really wide and some of them
[39:48] of them are really wide and some of them are very very narrow and these are
[39:50] are very very narrow and these are yeasts and oh just herds of different
[39:53] yeasts and oh just herds of different species different sizes and shapes and
[39:56] species different sizes and shapes and that's what we want to be seeing this is
[39:59] that's what we want to be seeing this is a good compost
[40:01] a good compost when we're making compost we you need to
[40:03] when we're making compost we you need to understand the specific recipe that's
[40:06] understand the specific recipe that's needed you have to make certain the
[40:08] needed you have to make certain the biology is growing how do you measure
[40:11] biology is growing how do you measure that you need your microscope
[40:13] that you need your microscope this is a soil from that's been improved
[40:16] this is a soil from that's been improved by adding biocomplete compost
[40:20] by adding biocomplete compost and look at all the species of bacteria
[40:22] and look at all the species of bacteria look at all the airways and passageways
[40:24] look at all the airways and passageways for oxygen and water and the roots of
[40:26] for oxygen and water and the roots of your plants to get into these cracks and
[40:28] your plants to get into these cracks and crevices good nutrient cycling take a
[40:31] crevices good nutrient cycling take a look at the anaerobic version
[40:34] look at the anaerobic version this was in the plot right next door
[40:36] this was in the plot right next door horribly compacted no air well maybe one
[40:39] horribly compacted no air well maybe one or two but that's it airways to get
[40:42] or two but that's it airways to get oxygen and water and organisms in your
[40:44] oxygen and water and organisms in your roots
[40:45] roots yeah you are not growing good plants
[40:47] yeah you are not growing good plants here they're going to be sick unhappy
[40:49] here they're going to be sick unhappy unhealthy and they're going to be
[40:50] unhealthy and they're going to be diseased and you as a grower
[40:53] diseased and you as a grower not going to manage
[40:55] not going to manage so
[40:56] so we make liquid versions of
[41:00] we make liquid versions of these organisms
[41:02] these organisms so typical
[41:03] so typical tea brewers extractors
[41:07] tea brewers extractors simple we don't want anything inside we
[41:10] simple we don't want anything inside we want an air pump blowing into here we
[41:12] want an air pump blowing into here we want to put the compost
[41:14] want to put the compost in the bag and immerse it in the water
[41:18] in the bag and immerse it in the water and in 30 minutes you'll have your
[41:20] and in 30 minutes you'll have your extract or in 20 24 to 48 hours you'll
[41:25] extract or in 20 24 to 48 hours you'll have the tea where you've actually
[41:27] have the tea where you've actually brewed more organisms
[41:30] brewed more organisms and then again a representation of the
[41:32] and then again a representation of the human digestive system
[41:35] human digestive system if you've got
[41:37] if you've got poor sets of microorganisms in the soil
[41:40] poor sets of microorganisms in the soil that means you're not going to have good
[41:41] that means you're not going to have good plant growth that's not going to be
[41:43] plant growth that's not going to be healthy you're not going to get the
[41:44] healthy you're not going to get the nutrition that you require
[41:47] nutrition that you require in conventional agriculture we continue
[41:49] in conventional agriculture we continue to
[41:50] to kill destroy
[41:52] kill destroy those actual
[41:53] those actual sets of organisms that we need so they
[41:55] sets of organisms that we need so they aren't presented present and that's what
[41:58] aren't presented present and that's what promotes
[42:00] promotes poor growth of the plant get those
[42:02] poor growth of the plant get those organisms back into your
[42:05] organisms back into your soil so you can eat the organisms that
[42:08] soil so you can eat the organisms that you require and get them back into your
[42:10] you require and get them back into your digestive system and your food
[42:13] digestive system and your food will appreciate it as well as will you
[42:17] will appreciate it as well as will you as will your digestive system because
[42:19] as will your digestive system because you'll be consuming the organisms
[42:22] you'll be consuming the organisms the good organisms on the surface of
[42:25] the good organisms on the surface of whatever you eat
[42:28] whatever you eat so hopefully that's a
[42:31] so hopefully that's a exciting beginning
[42:33] exciting beginning to the soil summit and i hope that all
[42:37] to the soil summit and i hope that all of you enjoy today's speakers