Extensive Benificial Microbe list?

[JDUtah]

Extensive Beneficial Microbe list?

Hey guys I was just wondering if anyone has put together a list of beneficial microbes and what each ones supposed roll is? I am about to search each of whats in Bills 123 CT and document what each does, but I am sure there are more 'good' microbes than that, and hope that someone has already done the work. I searched but didn't really find anything. Thanks.

[DeepGreenLawn]

from what I understand Bills is just the tip of the iceberg.

[treegal1]

there are 4000 plus micro herd, how many life times are you going to devote to this???? i will see what i can dig up.

[DeepGreenLawn]

LOL, that seems to be about the number I had in mind.

[JDUtah]

Haha, well I have done 8 out of 4,000????? Woot, I'm on a role!

I am finding though that forcing me to read the actual study articles is getting me more familiar with the foriegn terminology. That might be the best benifit from this ambition. I won't say no to any lists you may have though. ;)

[treegal1]

YES I ..... asap, you will share yes???

[JDUtah]

well it's crude but so far...

Bacillus Subtilis
a natural fungicidal activity, and is employed as a biological control agent

Bacillus Licheniformis
Can breakdown complex protiens (Breakdown other plant matter and release it as food?)

Bacillus polymyxo
Can fix nitrogen (N2) in the air and convert it into usable compounds (Ammonia, nitrate, etc.)

Bacillus azotoformons
Can anarobically breakdown nitrogen enzymes and release them for plants. (denitrifying)

Glomus aggregatum
An arbuscular mycorrhiza- a fungus whose spores ingrain in the root cells of a plant and help it absorb nutriants and water

Glomus clarum
vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal- spores ingrain in root cells and help them absorb nutrients/water

Glamus deserticola
Helps protect the plant from salt. Also grows and collects N and P

Glomus intraradices
Helps plant absorb Phosphorus

Glomus monosporus
Helps plant to grow and absorb Phosphoprus

Glomus mosseae
In P-fertilized plots, inoculation with AEGlomus mosseae increased the harvest index based on dry weight (+20%) and N content of seeds (+17%), the A value (+31%) and %N derived from fixation (+75%).

Trichoderma harzianum
Fungus used as a fungicide via foliar application

Trichoderma viride
Fungus used as a fungicide

pisolithus tinctorius
Forms a beneficial mycorrhizae

'Sorry for the typos'

[treegal1]

3000+ to go , good work, just need some more details

[JDUtah]

Haha, hense the word 'extensive'?

I would love to look up more but that's all the list I have so far, if anyone wants to post more I will do some reading.

[ICT Bill]

We have our product DNA sequenced to prove what we say is in there is in there for State regulator people. Microcheck that does it for us says that they have 250,000+ bacteria in their database. But fungi cannot be sequenced it has to be observered by a mycologist that has too classify it.

I'm glad, I think, that I am not a mycologist

thanks for the breakdown, here are the basics you need good chewers or decomposers to breakdown nutrients and provide them in the form plants like to eat, you need some great mycorrhizae to create a great root system, you need the good guys that fight off pathogens to keep the area free from disease and you need some great symbionts for the mycorrhizae (they work better) and then we add some sleepers that we can trigger enzyme production this way or that to protect the soil from opportunists.

For instance Bacillus Subtillus is a great enzyme producer, when it is triggered by chitin, it produces an enzyme, chitonase, that basically melts anything that get within the rhizosphere with chitin in its body. lets see what has chitin in its body, its in my fingernails but grubs and root feeding nematodes have it too. Bye Bye grubs

You could actually have a great stand of turf if you just kept the disease part out

[JDUtah]

Bill, so does your NPP contain Chitin?

[JDUtah]

Haha, wait.... I looked up Chitin on dictionary.com

A tough, protective, semitransparent substance, primarily a nitrogen-containing polysaccharide, forming the principal component of arthropod exoskeletons and the cell walls of certain fungi.

Seeing that the NPP is a shellfish extract and a polysaccharide i stand knowing the answer to my own question.

[JDUtah]

Man nature rocks! Introduce the right microbes, expose them to the right substance and they brew your disease and pest control right there in the soil. I love it.

[treegal1]

where does the chitin come from( geographically)

[DeepGreenLawn]

the ocean :D

sorry

[JDUtah]

Haha! :clapping:

[ICT Bill]

where does the chitin come from( geographically)

You know I got asked that same question today and I still don't have the answer. That ray's job I just run the place, I'll find out for you though

TG am I buying dinner on Thursday night? why don't you and phil let me treat you guys out

[treegal1]

no its my treat, we got fish with an attitude!!! and the chef owes me!!!! and wine list thats on par with.... you will see.

[Kiril]

there are 4000 plus micro herd, how many life times are you going to devote to this???? i will see what i can dig up.

Only 4000?

[treegal1]

no way 4000 just starts the counting, then you need a multiplier:laugh:

that 4000 PLUS, was just to get him started, his grand kids could work on the next 8000:dizzy:

[JDUtah]

Haha.... oh dear.

[JDUtah]

PS, and most of you might know this but in some of the studies it took up to 9 months for the mycorrhizae to form. (In soybean roots) That's thinking long term for your customers.

[Tim Wilson]

I recently posted the following monologue on my website. Perhaps it may have some bearing here. We must be cognizant that certain microbes work in concert with certain other microbes and certain plant species and avoid the temptation to think that by adding more combinations we will surely get better results. The PNSBs (purple non sulfur bacteria) are an interesting group of beneficial bacteria as well as PSBs and other phototrophic bacteria.

"Organic Growing from a Microbial Perspective

To come to a rudimentary understanding of how organic or natural growing really works, one must cast off previous miscomprehensions from the chemical model, that when we fertilize or add compost or other organic matter, we are feeding plants. This is not the case. With true organics one is feeding the microorganisms in the soil which convert organic nutrients into a form which can be assimilated by the roots of plants. According to studies, there are only a very few plant species capable of absorbing only a very few organic nutrients. Most plants are only capable of absorbing inorganic nutrients which are made that way by microbes which live at the root to soil interface, the rhizosphere. So the idea which you have, that you are feeding your plants when they appear to need nitrogen and you feed an organic fertilizer deemed high in nitrogen is bogus. You are feeding the microbes which feed the plants.

Chemical fertilizers, mostly derived from petroleum are inorganic and can be absorbed by the roots of plants, however they are pollutants, which kill beneficial soil microbes, build up unused residues which run into the water table and, in my opinion, create harmful tissue changes in the plants which humans consume as food and medicine. In addition, I believe, the use of chemical fertilizers promote the incidence of plant pathogens like powdery mildew, erwinia, fusarium, pythium, etc. The grower can end up in a vicious spiraling downward fall as they use one chemical after another to control the effects brought on by the others.

The plant is no passive player in the natural growing game of survival but is the master conductor of this delicately balanced orchestra. The plant receives energy from above the soil in the form of light. This photosynthesis results in the plant’s internal production of carbon. It utilizes this carbon to create and reinforce tissue as it grows, so it is a very valuable commodity. As we all know the plant also requires a form of nitrogen (N) and other macro and micro-nutrients which it receives through the root system. As already stated this N must be in a form which the plant can directly uptake and use, usually a form of ammonia (N). Research has shown that when a plant needs to uptake N from the soil it sends out some of its precious carbon through it’s root system as a feed for bacteria and *archaea which live in the rhizosphere. [* Archaea are prokaryotes indiscernible from bacteria except through specialized testing; usually DNA] There are more complexities involved, such as, that certain plant types attract certain bacteria/archaea types but that is beyond the scope of this portrayal. When the bacterial/archaea population has increased in response to the carbons excreted by the roots, protozoa and bacterial feeding nematodes are attracted to the region, ‘hatch out’ from cysts and eggs respectively and in the case of protozoa multiply rapidly. Protozoa consist of flagellates, amoebae and ciliates. Some protozoa can multiply (divide) every 2 to 4 hours so their numbers can increase in short order. The protozoa and nematodes consume the bacteria/archaea and release as waste the ammonia (N) which the roots can then absorb. The multiplication rate of the bacteria/archaea increases in response to this predation and so on. This has been called the microbial loop. Protozoa are particularly good providers as their ‘digestive system’ only utilizes about 30% of the nutrients consumed meaning that roughly 70% is released as the waste which the roots crave. This factor, combined with their short generational time makes them real feeding machines. Undoubtedly there are micronutrients also processed and absorbed in this cycle. There are still many mysteries which research has yet to unfold or are not yet known to this author.
This is not the end. The concert continues. The bacteria/archaea also consume the ammonia (N) which is now bioavailable to them, so are in competition with the plant for these nutrients. Because of this, if there are no predators or insufficient numbers to consume the bacteria/archaea they could potentially lock up the N. When the plant is growing it is in a vegetative state and requires a large load of available nitrogen (N) so it is advantageous for it to continue this release of carbon and maintain a balance of bacteria/archaea and protozoa, while uptaking just the right amounts of nutrients. Don’t get me wrong. There are other players in this orchestra, either playing subdued roles or waiting their turn to play. There are higher order animals like mites, other microarthropods and worms. There are various forms of fungi, most of which are degraders but some of which are mycorrhizal. These all have roles in breaking down organic matter into a form which can then be mineralized by the plant’s bacteria/archaea team or delivered directly to the roots.
When the plant receives its signal from the upper world, above the soil, that it is time to switch gears and produce flowers and or fruit, its nutrient requirement changes. Although the mechanics are not well known to this author, studies indicate that the plant then increases the uptake of the ammonia (N) (bioavailable nitrogen) and reduces or stops excreting the carbon which feeds the bacteria/archaea. This effectively starves the bacteria/archaea which will react by dying or becoming dormant. This of course results in a similar reaction by the protozoa and bacterial feeding nematode population. The mycorrhizal fungi previously mentioned is then triggered into increased growth and production. Studies have indicated that the transference of bioavailable phosphorus and potassium to the roots occur mainly as a function of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal hyphae in symbiotic relationship with the roots of the plant. The fungal hyphae (microscopic strands) grow right into the root cells and exchange nutrients. In exchange for carbon, once again released by the plant, the fungal hyphae delivers the required bioavailable nutrients to the root system. The fungal structure derives these nutrients from organic matter and food sources in the soil, some naturally processed by the other players as previously mentioned. It is my hypothesis that the form of carbon released to stimulate the mycorrhizal activity is of a varied molecular structure from that released to promote the bacteria/archaea population previously discussed, however I have no direct data to substantiate this. There are often different types of bacteria which accompany mycorrhizal fungi, adhering to the fungal hyphae in a symbiotic relationship. It is thought that these bacterial species function to exchange nutrients with the fungi as well as to protect the fungal hyphae from consumption by other microbes and even contribute to the protection of the plant from pathogenic fungi. There are other types of mycorrhizal fungi (ectomycorrhizal) which encapsulate roots rather than entering them but these are mostly associated with trees in the temperate and boreal regions.
So you see it is quite a complex arrangement which the plant conducts or controls and there are many facets which yet remain a mystery.

How to Apply This to Horticultural Activities

You say, okay so that’s how it works but how do I apply that to my growing situation? The answer is pretty simple really. You need to assure that there is organic matter, mostly in the form of composted plant and animal (manure) substances in or on your soil for a microbial inoculant and food source. Additionally you can add microbial foodstocks such as diluted fish hydrolysate and molasses and kelp meal, alfalfa meal and rock phosphate and other clay and rock powders if available. It is very good to include rock phosphate in your composting process if you are making your own. Rock phosphate in the compost adds a long lasting source of phosphorus for microbes to draw from. At time of planting it is highly beneficial to place some mycorrhizal fungi spores in the hole or on the root system. You can research the best strain of fungi for the plants you are growing and purchase the spores from a number of suppliers. [ http://www.mycorrhizae.com http://www.fungi.com ] You may also consider seeding companion edible mushrooms which provide a dual benefit of cycling nutrients to your plants and providing your breakfast. You may research this at the fungi.com site. The rest is governed by the plant, as previously discussed, assuming that all the necessary components are available from the organic matter and additional foodstocks provided. In my opinion manipulation of the pH is not a wise practice in natural growing unless dramatic acidity or alkalinity are measured. Soil with a healthy microbial population tends to self regulate the pH. One should disturb the soil as little as possible so as to leave fungal growth and strands intact. I realize this is challenging when growing in containers. I have run trials where wooden bins were constructed (2’x3’x1.5’ deep) where soil was successfully left intact after annual plants were harvested and replanted over several seasons. In between plantings composting worms were introduced to help consume the residual dead roots and plant matter. The worms were later trapped out. Compost tea was applied regularly to boost the soil microbial population. Over time there developed something of a miniature ecosystem complete with mushrooms, rove beetles and other beneficial bugs. If you are growing in smaller containers it is a good idea to provide a high volume of quality compost and or vermicompost at the onset.
Some people grow herbs and edible produce in containers organically. Because this has been practiced extensively utilizing chemical fertilizers, there is a period where growers have flushed the soil with copious amounts of water, the thought being that they are removing the harsh or harmful chemicals from the plant tissues. Too late! Those chemicals are already integrated into what you plan to put on your dinner plate or in your medicinal tea or pipe. At least that’s my opinion. If you have grown your produce naturally allowing the plant to be in control, this flushing routine is not only unnecessary but sort of stupid. Since plants are not able to uptake organic nutrients, what exactly would you be flushing away? You might instead be water logging your soil and roots.

Using Compost Tea

The use of compost tea (CT) is one of the best ways to inoculate your soil with the beneficial microbes you wish to have for optimum health of your plants. It is also good if your supply of compost or vermicompost is limited, as it multiplies those microbes, we have been discussing, by the millions. Remember the protozoa I mentioned earlier? Well you can brew an aerated compost tea specifically to have a large population of protozoa, usually mostly flagellates. If you have a good quality compost or vermicompost, protozoa will already be present, often in a resting cyst. If you have an efficient aerated brewer you can pretty much count on having a high flagellate (protozoa) population combined with bacteria/archaea and fungal hyphae (not mycorrhizal) at 42 to 44 hours brew time (65 to 72 degrees F). If you have a microscope you can examine the CT periodically to be sure that the microbial population is optimum. The use of aerated compost tea also provides the opportunity to manipulate microbial populations for specific purposes by using various recipes and brew times. You may wish to have high bacterial or fungal numbers for pathogen/disease control or have soil or plants that require a higher population of a microbial type. I have a lot to learn yet of fungal species which can grow in compost tea so until I have learned to identify the species occurring I’m cautious about some of the tricks employed to stimulate fungal hyphae growth in compost. Better to count on good quality compost and vermicompost with natural occurring quantities and species of fungi and use known mycorrhizal and mushroom spores in the soil.

As always, I am open to correction or refinement of what I have written.

Salutations,
Tim

Some References;

Protozoa and plant growth: 2003;
the microbial loop in soil revisited; Michael Bonkowski;
Rhizosphere Ecology Group, Institut für Zoologie, Technische Universität Darmstadt,
Darmstadt, Germany

Soil microbial loop and nutrient uptake by plants: 2006
a test using a coupled C:N model of plant–microbial interactions; Xavier Raynaud; Jean-Christophe Lata; Paul W. Leadley Universite´ Paris-Sud XI, France

The mycorrhiza helper bacteria revisited; 2007 P. Frey-Klett, J. Garbaye and M. Tarkka
Interactions Arbres/Micro-organismes, Champenoux, France;
UFZ-Department of Soil Ecology, Helmholz Centre for Environmental
Research, Halle, Germany

Modern Soil Microbiology; 2nd edition 2007 - Chapter 6 - Protozoa and Other Protista in Soil
Marianne Clarholm, Michael Bonkowski, and Bryan Griffiths"

[JDUtah]

So basically, while the actual microbes and thier interaction with plants are more complex, our use of them is simplified? Oy, and I wanted to be the bio verson of the chem expert. ;)

[DeepGreenLawn]

"In addition, I believe, the use of chemical fertilizers promote the incidence of plant pathogens like powdery mildew, erwinia, fusarium, pythium, etc. The grower can end up in a vicious spiraling downward fall as they use one chemical after another to control the effects brought on by the others."

I have picked up a few customers that had bad spots in their lawn, thin here, patchy there. After a few weeks I go back and check on the process. The customers are happy because the lawn is beginning to look good again.

You want to know the secret? I didn't touch it. The lawn took care of itself, used what was already in the soil, most were a decent green too, and filled itself in. Amazing isn't it. They may not have been that same deep green as everyone else. But it was sure looking healthy.