By Dr. Thomas T. Yamashita

Characteristics of Productive Virgin Soils

A consistent characteristic of productive, virgin soils is the presence of a superior microbial ecology. This is with respect to:

1. Overall populations per unit of soil
2. Diversity of species (e.g. fungi, bacteria, actinomycetes, free-living nematodes, arthropods, etc.)
3. Active metabolizing, reproducing populations
4. Ability to sustain an active, microbial, ecological continuum in time and space.

Bioremediation of Natural and Manmade Toxins

All plants are adapted to minimizing inter- and intra-species competition by the production and exudation of natural compounds. These compounds act as a growth deterrent to a different and/or similar species that enters their growing space. Such natural, plant deterrents are referred to as ‘allelopathic chemicals,’ and the activity as ‘allelopathy.’ In a microbially active soil, these allelopaths are degraded on a timely basis, thereby allowing uninterrupted emergence of the next crop. However, in microbially compromised soils, the timely and thorough degradation of allelopaths and man-made toxicants is interrupted. This latter phenomenon is often manifested in a number of ways, including:

1. Reduced emergence and stands
2. Heightened incidence and/or severity of disease
3. Reduced tolerance to environmental stress
4. Reduced crop yields and quality

Natural Suppressiveness Against Soil-Borne Pests and Pathogens

It is a well-recognized principle that all organisms develop characteristics, over time, in the direction of minimizing competition for their survival. Beneficial microbes host ancestral traits of multiple adaptability: that is, they are endowed with an ability to adapt to multiple environmental conditions and/or metabolizable food sources.

Pathogens and pests, on the contrary, are derived and represent a step away from their ancestral origins as they host an enzyme (or enzymes) which allows them to enter or utilize a living host, thereby minimizing competition. It is also a recognized biological principle that with specialization comes a subtle to distinct loss of fitness in the environment. As it is energy-expensive to hold on to all original, ancestral, genetic makeup as well as the newly developed gene or genes for enzyme(s) allowing it to enter a living host, the pathogen or pest sheds some of its ancestral genome, thereby reducing its ability to survive in a competitive environment. Thus, intelligent, selective activation of the ancestral, beneficial microbiota always intensifies competition and places undue stress on pathogen-pest survival.

Advantageous Byproducts of Beneficial Microbial Communities

If the activation substrate, rate of microbial activation and the ensuing microbial ecology is developed in the proper direction for a particular soil, the populations will manufacture a plethora of helpful by-products:

1. Antibiotics targeting less adapted species, including pathogens and pests
2. Various “Organic Acids” which act as chelating agents, facilitating the timely release of otherwise locked minerals
3. Various “Complex Polymers” (also referred to as “Gels”, “Gums”, “Thixotropic Gels”, etc.) that, among other benefits:
   1. Improve soil porosity and texture
   2. Reduce water and/or wind erosion
   3. Increase water-holding capacity
   4. Improve water infiltration rates
   5. Magnify the buffering of excessive salts
4. Various “Carbon-Energy Components” such as amino acids, proteins, nucleic acids, etc. that can serve as:
   1. Direct nutrition for plants, absorbed directly through the root system
   2. Direct nutrition for successive waves of beneficial microbe populations developing in the ecological continuum

The Ability to Convert Nonproductive Soils to Productivity Exceeding Virgin Quality

This transition must first start with a thorough characterization of the soil chemistry, soil biology, irrigation water chemistry, anticipated crop and variety, etc. All salient factors are then integrated in relation to the climatic region and various ancillary characteristics peculiar to the field to arrive at a field-specific remediation program devloped by SunBurst Plant Disease Clinic Inc. using Fusion 360 patented nutrient products, addressing multiple parameters. In all cases there is a marked improvement along many lines, including

1. Germination and stand
2. Overall growth and development
3. Yield and quality
4. Reduction in disease and pest pressures
5. Reduced time for maturity

In all cases thus far accepted, the field performance has returned to one reminiscent of virgin soil, and in most cases exceeds the productivity of virgin ground.

(Thumbnail source: Pixabay, licensed via Pixabay license.)