[compost_tea] The microbiology of soil and of nutrient cycling

From: Thomas Jaszewski <tom_at_livesoil.com>
Date: Thu, 23 Dec 2004 11:13:06 -0800

  

I found this great primer this AM. Very readable...

 

http://assets.cambridge.org/052162/1119/excerpt/0521621119_excerpt.pdf

 

"Microscopic examination of soil reveals vast numbers of bacteria are

present. Typically there are about 108 to 109 per gram dry weight of soil.
Only

a tiny fraction of these can be cultivated upon laboratory culture media.

Scientists have yet to provide appropriate culture conditions for the vast

majority of soil microbes. Many live in complex communities in which
individuals

cross-feed one another in a manner that cannot be replicated when the

microbes are placed in arti.cial culture. The microbial activity of soil is

severely underestimated using arti.cial culture. An estimate of the
microbial

activity of soil is further in.uenced by the fact that many soil bacteria
and

fungi are present as dormant spores. These may germinate when brought into

contact with a rich arti.cial growth medium."

 

 

Tom Jaszewski
 
tom_at_livesoil.com
702-595-7012

"People who say it cannot be done,
should not interrupt those who are doing it".
George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950)

 








Received on Thu Dec 23 2004 - 18:37:27 EST

This archive was generated by hypermail 2.3.0 : Tue Feb 07 2012 - 14:15:40 EST