Understanding+Biological+Amendments…+

!and!Whether!You!Need!Them!

Bob!Yanda!

It ain't what you don't know, it�s what you know that ain't

so. attributed to Mark Twain

The image cannot be displayed. Your computer may not have enough memory to open the image, or the image may have been corrupted. Restart your computer, and then open the file again. If the red x still appears, you may have to delete the image and then insert it again.Soil Fertility

Production Potential

SOIL FERTILITY The maximum level of nutrients that are exchangeable in the soil for optimum crop performance.

Soil Health is the capacity of the soil to function

water infiltration nutrient cycling

�������������������������

This�isn�t�rocket�science…�

it�s�much�more�complex�than�that.�

Soil�Life�

Fungi 2,600

Actinomycetes, 1,300

Bacteria, 2,600

Arthropods830

Protozoa, 90

Earthworms445

Nematodes45

Algae, 90

Lbs�/�acre�

3�miles�of�fungi�500�beneficial�nematodes�100,000 protozoa�

A healthy soil has:

Plant�Root�Acids�

Microbial�Acids�

Humic�Acids�

Mineral�

Rhizosphere Interactions�

Root Tip Exudates

The Rhizosphere: �The Nectar of Roots�

•   Sugars (fructose, glucose, ribose, etc) •   Up to 27 amino acids •   Nucleotides, flavones, phenolics •   Lipids, mucilage, gums, resins •   Water soluble, 3-5X non-water soluble,

8-10X volatile •   Hundreds of compounds; Thousands of

combinations

Farmer�s Jobs Balance Soil Minerals

The Nutrients in Excess never drive the yield:

Limiting Nutrients

Ratios Balance

Plant Function Mineral Elements Involved Photosynthesis N, P, K, Mn, Mg, S, Fe, Cl

Enzyme Regulation N, P. K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Mo

Protein Synthesis N, P, S, Mn, Mo, Zn, Cu Carbohydrate Metabolism P, Ca, Cu, Mg, Fe, Mn, B, Mo

Nitrogen Metabolism N, P, K, Mn, Zn, Mo Hormone Synthesis Mn, Zn, Cu Osmotic Pressure K, Cl, Ca, Na

Translocation K, B, Cl Grain Yield All essential elements

Relationship of Nutrient Elements to Plant Function

1

1st year

2nd Year

3rd year

High Testing P&KSoilsMain Concerns

Low Testing P&KSoils:Main Concerns

1st Year

2nd Year

3rd Year

1st Year

2nd Year

3rd year

Medium Tesing P&KSoils:Main Concerns:

Field#

CROP FERTILIZERS

Crop

Crop

Crop

SOIL CORRECTIVES

Date:

Name: Soil Recommendations By:

Start with Ca & P

Use natural minerals

A complete balance of all nutrients

The Plan

Soil Corrections & Fertilizer

Soil Corrections address deficiencies or out of balance conditions

High Calcium Limestone

Gypsum

Dehydrated Chicken Manure

They have long term effects (slow release) Fertilizer feeds the current crop (faster release)

Balanced�Fertilizer�with�Trace�minerals

Micronutrients Involved�in�key�metabolic�events�

Control�most�living�processes�in�cells,�especially�enzymes�

Needed�for�life�

Micronutrients Essential�for�plants�and�microbes�

Found�in�only�trace�amounts�

Strongly�associated�with�Organic�Matter�

Mobilized�through�Biological�Activity�

MBA�uses�Homogenized�Sulfate�forms�

Zinc: -Improves phosphorus utilization -Enzyme functions -Regulates plant growth -Increases leaf size -Increases corn ear size -Promotes silking -Hastens maturity -Contributes to test weight

Manganese:

-Improves N utilization -Pollination -Oil production -Energy release in cells -Enzyme functions

Iron�

Organic�matter�helps�to�release�Fe�

Especially�humic�substances�(HS)�

Fe�becomes�bioavailable�through�biological�(microbial)�activity�

Microbes,�plant�root�exudates�and�humic�substances�chelate�Fe�

Copper: -Regulates plant immune system

-Controls mold & fungi

-Enzyme functions

-Increases stalk strength

- Mostly bound to organic matter (carbon), Al, Mn and Fe

Boron:

-Increases calcium uptake -Sugar translocation -Cell wall formation -Root & leaf growth -Promotes flowering & pollen -Energy release in cells

The Big Four •   When four minerals are maintained at luxury levels in the leaf, maximum yield and quality can be expected. •   Those four minerals are: Calcium, Phosphorus, Boron and Magnesium.

•   These four involve two synergistic pairs- calcium and boron magnify the effect of each other, and phosphorus and magnesium are also synergists.

The Big Four •   Phosphorus is the key element in the production of sugar. Low brix levels will often reflect a phosphate deficit. •   Magnesium is the core ion in the chemistry of a chloroplast and it is also a phosphate synergist. •   Boron is a Calcium synergist. •   It is rare to see luxury levels of these elements, partially because there is also a biological link to their availability and the �microbe bridge� is seriously damaged in many soils.

Farmer�s Jobs Balance Soil Minerals

Maximize Photosynthesis

PHOTOSYNTHESIS

Chlorophyll + light energy x CO2 = C6 H12O6 PHOTOSYNTHESIS

Chlorophyll + light energy x CO2 = C6 H12O6

Chlorophyll + light energy + CO2 + H2O = C6 H12O6 (Glucose +Oxygen)

Glucose =

PHOTOSYNTHESIS

Chlorophyll + light energy x CO2 = C6 H12O6

Starch Carbohydrates Cellulose

GLUCOSE + ENZYMES = Fatty Acids

+ Nitrogen = Amino Acids x Enzymes = Proteins

This plant has available a full spectrum of essential minerals,

sunshine, air water. Needs soil high in vitamins,

enzymes and carbohydrates with a healthy microbial population

Humus For optimum production, all

organisms need oxygen-water-food-comfort

This plant is lacking one or more essential components for protein synthesis, and is also very susceptible to insect or

disease attack. Other factors can be:

Pesticides Electromagnetic pollution

Poor quality water

PHOTOSYNTHESIS

Chlorophyll + light energy x CO2 = C6 H12O6

Starch Carbohydrates Cellulose

GLUCOSE + ENZYMES = Fatty Acids

+ Nitrogen = Amino Acids x Enzymes = Proteins

This plant has available a full spectrum of essential minerals,

sunshine, air water. Needs soil high in vitamins,

enzymes and carbohydrates with a healthy microbial population

Humus For optimum production, all

organisms need oxygen-water-food-comfort

This plant is lacking one or more essential components for protein synthesis, and is also very susceptible to insect or

disease attack. Other factors can be:

Pesticides Electromagnetic pollution

Poor quality water

Carbohydrates

Fatty Acids

Starch Cellulose

Nitrogen = Amino Acids = Proteins

Enzymes

Enzymes

Photosynthesis

The image cannot be displayed. Your computer may not have enough memory to open the image, or the image may have been corrupted. Restart your computer, and then open the file again. If the red x still appears, you may have to delete the image and then insert it again.

The�more�vigorous�the�root�structure�and�the�larger�the�number�and�diversity�of�aerobic�microorganisms�living�in�and�around�those�roots,�the�higher�the�production�of�CO2�for�photoysynthesis.��

THE BIOLOGICAL SUPPLEMENTATION OF CO2

Magnesium: -Chlorophyll production -Photosynthesis -Improves phosphorus uptake

As magnesium levels increase in the soil, its availability to the plant decreases.

Farmer�s Jobs Balance Soil Minerals

Maximize Photosynthesis Manage Air and Water

Soil Tilth

Soil Structure

Farmer�s Jobs Balance Soil Minerals

Maximize Photosynthesis Manage Air and Water Manage Crop Residue

Decomposition

Sulfur: -Improves N utilization -Makes soil N more available -Aerates soil, improves structure -More useable protein -Reduces Mg excess -Lowers soil pH

For every POUND of SULFUR available to soil microbes, 100 POUNDS of HUMUS is retained

Soil microbes decompose OM until the N:S ratio is 6:1 or 7:1

C-N ratio 10:1 or 11:1 in stable OM (humus)

Humus is about 60% Carbon

Soil Sulfur Humus

1 lb. Sulfur complexes with 6-7 lbs. Nitrogen

6-7 lbs. N complexes with 60-70 lbs. Carbon

60-70 lbs of Carbon complexes with 100-125 lbs. Humus

Crop residues contain: 0.05 to 0.15% Sulfur, or 1-3 lbs Sulfur/ton, only enough to save 5-15% of the residue as Humus

Here�s how it works:

Increase root mass by 2 grams/plant

30,000 corn plants/ac

60,000 divided by 454=

132 lbs Organic Matter /ac

Corn Stalk Residue New Residue

Old Residue

Calcium 0.25% 0.36%

Phosphorous 0.22% 0.06% Magnesium 0.10% 0.11% Potassium 0.95% 0.09%

Cornstalk Residue Analysis

Nitrogen 0.32 % Calcium 0.61% Phosphorus 0.06 % Magnesium 0.16 % Potassium 0.15 % Sulfur 0.06 % ADF 58.75 % NDF 73.57 %

Farmer�s Jobs Balance Soil Minerals

Maximize Photosynthesis Manage Air and Water Manage Crop Residue

Decomposition Feed and Improve Soil Biology

SOIL ECOLOGY

http://www.agron.iastate.edu/~loynachan/mov/8

•   Cane Molasses is base nutrient package for the fermentation industry – CH2O, N, S, Fe, B, Vitamins, and unidentified nutrient growth factors.

•   QLF Cane Molasses – Unique and Consistent Supply. •   Cane Molasses is a solid foundation to build soil specific nutrient

packages on. •   Soil biology (microorganisms) respond to these non-traditional

nutrient packages. •   More Effective and Efficient nutrient utilization, N-P-K. •   Cane Molasses Sugars (sucrose) can act as mineral chelating

agents. •   Cane Molasses is consumer and environment friendly.

Environment determines genetic expression

Factors of Fertilizer Performance

Balance Concentration Recovery

Seven Steps that Unlock Higher Yields

1: Set program goals to manage Chemical, Physical & Biological soil properties

2: Understand soil-fertilizer relationship

3: Monitor: It�s the little things

4: Deal with compaction

5: Manage crop residues- Green manures, understand Carbon:Nitrogen ratio and humus

6: Define Yield enhancing steps

7: Test new products, implement new strategies

Top 5 Mistakes in Fertilizer Application

1. Wrong product

2.Wrong amount

3. Wrong place

4. Wrong time

5. Not following a consistent program

Progress has very little to do with speed and a lot

more to do with direction.

Leave your soils better this year than they were last year.

The Farmer�s Job: Grow Quality Food in an Environmentally Sustainable Way