Soil is the support system of agriculture. It is the housing place for air, minerals, water, organic matter, and organisms. Soil houses vital nutrients, water and oxygen to plants. It supports the traffic of machinery and organisms using this land. Healthy soil has a perfect balance of water, air, minerals and organics; working in harmony to promote life on this planet. When this balance is altered, the cycle of life is altered.
If farming is focused on keeping this harmony, the reward is healthier crops, larger yields, lower chemical fertilizer pesticide usage, and less environmental concerns. Basically, feed the soil and allow the soil to feed the plant.
The key to maintaining this harmony is understanding the components of soil:
Clay - the smallest particle size, all having a negative charge. Clay soils are usually more fertile than sandy soils. Some minerals comprised in clay form are necessary to promote plant and microbial growth.
Gravel, sand and silt - much larger particle sizes than clay, with no electrical charge; essential for providing proper drainage of air and water. These particles act as roadways for micro-organisms to travel throughout the soil and find food, vitamins and minerals. The minerals made up of these components are much larger in size. They require acids and water erosion to “chelate” portions of essential minerals bound in this compound; enabling soil organisms to exchange energy.
Organic Matter - comprised of the remains of dead organisms, living soil organisms, and humus. Dead organisms have essential vitamins, enzymes and organic minerals. Living organisms feed on and release plant available nutrients and humus from these dead organisms. Humus acts like a sponge; holding moisture and nutrients, as well as housing beneficial microbes. The living organisms act as carriers; delivering nutrients throughout the root area of the plant.
Water and Air - One of the most essential elements in soil. These elements make up 25-55% of soil structure; acting like a vascular system. For optimal root respiration to occur, water, oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide are required to exchange energy between plant and soil.
Nature has the ability to balance soil, but this process can sometimes take centuries. In order to keep up with population demands, while maintaining properly functioning soil, an efficient and economical system is necessary. OpenAll® accelerates Nature’s biological cycle; which can keep up with our demand.
“Healthy and well balanced soil will have a population of:
- 4 Billion bacteria,
- 1 Million fungi,
- 22 Million actinomycetes
and 300,000 algae per gram.”
