Successful composting depends on understanding the microbial life within your compost pile. This is where soil testing kits become invaluable tools for gardeners and farmers alike. Modern testing technology allows you to analyze your compost’s biological activity with scientific precision, ensuring you create nutrient-rich amendments for your soil.
Understanding Compost Biology
The foundation of excellent compost lies in its microbial ecosystem. Billions of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms work together to break down organic matter into valuable nutrients. These microscopic workers determine whether your compost becomes a powerhouse of plant nutrition or simply decayed organic matter with limited benefits. Bacterial populations typically dominate the early stages of composting, breaking down simple compounds like sugars and proteins. As the process continues, fungal networks develop to tackle more complex materials such as cellulose and lignin. The balance between these microbial communities directly affects the quality and effectiveness of your finished compost.
The Science of Compost Testing
Traditional methods of evaluating compost quality relied heavily on visual inspection, smell tests, and temperature monitoring. While these indicators provide useful information, they cannot reveal the true biological potential of your compost. Modern soil testing kits offer scientific analysis that goes beyond surface observations. Microbial biomass testing measures the total amount of living microorganisms in your compost sample. This measurement indicates the biological activity level and helps predict how effectively the compost will benefit your soil. The fungal-to-bacterial ratio represents another critical measurement that influences how compost affects different types of plants. Vegetables and annual crops typically prefer bacterial-dominated compost, while trees, shrubs, and perennial plants benefit from fungal-dominated amendments. Understanding these ratios helps you tailor your compost for specific garden applications.
microBIOMETER® Technology Advantages
The microBIOMETER® advanced testing platform system brings quality analysis to home composters and small-scale farmers. These tools eliminate guesswork by providing quantitative data about microbial populations in compost samples. The testing process involves extracting microorganisms from compost samples and analyzing the color intensity of the solution using specialized reagents, measurement cards, and the microBIOMETER® app. Results appear within minutes, allowing you to make immediate adjustments to your composting process if needed. This standardized approach ensures reliable results that you can track over time to monitor improvements in your composting methods.
Conclusion
Regular testing throughout the composting process helps identify optimal harvest timing. Compost that appears finished may still contain high levels of bacterial activity, indicating continued decomposition. Investing in soil testing kits transforms composting from an art into a science-based practice. Understanding the microbial life in your compost empowers you to create consistently high-quality amendments that maximize plant health and soil fertility. Modern testing technology makes this level of analysis accessible to gardeners at every skill level, building confidence in composting success.
Prolific Earth Sciences is excited to announce the release of microBIOMETER® PRO. This extensive update has been three years in the making and features improved precision, increased consistency between phones, advanced nutrient metrics and sample geolocating. Please update your microBIOMETER® Reader app to 3.8.6 to access the PRO version.
What’s NEW!
• Test card. We redesigned the test card to reduce variance in results between phone models and better adjust for different lighting.
• Results. The results are now expressed as microbial biomass instead of microbial carbon.
• Moisture: We have changed the moisture assumption in our algorithm from 40% to 20% which is more in line with average soils. We also added a feature to allow users to adjust the moisture assumption to reflect soils with moisture contents closer to 10% or 30%. Moisture assumption for compost testing remains at 40%
• Geolocation: This new feature allows users to save the location where their sample was collected and perform the test at a later time while keeping the recorded sample location.
• Advanced Nutrient Metrics: As an understanding of how microbes contribute to nutrient availability increases, we have added calculated metrics to help users understand how their soil microbes are contributing to nitrogen and carbon stores in the soil. These are results extrapolated from microBIOMETER® results and the calculation and assumptions are detailed in the app informational pop-ups and our website FAQs.
• Soil and Compost: The PRO version will test both soil and compost, however, will no longer support direct testing of compost tea or extract.
With the exception of the test cards, all the supplies as well as the instructions will remain the same whether using the Classic or PRO version. The updated app will prompt you to choose a version so you can still use the classic test cards. We will also be selling Classic cards in refills for the foreseeable future. However, all new Starter Kit purchases will now be the PRO version only and contain the new test cards. For customers with ongoing trials, you may want to continue with the Classic test cards to track changes based on historical benchmarked tests.
In the updated app, we have made significant changes to units, underlying assumptions, and calculations. Therefore, we encourage users to continue with one version within a study or experiment since comparing the absolute values of the two is difficult. We have always encouraged using microBIOMETER® as a benchmark test and to focus on the changes over time. We will continue to supply the microBIOMETER® Classic test cards so that ongoing studies and trials can continue. However, we strongly recommend using the PRO version for all new testing and studies.
We would like to thank all of our customers that have given us feedback over the years. Your comments, both good and bad, have helped us improve the microBIOMETER®. Please keep sharing! And as always, we appreciate your continued support.
The Paddock Project, a working market garden providing fresh, seasonal produce to locals and visitors in Mullumbimby, is currently in the process of converting to fully certified organic status, marking an exciting step forward in their commitment to regenerative agriculture. The Paddock is committed to enhancing farming practices using chemical free, syntropic farming principles to guarantee quality produce from their paddock to your plate.
While recently undertaking their very first organic audit—thanks to a generous Grow the Growers grant from Santos Organics—they had the opportunity to test their soil using microBIOMETER® which was recommended to them by their assessor. The microBIOMETER® test provided instant insight into the health of their soil. After seven years of regenerative farming practice, using syntropic “chop and drop” methods, planting trees, and adding natural nutrients, they were thrilled to learn that their soil showed exceptionally high levels of fungal and microbial activity. It was real, measurable proof that their soil stewardship was working and their efforts to nurture and care for the soil were paying off.
So far, the Paddock Project has used microBIOMETER® on their syntropic food forests, however, they are already planning their next round of testing. They hope to implement regular quarterly testing moving forward to track the health of their soil seasonally and adjust inputs accordingly to continue improving soil biodiversity and plant health.
They’re also proud to report that the amount of carbon sequestered in their soil is off the charts further reflecting the positive impact of their practices. Every decision they make is driven by a vision for a healthier, more resilient future.
“What stood out to us immediately was how easy it was to use microBIOMETER®—no need to send samples to a lab or wait weeks for results. In just minutes, we had clear, quantifiable data right from the paddock. The speed and simplicity of the test made it ideal for our busy, hands-on farm environment. microBIOMETER® is an empowering tool for any grower or land steward who wants to make decisions based on real-time soil biology—not guesswork. It’s also incredibly satisfying to see proof that what you’re doing is making a difference. For The Paddock team, microBIOMETER® has become more than just a testing tool—it’s a celebration of how far our soil has come.”
Please visit The Paddock Project on Instagram learn more about the work they are doing.
Bucknell University is a private liberal arts college in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania with excellent research facilities and innovative teaching. Students get the opportunity to work closely with professors in their chosen field.
Students in the Biology 203, Integrative Concepts in Biology, laboratory have a unit all about soil. The students visit the Bucknell Farm to learn about the properties of healthy soil. They then pick a location on campus to study. Students study the health of the soil in different conditions, such as soil with native flowers growing compared to soil under a tree. They measure microbial biomass, soil respiration rate, and various other soil properties to determine the overall health of the soil.
“The microBIOMETER® test allows students to quickly and easily measure microbial biomass and the relative amounts of bacteria and fungi in the soil. It is easy to use for non-experts with very quick results! We have measured huge differences in the microbial biomass at locations across Bucknell’s campus and have been surprised to have very high levels of biomass in the grassy areas, too!” – Rebekah Stevenson, Director of Core Course Laboratories – Biology Department
American BioChar Company is a Michigan-based company run by longtime green industry couple, Mark & Laurie Mann. For more than two decades, they have been researching and developing programs and products to improve soils, root conditions, and plant growth in urban, rural, and agricultural landscapes.
Over the last 3 years, they have conducted trials on blueberry farms in SW Michigan, using the microBIOMETER® and other soil-metric tests. The trials compared soils of blueberry bushes treated with their VITAL Blend soil amendment to those with untreated soil. Data was collected in the spring, summer and fall each year to demonstrate the natural ebb & flow of microbe communities in soils. Not only does the data show the steady increase of soil microbial biomass, but overall the trial sites have improved soil structure and more nutrient dense crops.
“The biggest impact we have in using the microBIOMETER® is demonstrating the successful transformation within the soil, following applications of our different biochar blended soil amendments. It provides confidence in our product and helps move the client conversation toward the biological benefits of our product. When a client is able to see and track the fungal to bacterial ratio for their soil overtime, it is very empowering.”
American BioChar is also undergoing several other trials throughout the mid-west with corn, cannabis, soybeans, and tree rhizospheres, using both their VITAL Blend and their new GRATEFUL Blend living soil. As both blends provide active and fixed carbon to soil, these trials were aimed to enhance and increase soil biology and restore nutrient density. Pre- and post- application photos can show how these products improved overall crop production.
Recently, Laurie Mann and microBIOMETER® president Laura Decker participated in Heart & Soil Magazine‘s Soil Summit discussing “How to Increase the Speed of Microbe Growth”. Click here to watch!
American BioChar Company is a Michigan-based company run by longtime green industry couple, Mark & Laurie Mann. For more than two decades, they have been researching and developing programs and products to improve soils, root conditions, and plant growth in urban, rural, and agricultural landscapes.
Overton Environmental Enterprises, Inc. is a Canadian company that develops innovative biotechnology solutions that reduce reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
Their EcoTea™ products and research are focused on helping farmers work with soil ecosystems instead of against them. In their years of research they have proven direct results from using broad spectrum biology but the impacts in the soil and changes in soil quality have been harder to showcase.
Three seasons ago they discovered the microBIOMETER® testing system. These tests have given them a way to benchmark pre application conditions, the post application changes and most importantly the improvements over time. This real-time way for farmers to see the unseeable has given them confidence in the value of biology for their soils and programs. They use microBIOMETER® to augment field data (i.e. help correlate scores with plant health data and yield). microBIOMETER® has allowed them to show how EcoTea™ can influence root bacterial to fungal ratios and determine (at least in part) the amount of resources the plant is allocating to the rhizosphere.
The microBIOMETER® has given us another way to showcase how re-introducing biology can help our soils and the hard-working communities that rely on them.”
EcoTea™ is a biological product with biodiversity like no other, built on the vision of soil biodiversity enhancing professional success. EcoTea™ combines a wide array of plant-supporting microorganisms fortified with added biostimulants to enhance soil quality and nutrient function. Diversity is the key, allowing our products to adapt and meet your individual site needs, based on plant response and requirements. Our proprietary process built with ecological engineering provides the functional microbial community associated with healthy crops and soil.
Soil and plant microbial communities have a mutualistic relationship where they provide what the other needs to thrive. There are many factors that can influence this relationship, such as soil structure, composition, and humidity, but soil pH has one of the most profound impacts on the growth and survival of plants and microbes.
When we measure pH, we’re actually measuring the local concentration of protons (hydrogen ions, known as H+). When there are too many H+ ions, the soil is acidic, resulting in a low pH. When the proton concentration is low (or a scarcity of H+ ions), the soil is alkaline (or basic) and has a high pH. Soil chemistry largely determines which microbial communities can get established in the soil.
Soil microbes are just as much affected by high pH as they are by low pH. When soil pH is in a neutral range (6.0-7.5, which is close to the pH of water), plants are more easily able to uptake the nutrients they need. For that reason, this is generally their optimal range. However, there are some plants such as blueberries or Rhododendron, that favor a more acidic soils. Not all microbes necessarily favor a neutral pH – fungi actually prefer soils with a lower pH. As acidic soils reduce the availability of certain nutrients, fungi are able to increase access to those limited nutrients for the plant to uptake. Still, challenges can arise for microbial communities when the soil pH deviates from its optimal range. While soil pH will naturally lower in time due to geochemical and metabolic processes, the soil pH can decrease rapidly with the input of certain fertilizers.
For example, when ammonium-based fertilizers are applied to the soil, bacteria use oxygen to convert the ammonium nitrogen (NH4+) to nitrate (NO3–), a more plant-usable form, and H+ ions, through a process called nitrification. Bacteria do this to obtain energy. If a plant needs some potassium, it will exchange one of its positive hydrogen (H+) ions for a potassium cation (K+) in the soil. This exchange helps maintain electrical balance through a natural process called cation exchange. However, this balance can be thrown off by over-application of fertilizers. As plants take up certain nutrients, it leaves a deficit of other nutrients, which can cause a decrease in pH levels.
If more fertilizer is continuously applied, more H+ ions are released, which can cause an imbalance in the soil and lead to soil acidification. The increased amount of H+ ions will directly affect the functionality and structure of the soil microbial communities. A low soil pH can disrupt plant cell membranes – altering enzyme production and limiting cell reproduction. Enzyme production and activity work best in more neutral pH ranges. As well, low soil pH can limit the exchange signals between root bacteria (rhizobia) and plants, which reduces root nodule formation, and alters the symbiosis that allows plants to fix nitrogen.
Overall, maintaining a balanced soil pH is crucial for ensuring nutrient availability and more importantly, microbial diversity in your soil. As deviations in pH can disrupt essential processes like nutrient uptake, enzyme activity, and the communication and functioning of symbiotic relationships between plants and soil microbes.
Can Grow Crop Solutions, a company focused on providing market-leading fluid solutions and service, has been incorporating microBIOMTER® into their business with positive results. Shawn Brenneman, Director of Commercial Growth & Strategy at Can Grow, shared a bit about their company and the testing they are performing.
Vibrant, diversified soil biology is essential in growing crops for maximum yield and quality, Can Grow works with farmers on getting the most out of their cropping systems. They do this through increasing nutrient use efficiency, reducing crop stress, and helping soil/biological systems function at higher levels. Utilizing microBIOMETER® allows their customers to have a greater understanding of how soil type and management practices impact soil biology and advise them on potential solutions to improve performance.
The microBIOMETER® helps Can Grow and their customers determine a baseline of organisms within an entire field or production area that may be high or low yielding. It allows the company to track the improvements their solutions make on the balance and diversity of micro-organisms in the soil. Microbial systems are often hard for growers to understand because they can’t be seen. microBIOMETER® creates a clear picture by quantifying which solutions work in supporting soil health and which ones do not.
In a bio-fertility trial, ReNew (bacteria/fungi team from Biodyne USA) was applied in furrow with water to corn, Can Grow then evaluated the microbial diversity in the root system of the microbial treated area vs. the non-treated area. The untreated soil had a F: B ratio of fungi 4% and bacteria 96%. This level was much lower than what they wanted for yield optimization. However, it was consistent with what they generally see in tilled, high crop protection use fields. The ReNew treated area had a F:B ratio of fungi 29% and bacteria 71% showing the biology was colonizing the root zone area and providing fertility benefits to the crop.
About Can Grow: The company is much more than a fluid fertilizer company. They have a long, successful history of innovating, adapting and manufacturing fluid solutions to maximize plant potential and soil performance. As a manufacturer, they have the technology and knowledge to innovate and adapt proven fluid solutions to meet changing needs in any market. They assist their clients in addressing factors beyond their control, such as changing environmental conditions, through foliar combinations for application throughout the season.
Find out more at: www.cangrow.com
