newsletterbanner
 
***
plantgroup

microBIOMETER® assists grower in selecting best fertilization regimens

Austin Arrington of Plant Group NYC performed a research study on hemp’s capacity to sequester carbon. Austin utilized microBIOMETER® in this research. We originally had the pleasure of meeting Austin through Indigo Ag's Terraton Challenge, Plant Group is a fellow semi-finalist and alumni.

Hemp has the promise of being a twofer: a financially successful crop as well as a carbon crop that increases soil carbon for carbon credits and increased fertility. Austin used microBIOMETER® to evaluate two organic fertilizer regimens for a hemp crop; an early fertilization during the vegetative phase and a month later during the flowering phase.

The data showed that early fertilization resulted in a 33% average increase in plant growth and twice as many seed clusters as compared with the late fertilization regimen. Early fertilization resulted in a 131% increase in microbial biomass, late with a 153% increase and the promise of an increase to follow on crop health. Austin concluded that it would be useful to use both in the future.

Honeysuckle Hemp 2021: Austin's Research Notes, Data and Graphs

If you would like to purchase Plant Group's hemp hearts, please click here!

***
MOSES-Conference-logo

Moses Organic Farming Conference

Organic Farming Conference Feb. 24-26

We are excited to be exhibiting at the Moses Organic Farming Conference this year! If you are attending, please stop by Booth #23 to learn more about our soil test as well as see a live demonstration. We will also be selling test kits at special conference pricing!

***
urinus

Photo credit: Ursinus College

University study demonstrates legumes are more efficient at improving soil MBC than grasses

Under the direction of Assistant Professor Denise Finney, Kylie Cherneskie, biology student at Ursinus College, conducted an experiment on the impacts of nitrogen fertilizer addition on soil microbial communities. Kylie measured microbial responses using microBIOMETER®.

Click here to view the finished poster presentation. If you would like to incorporate microBIOMETER® into your classroom studies/academic research, we offer a selection of Academia Classroom Kits.

***
bright-bulb-close-up-1108572

Quotes, research and articles.

Q & A with microBIOMETER®

Have a question for our team, please contact us.

Is it correct to say that the results are microgram microbial carbon / g of field wet soil? It is not per g dry soil?

In developing the ​test, we found that 0.5 ml of compacted moist soil weighed on average 0.6 g when dried. So, it is ug C / g dried soil.

The test gives a %​ of bacteria and fungi. Is it correct to say that the method covers both decomposition fungi and fragments of mycorrhizal fungi in the soil?.

Yes, it reads both types, but combines them together. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi can be detected if soil is taken from the area immediately surrounding the plant roots. This is done by shaking the roots into a bag and performing the test on the soil collected.

Can you reveal anything on how the chemical+ color together manage to differ between bacteria and fungi? As I understand it the chemical will react with the microorganism to float? And/or give a kind of color to the solution?

The simple answer is they are slightly different colors. Both are extracted from the soil and we can detect the color difference.

***
 
   
 
Powered by
GoDaddy Email Marketing ®