7 minute read
Optimising Soil Biology
OPTIMISING SOIL BIOLOGY AND NUTRITION FOR CROP PRODUCTION
Written by Joel Williams
Advertisement
When we begin to unpack the complex world of soil, of course there are many factors that contribute to the optimum functioning of a ‘healthy soil’ – be that chemical, physical or biological. That said, it is clear that soil biology specifically has played an instrumental role in catalysing the recent interest in soil health and with good reason – soil biological interactions are key in driving so many critical soil functions – be that nutrient cycling for plant uptake1 , maintaining of soil aggregates and structure2, improving gas and water interactions2, protecting the plant from pests and disease3,4 and building organic matter5,6. Consequently, microbes are undoubtedly the unseen engine of soil fertility, and plant growth ultimately depends on a variety of functions performed by these diverse soil and root dwelling organisms. Let’s be clear however, there are many knowledge gaps and much to learn, we still know so little – particularly about the ‘micro’ part of soil biology – but this microbiome represents a major untapped resource with extraordinary potential to help improve our production systems. Using this vast diversity of microbial allies, production systems of the future will deploy a combination of targeted inoculants coupled with specific strategies to manage this biome toward supplying nutrients, deterring crop pests and building soil fertility over time in a much more biologically driven and sustainable fashion than we do presently.
Some simple management strategies that can be implemented on farm to improve soil biological function include:
Maintaining a living root
• Keeping the soil covered with living plants ensures roots and root exudates are constantly feeding and supporting soil biota. Continuous cropping, green manures or use of off-season cover crops are ideal.
Organic amendments
• Composts or manures inoculate soils with beneficial biology as well as providing a medium of carbon and nutrients that supports ongoing soil functionality.
Biofertilisers
• Composts and manures provide a more diverse inoculant but there may be a time and place for specific cultured inoculants for a more targeted response. The use of rhizobia with legumes or mycorrhizal fungi with tree crops would be good examples of current success stories, but beyond these, the options are as vast as the microbiome itself. Of course many inoculants perform well under controlled conditions which doesn’t always translate well into field conditions. This is an area where improvements are needed.
Plant species diversity
• The use of cocktail cover crops, multispecies pastures and intercropping have all been demonstrated to enhance soil biological function in one way or another.
Minimising soil disturbance
• The use of no till, min till or strip till all help to minimise the physical disruption to the soil habitat.
Minimise excessive inputs
• Excessive use of fertilisers or pesticides can compromise biological function. As important as soil biology is, it still has to function within the soil environment, equally a chemical and physical world. Consequently, we must still frame discussions on biology within this broader context, it is an interaction, after all. A soil chemistry test is a common tool that most farmers use to manage their chemical fertility so let’s consider a few important factors where chemistry and biology intersect. Soil chemistry is equally a complex topic and there is endless reading out there on this topic so rather than reinvent the wheel, I’ll just say a few points – perhaps a detailed discussion on soil chemistry is something that can be revisited in future.
It is common for standard soil analyses to only test for a handful of parameters – major nutrients and pH for example. However, a limitation or imbalance of any one of the essential nutrients can impact plant growth and development so it is prudent to ensure that both macro and micro minerals are all tested [at least somewhat routinely]. Don’t forget the lesser considered traces also – molybdenum, cobalt and nickel for example. These nutrients all have an important role in nitrogen metabolism and fixation. On that point, often overlooked is the fact that microbes in the soil need nutrients too – all the same macro and micro minerals. We focus so heavily on plant requirements but again using the example of Mo, Co and Ni – N fixing bacteria cannot fix atmospheric nitrogen without these important minerals and a limited supply to the bacteria can limit the overall potential of nitrogen fixation to the crop. Most soil analyses will typically measure the plant available fractions of tested elements; however, soils contain significant additional reserves of minerals which are not necessarily, plant available, but still present, nonetheless. This pool of nutrients is typically referred to as the total pool
and often exceeds the plant available fractions by tenfold or more. These total nutrients are insoluble, often locked up and consequently unavailable to the plant7. However, soil microorganisms have a myriad of strategies and modes of action to unlock and solubilise these total nutrients by excreting specialist enzymes and acids that strip the minerals off the soil surfaces, releasing them for subsequent plant uptake8,9 . Herein lies one of the key reasons why implementing strategies to improve soil biological function can help reduce dependency on fertiliser inputs – by liberating these total reserves. Of course, there is an important discussion to be had regarding potential extraction and depletion of these reserves, but this is a problem for perhaps around 100-300 years or more from now. I’m not suggesting let’s just forget about this, but the more immediate problem right now is nutrient enrichment of ecosystems, not depletion – it is my opinion this should be more of a focus for the immediate future. Farmers who are shifting their focus to soil biology are succeeding in cutting fertiliser inputs and still maintaining productivity or profitability. Of course, strategies like this should be undertaken with some care and within the context of the inherent soil type, environmental setting and as part of an integrated approach that focusses on many different strategies; this is typically the best path forward. I’d never promote cutting inputs without additionally implementing alternative strategies to substitute or hedge the process – slow and steady wins this race. There is a lot to be said on this front and outlining some of these strategies to reduce inputs as part of a systems approach will form the basis of a future article no doubt.
References
There is a significant amount of total nutrients present in soil as compared to the more plant available fractions that traditional soil tests typically analyse for. 1. Protists: Puppet Masters of the Rhizosphere
Microbiome. (2018). doi.org/10.1016/j. tplants.2018.10.011. 2. Soil as an extended composite phenotype of the microbial metagenome. (2020). doi.org/10.1038/ s41598-020-67631-0 3. Organic management promotes natural pest control through altered plant resistance to insects. (2020). doi.org/10.1038/s41477-020-0656-9 4. Managing and manipulating the rhizosphere microbiome for plant health: A systems approach. (2017). doi.org/10.1016/j.rhisph.2017.04.004 5. Quantitative assessment of microbial necromass contribution to soil organic matter. (2019). doi. org/10.1111/gcb.14781 6. The importance of anabolism in microbial control over soil carbon storage. (2017). doi.org/10.1038/ nmicrobiol.2017.105 7. Opportunities for mobilizing recalcitrant phosphorus from agricultural soils: a review. (2018). doi. org/10.1007/s11104-017-3362-2 8. Phosphate solubilizing microbes: Sustainable approach for managing phosphorus deficiency in agricultural soils. (2013). doi.org/10.1186/21931801-2-587 9. Phosphate-Solubilizing Microorganisms and Their
Emerging Role in Sustainable Agriculture. (2019). doi.
BASE UK
BASE-UK is a knowledge exchange organisation led by farmers for farmers and individuals passionate about the regenerative agricultural system increasing the sustainability and health of our soil, crops, livestock and therefore our industry.
Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic our member meetings have been held virtually and we intend to continue with this going forward as it provides an easily accessible platform for our members, especially when we invite overseas speakers. All our meetings are recorded and protected for members to view on our website at their leisure. Having said that we look forward to holding face to face meetings and farm walks very soon. BASE-UK will have a stand at Groundswell on 23rd and 24th June and at Cereals on 30th June and 1st July with member speakers in the Soil Hub Theatre opposite. We hope to see you there!
SAVE THE DATES – BASE-UK MEMBER MEETING PROGRAMME:
• 23rd and 24th June – Groundswell – find us near the Earthworm Arms. • 30th June and 1st July – Cereals – find us opposite the Soil Hub Theatre. • 7th July – Member Farm Walk by kind invitation of Tim Parton. • 8th July – Member Farm Walk by kind invitation of John and William Cooper. • 9th July – Janet Hughes, DEFRA. • 20th July – Member visit to Project Lamport. • 8th and 9th February 2022 – AGM Conference, Crowne Plaza, Nottingham.
