Back To Your Roots Soil Solutions Our mission is to provide producers with access to environmentally friendly products that address soil problems and facilitate sustainable farming practices. We did not inherit this earth from our forefathers, it is on loan from our children. 101A Railway Ave Shellbrook, SK S0J 2E0 Phone: (306) 747-4744 Email: backtoyourroots@sasktel.net www.back-to-your-roots.com
It s all about growing nutrient dense food Create the environment Use minerals needed in nutrition Put the microbes to work
TOOLS. Healthy Soil Characteristics - Drains and warms quickly in spring - Soaks up heavy rain with little run off - Resists erosion - Won t crust after planting - Does not require increasing amounts of fertilizer to maintain good yields Penetrometer Shovel
The goal is to increase the depth of the aerobic zone. This creates an environment for microbes, aids in plant digestion and disease reduction.
Tools Photosynthesis The process by which plants produce sugar. Refractometer 6 CO 2 + 6 H 2 O C 6 H 12 O 6 + 6O 2 Carbon Dioxide + Water Produces Glucose + Oxygen
Tools Brix Level Result 8 Disease 10 Weeds, Drought and Frost 14 Insects Refractometer Correct the cause rather than react to the symptoms
Tools Top 5 minerals on a mineral tag Mineral Calcium Phosphorous Magnesium Sulfur Potassium Calcium - Improves soil structure by enabling flocculation of soil particles - Tour guide and mediator of all minerals and promotes enzyme functions. - Stimulates growth of soil microbes and increased sugar content in plant. - Increased root and leaf growth, cell wall building and cell division resulting in enhanced overall health of plant. Water Soluble Mineral Analysis Phosphorous The workhorse in the soil. - With calcium, photosynthesis is increased with increased sugar production. - Contributes to early root development and more energy release in cells, cell division and enlargement, and photosynthesis. Potassium Regulates plant processes and adjusts water balance in plant. Better stalk strength and lodging resistance with improved winter hardiness Increased protein and carbohydrate production Better sugar translocation and enhanced enzyme function Magnesium Regulates plant processes and adjusts water balance in the plant. - Better stalk strength, lodging resistance with improved winter hardiness, better sugar translocation and enhanced enzyme function. -Increased protein and carbohydrate production. Sulfur Excess amounts will tie up available calcium. - Needed for the synthesis of protein and oils, as well as metabolism of nitrogen.
Bacteria assist in organic matter decomposition Soil Fungi assist with enzymatic breakdown of cellulose, lignin, wood, hair Mycorrhizal Fungi offers symbiotic function with the roots of the plant. Protozoa feed on bacteria making nutrients readily available Nematodes eat and digest bacteria, fungi and protozoa making nutrients available to plants Micro arthropods eat organic matter, fungi and bacteria to make nutrients available to the plants Glomalin are a holding medium for the minerals and nutrients in the soil. - Responsible for components of nutrient recycling and retention - Help build soil structure and with disease suppression, as they help to decompose toxins in the soil - Decompose toxins and help suppress and compete with plant pathogens - Release, recycle, store and transport nutrients. - The Hyphae of the fungi tie the soil together and give it structure. - Hyphae of this fungi grab the nutrients that are unavailable to the plant and make them available via the enzymes in the fungi; this is done for water as well - Mycorrhizal fungi builds walls around the roots protecting infection sites and producing antibodies - Responsible for 40% of the net mineralization - When bacteria with a C:N of 5 get eaten by a protozoan with a C:N of 30, nitrogen will be released in a plant available form - Build soil structure by making tunnels in the soil and creating aerobic conditions - Stimulate production of bacteria and fungi - Micro arthropods build soil structure via tunneling, and are taxicabs for bacteria and fungal spores - Prevent calcium from migrating downwards and carbon from migrating upwards Tools CO 2 Respiration Healthy Soil has a ph of 6.4, is aerobic and retains moisture
Tools E=mc 2 Heat Electricity Mass A really big number! Soil ph Too much energy = Burns plant Too little energy = Stunts growth Balance is key! Electroconductivity Meter
Step 1 Fall Rebuild, balance and feed the soil - Calcium Dormant Mix - Soft Rock Phosphate - Microbes - Fish Step 2 Spring Continue to feed the soil and plant - Calcium Grow Mix - Essential Phosphate - Soft Rock Phosphate - Nitrogen (34-0-0 or other form) - Microbes - Fish Step 3 In Crop Manage energy and nutrients - Essential Phosphate or Seed and Fruit - Nitrogen (34-0-0 or other form) - Fish - Soft Rock Phosphate