1. ABC’s
2. ABC’s in a nutshell (download)
a. 2008 - Soil Fertility (Fertrell) (download)
b. Lawn Pesticides – An Unacceptable Risk (Natural Matters) (download)
c. Best Management Practices for the Homeowner (IFAS) (download)
A. Avoiding
Synthetic Chemicals – keep Adding the Good Stuff
B. Building
Soil – Builds (soil) communities
C. Care and
Cultivation – treatments are Cumulative and sustainable
A Avoiding Synthetic Chemicals
"Using chemical fertilizer is
like writing checks without making deposits."
Dave Maddox,
President of Fertrell
Plants use nutrients
that are available in simple inorganic (chemical) forms. At this level, all things are chemical
(and/or electrical). One of the
important distinctions between conventional (synthetic) fertilizer and
naturally occurring “organic” fertilizer is how those chemicals become available:
immediately, as in conventional chemical fertilizers, or slowly, through the
organic processes of microbial activity, decomposition and mineralization. The
plant will use only what it needs at the time.
The rest is subject to run-off or leaching. In the organic method, nutrients become
available, as by-products of microbial activity, and are released slowly and
utilized as needed by the plant or held in the soil for later use. This process is called mineralization and
functions as a natural time-release. There is a chain reaction of numerous
beneficial, known and unknown, metabolic functions which contribute to plant
health and growth which conventional fertilizers cannot duplicate.
The use of chemicals for fertilizer often damages the soil texture, and pest control chemicals can harm essential microbes and insects as well as damage the environment. Fortunately, there are alternatives to salt-based fertilizers, toxic pesticides & herbicides.
Soil that is denuded by years
of chemical use is unable to hold excess nutrients, so they may leach away or
result in run-off into streams and lakes. Conventional synthetic
fertilizers supply chemicals to the plant in doses exceeding the plant’s need
and the soil’s nutrient-holding capacity. Naturally occurring fertilizers
and soil rich in organic matter create holding sites for excess nutrients,
warehousing them until they are needed.
Problems
of Chemical use:
1. Accumulation of toxic salts
2. Leaching and run-off
3. Heavy metals and toxins
4. Tolerance to pesticides
5. Killing of natural predators
6. Thatch
Some of the problems
caused by chemical use include:
§
Synthetic
fertilizers leave behind an accumulation of salts in the soil that are toxic to
soil life.
§
Run-off and leaching
resulting from the use of synthetic chemicals is a serious issue in
§
Pesticides and
fungicides contain heavy metals and toxins that can persist in the environment
for years.
§
Just as humans
develop tolerances to antibiotics when they are overused, insect pests can
develop tolerances to commonly used pesticides, resulting in the use of
stronger chemicals and the evolution of SUPERBUG.
§
Broad-spectrum
pesticides kill natural predators such as ladybugs along with targeted pests.
§
Intensive use of
pesticides upsets the ecological balance of the environment. For example,
after eliminating one pest, another that was previously not a problem can
emerge.
§
Fertilizing with
synthetics can contribute to the development of thatch in your lawn.
Thatch is an intermingled layer of living and dead shoots, roots and stems that
accumulate on the soil surface below the green of the grass. Thatch is
not the result of leaving clippings. It results when growth exceeds
decay. Excessive thatch can restrict water and air movement in the soil
and enhance insect and disease problems.
Protect the Web
of Life
There are all sorts of strange life forms that live in the soil–nematodes, fungi, bacteria, micro-flora and micro-fauna. They are all part of the web of life. Each has an important role to play and is crucial to nature’s ability to heal and build resilience in the face of ever-changing environmental conditions. Overuse of chemical fertilizer and pesticides can be toxic to these life forms.
As little as 1/4 teaspoon of fertile soil is home to:
·
50 nematodes
·
62,000 algae
·
72,000 amoebae
·
111,000 fungi
·
2,920,000
actinomycetes
·
25,280,000
bacteria
Chemical pesticides should only be used as a last
resort after careful consideration of their effects and in conjunction with an Integrated Pest Management
(IPM) Program. Nature has a lot of tolerance, but if you
must use chemicals, use them properly. IPM makes use of a balanced approach,
relying on cultural practices i.e. modifying growing conditions, natural
enemies and resistant plants. Incorrect growing conditions are largely
responsible for plant stress resulting in pest infestations. Different plants
have different requirements of sun or shade and tolerances for wet or dry, sun
shade.
Aside from reducing chemical use and labor, a
“naturalistic” or wild area using native plants can make a yard more visually
interesting, serve to modify drainage, prevent erosion and become habitat for
beneficial insects.
Natural Matters is committed to this natural
balance, revitalizing the soil population and those relative associations known
as the soil food web, where beneficial microbes flourish, natural controls
dominate; it is the vigor of this system which determines the growth, health,
pest resistance and drought tolerance of plants.
B Building
Soil
"Like stock
splits or compounding interest, soil building is a growing investment."
Howard Lawrence
Soil is
a storehouse of energy, a life support system.
Soil includes solid mineral particles and the pore space between them
that retains gas and water. Soil
particles adhere together to form larger particles, or aggregates. Most roots occupy the upper twelve inches of
soil where the greatest amount of oxygen is available. Soil is composed of sand, clay, silt, and
organic matter.
Soil texture is the most fundamental property of soil. The size of soil particles determines the internal surface area, which is where many bio-chemical reactions take place. The smaller the particle and finer the texture, the more surface area there is, and the more potential for beneficial chemical interactions. Soil texture also determines porosity, drainage and the flow of water and oxygen and other gases needed for plant growth. Soil building is providing the raw materials, nutrient food/ energy which is the foundation of all life systems, the infrastructure of life in the soil and involves incorporating organic matter and minerals into the soil. Microbial activity is vital to soil health. Aeration, moisture, soil temperature, pH and proper nutrients stimulate microbe populations. Microbes perform many important tasks, including cycling of nutrients, improvement of texture, tilth and structure which improve drought tolerance, the utilization of oxygen, cat-ion exchange and the production of hormones that promote plant health and growth.
Soil building with
naturally occurring fertilizers and soil rich in organic matter build soil structure,
tilth, and texture, create holding sites for excess nutrients, and warehouse
them until they are needed. Soil that is denuded by the destruction of its
humus layer and top-soil degrades as badly as if it had been exposed to years
of chemical abuse and is unable to hold excess nutrients, which may leach away
or result in run-off into streams and lakes.
Healthy soil attracts
earthworms that perform numerous tasks that aid in the digestion and
decomposition of organic material, leaving by-products of nutrient-rich, loamy
soil.
Proper soil building
results in healthy fertile soil. Plants
growing in fertile soil are fertilized by the natural reactions in the soil
itself. It’s a sustainable system. The concept of soil fertility includes not
only the quantity of nutrients a soil contains, but how well nutrients are
protected from leaching, how available they are, and how easily roots can
function.
Four Steps to
Building Healthy Soil:
1. Detoxify - Toss out the synthetic fertilizers.
2. Create a
conducive soil environment - First
test your soil to determine texture.
Then condition the soil. Soils
heavy in clay should be amended with sand, compost, mulch and/or greensand in
order to loosen them to allow for better drainage and porosity. Soils heavy in sand should be amended with
clay, compost, mulch and/or greensand in order to tighten and bond soil
aggregates and to increase nutrient- and water holding capacity.
3. Rejuvenate
soil life - Increase and
stimulate growth of fresh bacteria by adding bio-stimulants such as manure,
grass clippings and compost. I use fish emulsions, anaerobic and aerobic teas,
tinctures, and leachates.
4. Supply proper levels of nutrients - This can be accomplished by using a balanced
organic fertilizer or a combination of fish emulsion, bone meal, manure,
seaweed, rock dusts, humic acid, kelp meal, blood meal, etc., or there are a
number of ready-made, time-saving balanced organic fertilizers on the market.
Building healthy soil takes time, energy and commitment. Unlike rapid-release synthetic fertilizers,
soil building is an investment that builds value over time.
C Care and Cultivation of the Yard
For all types of yards and growing concerns, there are necessary
activities that can be crucial to the appearance and health of your yard. These
include moni
1. Moni
2. Watering - For
optimal plant health, regular watering is needed. During dry times, water only once a week, but
it’s important to water deeply. To
conserve water, remember: fertile healthy soil will have better water-holding
capacity and drought resistance. Lawns
that are properly managed with healthy soil and appropriate cultural practices
(such as higher mowing height) will withstand drought because they have deeper
roots. Drip irrigation for garden beds,
trees and shrubs can also conserve water use.
3. Mowing - The
importance of mowing is not often fully understood. Social expectations result in practices that
can be counter-productive to lawn health such as cutting too short, or too
often, and removal of grass clippings.
When mowing my own yard, I think of it as growing the grass, not cutting
the grass. Management practices to keep
in mind include:
Ÿ
Mowing is pruning and the same rule
of thumb applies: cut no more than one-third of the plant (in the case of
lawns, less is best).
Ÿ
Mowers
should be set at one-and-a-half to two inches for Centipede and two to four
inches for
Ÿ
Longer
grass (blades) results in more photosynthesis, deeper roots, fewer weeds,
better color, and more drought and erosion resistance.
Ÿ
Mowing
should be regular, but only when necessary, and always with sharp blades.
Ÿ
Return
clippings to the soil. It’s the best way to add fresh organic matter and
recycle nutrients on a routine basis.
The only time you shouldn’t is if weeds have gone to seed.
Ÿ
A
“mow and blow” yard service can be counter-productive. Different conditions (such as rainfall) will
affect the frequency at which you should mow.
It’s not good to be tied to a mow and blow schedule, but rather to mow (and
prune) when necessary. This can result
in improved health, appearance and financial savings.
4. Feeding Plants -
Plants growing in healthy, fertile soil benefit from additional applications of
organic nutrients two or three times a year to replenish those used in plant
growth. Soil building is a cumulative,
ongoing process that provides a good long-lasting foundation for plant growth,
from the ground up through the roots.
The foliar application of liquid fertilizer feeds plants directly from
the top down through the leaf for fast-acting “finishing” results. It is not a substitute for soil building but
enhances plant growth and is an important part of organic yard care. Mulching provides benefits to plants such as
protection from weeds and drought, additional organic matter, and is aesthetically
pleasing. Ideal mulch materials include
pine straw, leaf mulch, pine bark and hay.
5. Problem Solving:
insects, weeds and disease - Problems of this sort will decrease over time with
an active commitment to these ABCs ,
integrating plant and pest management, and adjusting social values/expectations
with understanding and education.
|
Insects Weeds 1- Pathogen 2- Host 3- Conducive Environment |
:
Much of U.S. Ground
Water is Tainted
A wide-ranging government
reports concludes that much of the nation's ground water and many of its
streams are contaminated with pesticides and unhealthy levels of fertilizer
chemicals.
In most cases, the
tested waters pose a risk to aquatic life but don't violate standards
established to protect human health. At
some sites, the shallow ground water - a layer of water 100 feet or less from
the surface - has nitrate levels above federal health standards. Nitrate is a compound in fertilizer and
manure that encourages plant growth but can be harmful to human infants. Shallow ground water is the source of
drinking water for the 80%-90% of rural residents who rely on private wells.
Even more worrisome,
say researchers, is that shallow ground water seep into
That's an indication,
the study says, that human activity is tainting these pools deep in the Earth,
and scientists fear that such contaminants eventually will leach into deep
aquifers through irrigation wells or natural cracks found in some kinds of
rock.
"(In) most aquifers
we look at, we will find some form of contamination, "says Tim Miller of
the U.S. Geological Survey, the agency that did the study. "What's there now may be an early
indicator." The population that
eventually might be affected, he says, "can be substantial."
Released last month,
the report, "The Quality of Our Nation's Waters," examines 20
important river basins and geological areas.
Many contaminants were
found at levels that could hurt the reproductive ability of aquatic species,
such as fish. That could lead to smaller
populations, but the study didn't measure the pollutants' impact on species.
Other findings:
Some of the worst
contamination by insecticides was in urban streams, to researchers'
surprise. Many of the streams that are
most heavily polluted with insecticides were in metropolitan areas such as
those in Dallas-Fort Worth,
Though banned in 1972,
DDT turned up in stream sediment and fish in both urban and rural areas across
Most of the test sites
had more than one contaminant. No one
knows how combinations of contaminants, at low levels, affect human health or
wildlife.
Water-quality experts
welcomed the report. Larry Jaworski,
government chair for the Water Environment Federation, an association of
water-quality officials, says the report will help local governments decide how
much their waterways can bear. “It
certainly is based on sound science,” he says.