Paulette,
You have to let this stuff sink. The protozoa are
after Carbon AND Nitrogen. They need carbon for energy production and nitrogen
for synthesis of amino acids and proteins. They are not eating primarily
for the nitrogen, but the carbon......
The forests don't have nitrifying bacteria so the
ammonium stays in that form. In row crop situations there are usually nitrifying
bacteria so the ammonium is converted to nitrite and then nitrate.
Why? It is all in the book you have in front of
you:Simplified, bacteria produce slime which has a pH above 7. Fungi produce
organic acids with a pH below 7. Nitrifying bacteria prefer a pH above 7 and so
don't exist in high numbers in soils dominated by fungi...i.e.
forest.
I would suggest you go to one of Dr. Elaine's
seminars and or order the CDs from the SFI site. If you go to www.alaskahumus.com you will find lots of
links and sources, books and notes.
Cheers,
Jeff
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