Re: [compost_tea] for Elaine- fungi glue
We have known about the importance of glue made by organisms in soil for a
very long time. Many more organisms than just VAM fungi make glue.
But, ok, USDA scientists finally got around to measuring a part of the glue
that occurs in soil, and that's a big step forward for them. Let's not rain
on their parade.
There's a great book by an Australian (R. Foster) called the Ultrastructure
of Soil and he showed in hundereds of photographs that bacteria and fungi and
worms all make glues that hold the soil together.
So, why is it that the USDA scientists can claim they discovered "the glue"
that holds soil together? Ah well, they'll figure it out soon enough that
they over-stated their claims. There are a few million other glues that hold
soil together.
The point is if you can't measure something, you can't study it. So, the
USDA finally understands how to measure at least a part of the many glues
that hold soil together. This is good.
Was there something more specific you wanted to know?
Elaine Ingham
President, Soil Foodweb Inc.
www.soilfoodweb.com
SFI Oregon, USA
SFI Australia
SFI New York
SFI Europe
SFI New Zealand
Received on Fri Feb 21 2003 - 22:59:27 EST
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.3.0
: Tue Feb 07 2012 - 14:26:44 EST