Re: [compost_tea] Re: Kudzu

From: <soilfoodweb_at_aol.com>
Date: Thu, 3 Mar 2005 04:11:49 EST

 
 
Nitrogen is stored in the organisms in the soil, and in the organic matter
in the compost.
 
As Krasilnikov said, 75% of the nutrients in soil are stored in the
microorganisms.
 
We have to feed soil microbes, so they can perform their storage function.
But by tying up nutrients in the soil bacteria and fungi, then these
nutrients don't leach out of the soil when snow melt occurs. Or when irrigation
events are performed in the summer, or in any event where water moves into the
soil and past the root system.
 
Inorganic forms of N are the most leachable forms of N. And therefore
really stupid to have in soil, unless you really want to destroy water quality. .
 
 
Nitrate, nitrate and ammonium are highly leachable. If the soil becomes
anaerobic, then these aerobic forms of N are converted into the anaerobic forms
of N, and lost by volatilization.
 
I have to laugh at a number of soil scientists who have actually said that
nitrate is not leachable in heavy clay soils that are saturated with water.
First of all, in saturated soil, oxygen is likely limited, and the soil will
be anaerobic. Nitrate is not present in these conditions, so of course it
isn't leachable.

In anaerobic conditions, inorganic forms of nitrogen are converted to
anaerobic forms of N, and is lost as ammonia (smelly!), or as nitrous oxide, for
example.
 
Nitrate isn't leached in anaerobic conditions, but it sure is being lost!
 
But, back to Butch's question.
 
In soils with good organic matter, N is retained in the bacteria and fungi,
stored for later nutrient cycling by protozoa, nematodes, and
microarthropods. These cycling processes produce plant available forms of N, in the place,
time and amounts the plant needs.
 
Hope this helps!
 
Elaine
 
In a message dated 3/2/2005 1:21:41 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,
wilddog_202_at_yahoo.com writes:


Where is the N stored.
--- soilfoodweb_at_aol.com wrote:

>
> Harry McCormick gets the same kinds of results,
> using leaf litter and clover
> compost. He picks tomatoes from June to December in
> Oregon. He protects
> the tomatoes from wind in plastic covered hoop
> houses, but the houses stand
> about 20 feet high, because the tomatoes reach 12 to
> 14 feet high.
>
>
> If you want Harry's e-mail to talk to him yourself,
> just e-mail me and I can
> send you to him. Alternatively, read some of Eliot
> Coleman's books, where
> he gets similar results.
>
>
> Part of the "secret" is using a nitrogen-fixing
> plant in the compost mix.
> Kudzu is a nitrogen-fixer, which is why the USDA
> brought it into the US from
> south-east Asia. They just neglected to pay
> attention to its ability to
> produce rhizomes, and the fact that it grows so
> fast, it smothers other plants
> out. Otherwise, it would be a great N-fixing cover
> crop.
>
>
>


Elaine R. Ingham
Soil Foodweb Inc., Corvallis, Oregon
Soil Foodweb Inc., Port Jefferson, New York
Soil Foodweb Institute, Lismore Australia
Soil Foodweb Institute Cambridge, New Zealand
Laboratorios de Soil Foodweb, Culiacan, Mexico
Soil Foodweb Inc., Jerome, Idaho
Soil Foodweb Inc., South Africa








Received on Thu Mar 03 2005 - 11:44:23 EST

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