The Soil Microbiome
The Foundation of Your Plant’s Health
The soil microbiome is the foundation of all plant health. The billions of microbes are crucial to your plants’ ability to grow, fight diseases, and produce fruits and vegetables for you to enjoy. Understanding the role of the microbiome in plant growth can help you take better care of your garden or lawn by adding the right fertilizers at the right time.
What is a soil microbiome?
A soil microbiome is a community of microorganisms found in soil. These bacteria, fungi, and other organisms work together to break down organic matter into nutrients that plants can use to grow. The microbiome also helps protect plants from disease-causing pathogens and pests.
What is soil microbiome sequencing?
Soil microbiome progression is a technique used to study the makeup of the soil microbiome. This information can understand how different microbes work together to support plant growth and health.
How to conduct soil microbiome progression
To conduct soil microbiome progression, samples must be collected from different locations in your yard or garden. These samples need to be taken at least 30 cm away from each other and should not contact fertilizers or pesticides. The samples should be collected by soil microbiome services under a strict environment.
Soil that has been recently disturbed by digging is best for collecting the most accurate microbial readings. Samples can then either be sent out for testing through a third-party lab (recommended) or prepared on-site using an extraction kit provided by many environmental testing labs.
Once the sample is ready, it will undergo PCR amplification to amplify specific regions of DNA, followed by two types of progression: amplicon and metagenomic analysis.
What are some benefits of understanding my soil microbiome?
Identifying specific bacteria, fungi, and other organisms in your soil can provide information on the best way to amend your soil for plant growth. For example, if a particular type of microbe is lacking in your soil, you may need to add more organic matter or fertilizer that contains that microbe to your garden to see better results.
Conversely, if an abundance of certain microbes is found in your soil, adding a pesticide or fungicide that targets those microbes could cause harm to your plants.
How does the soil microbiome affect plant growth?
The soil microbiome plays a crucial role in plant growth. The bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms break down organic matter into nutrients that plants can grow. They also help protect plants from disease-causing pathogens and pests. Fertilizers and other treatments can be tailored based on the results of a soil microbiome sequencing test to help improve plant growth.
Microbial communities
Each type of microorganism in the microbiome has its role to play. For example, some bacteria produce nitrogen gas which helps fertilize plants. Other bacteria secrete enzymes that break down complex molecules into simple nutrients that plants can absorb. Fungi help protect plants from disease-causing pathogens and pests.
Benefits of a healthy soil microbiome
A healthy soil microbiome is important for two reasons: it provides nutrients to plants and protects them from disease-causing pathogens and pests.
Amending your soil with fertilizers or other treatments can help improve plant growth by providing the right nutrients at the right time. If a particular microbe is found to be lacking in your soil, you may need to add more organic matter (such as fertilizer) that contains this microbe.
Conversely, if an abundance of certain microbes is found in your soil, adding a pesticide or fungicide that targets these organisms could harm your plants rather than help them grow.