SOIL FOOD WEB

THE SOIL FOOD WEB

The “soil food web” is a term used to describe all the micro-organisms in the soil and how they interact to provide a healthy soil that can

  • Retain nutrients like N, P, S to prevent leaching losses.
  • Build soil structure
  • Cycle nutrients from organic matter through micro-organisms back to plants
  • Suppress disease causing organisms
  • Produce natural plant growth promoting hormones
  • Retain and deactivate toxic compounds

The soil food web reduces reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides as more communities move to reduce these chemicals enhancing the soil food web through compost and compost tea applications provide a viable alternative.

Soil Food Web: In this image we see the image of how the soil food web works. The top half of the image represents above ground contributions: The Sun (sunlight), Nematodes (or Root Feeders and Predators), Arthropods (or Shredders and Predators), and the Birds which feed on the aforementioned. In the lower half of this image we see the elements on the ground and below ground which include Plants (and their shoots and roots), Fungi (or Mychorrhizal Fungi and Saprophytic Fungi, Nematodes (this time in the form of Fungal and Bacterial Feeders and Predators), Bacteria, Protozoa (or Amoebae, Flagellates and Ciliates) and Animals. Along the bottom of this image we see a chart across the image presenting the Five Levels of the Soil Food Web: First Trophic Level: Photo synthesisers; Second Traphic Level: Decomposing Mutualists, Pathogens, Parasites and Root Feeders; Third Trophic Level: Shredders, Predators and Grazers; Fouth Trophic Level: Higher Level Predators; and Fifth & Higher Trophic Level: Higher Level Predators. At Bronte Creek Organic Gardener we understand how the Soil Food Web functions and how understanding it can help Retain nutrients, prevent leaching losses, Build soil structure, cycle nutrients, Suppress plant diseases causing, improve natural plant growth and deactivate toxic compounds. Bronte Creek Organic Gardener specializes in organic lawn care as well as organic garden care and see the Soil Food Web as a viable alternative to fertilizers.

"It's organic & safe...Roll in the grass"

Call: 905 338-5940

 
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