Answer: The most microbial activity is in the rhizosphere (area of soil immediately around plant roots) where plant root exudates provide nutrients for the microbes and they, in turn, supply nutrients from the soil the plant roots. Soil type and soil pH are more likely to affect availability of important macro and micro elements. Soil pH can be adjusted using good compost where the microbes will then function to supply nutrients in plant available form. An active and fully functioning soil food web is not present in poor soil so improving the soil with compost and natural organic matter will allow the soil food web to function effectively and provide nutrients needed by the plants resulting in healthy and productive plants producing nutritious crops whether it is good quality grass for stock or tasty vegetables.

Answer: When a soil sample is collected as described in Q2, part of that sample should be sent for chemistry and part for biology testing; Agpath P/L provides that service. A report can then be generated linking the chemistry and biology and a management protocol developed if that is the outcome desired by the farmer.

Answer: Each CMA has access to most information required by participants. pH kits can be purchased from good gardening stores. Soil chemistry and soil biology can be explained generally by consultants in the field. Agpath P/L consultants at agpath@dcsi.net.au can be of assistance.

Answer: Mushrooms can be seen growing on wood chips where the conditions of moisture, shade and organic matter are available. Make a trench and fill with pre-wet straw and hard wood chips. Mushroom spawn can be purchased and added to the trench. Cover with more straw and wood chips and firm down using a piece of timber to walk on. Make the spawn bed in spring, keep the trench moisture and cool and fruiting bodies can appear in autumn.

Answer: Different plant species have endo or ecto but very few have both. Some plant types do not have mycorrhizae at all. Look at my website for lists of plants having different types of mycorrhizae www.agpath.com.au. Cultivation or constant disturbance of the soil will deplete the fungal population through constant breaking up of the fungal hyphal mat in the soil and on organic matter. Adding salts such as super phosphate will badly affect fungi as will metals such as copper often used for disease management. Peer reviewed scientific literature can be found from around the world to support this effect. Have soil tests carried out at appropriate times of the year and modify management practices to minimise damage to the soil biota. Use good quality thermal aerobic compost and compost teas. Look to biological products in place of commercial chemicals. Minimise disturbance to the soil and keep organic levels up to encourage fungi. Permanent grass pasture is a good source of mycorrhizal fungi.

Answer: Generally aerobic microbes are what you are looking for in the soil. Some important bacteria are anaerobic and photo synthetic and form part of the soil food web. Anaerobic conditions can produce unwanted toxins which negatively impact on good soil biology. It is better to have good air flow through good soil structure which will stimulate the fungal population that will benefit plant growth and soil health.

Answer:  Sampling is based on soil type; vegetation types indicating a change in the soil; elevation. Soil on hill tops is different in composition of sand, silt and clay from the soil in the alluvial flats and the biology will also be different. By knowing the differences in your land and vegetation, sampling is carried out based on those differences because the management programme will be different to maximise soil health and productivity. Once the areas are understood, then sampling should reflect the block or paddock. Thirty 10cm cores can be collected in an X shape across the block or a W shape to represent the whole area. Mix these cores together very well and choose a representative 1kg of soil. This can be sent for chemistry testing and for biology. This first set of reports forms the base line chemistry and biology and helps to understand what needs to be done to get the soil biology functioning for maximum productivity regardless of the enterprise, cultivation or grazing

Answer: Not really. There can be an imbalance among species because of external sources of not necessarily appropriate fertilisers, etc. For example, when high levels of salts are applied eg Ca or PO4, then there is a big increase in those species needed to deal with this chemistry. Eventually the populations will return to environmental levels. If the full soil food web is present, then members of the population will utilise excesses in some species and release plant available nutrients for plants to use. It is generally only a soil in trouble that has an imbalance of microbes.