How to Develop Healthy Root Zones Through Good Soil Management

Soil, Turf

How to Develop Healthy Root Zones Through Good Soil Management

Improvement in plant growth is obtained from soil management practices is the result of increased activity of microbes in the vicinity of the plant roots (the rhizosphere).  There is still much unknown in the relationship of roots and microbes because of the complexity of this symbiotic relationship. 

Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi are critically important for virtually all crop plants.  Research has shown that the lack of VAM can result in poor plant growth. 

Most healthy plants have adequate VAM spores present if humus, compost, or microbial innoculants are placed back into the soils.  Intensive chemicals, like oil spills and hydro-carbon contamination will reduce VAM so low that plant health will be in jeopardy.

The mycorrhizae linkage between plants and soil fungi varies greatly.  Some types of plants do not use the fungi for nutrient uptake, while other plants have trouble even surviving without mycorrhizae. 

Clearly, the evolutionary process over millions of years has led different plants down differing paths.  It is known, that the zone of soil next to plant roots support a much higher population of microbes than the soil even a short distance away from the roots. 

The number of microbes near the roots (rhizosphere) is from 10 to 100 times greater than ¼” away. 

Plants often exude from 25% to 50% of their photosynthates to attract and feed these mycorrhizal fungi.  Why?

  1. Microbes digest chemical compounds protecting the plants from the contamination.
  2. Colonization by VAM fungi can limit root-feeding nematode attacks of the root system. 
  3. Microbes receive nutrition from plants and soil organic matter and convert them to humus storage for plant use. 
  4. Rhizosphere fungi provide a protective coating on roots that buffer the negative effect of salts and other toxic compounds in the soil. 
  5. The greater the diversity and number of microbes, the higher the fertility of the soil.

Maintenance of an environment around the plant roots, which is favorable for the good growth of beneficial microbes, will result in increased root zone health and ultimately plant health.

More Articles in This Category

Top 20 Reasons to Treat Your Golf Course with BioLynceus Biological Solutions

Saves time and money.Increased soil fertility.Increased biological activity in soil with simultaneous increase in release of nutrients already present but previously locked away in inorganic chemical compounds or crop residue. Decreased compaction from equipment...

Biological Turf and Shrub Treatment Improves City Hall Landscaping Project

Turf and Landscaping 2 Acres A growing city in the Colorado Front Range used BioLynceus® products to improve root zone development, water retention, and nutrient uptake of newly planted turf and shrubs in front of the City Hall. Initially, a resident was using...

Why All Humic Acids Are Not Created Equal

As the use of humic acids become more prevalent in agricultural, turf, environmental, home & garden and other applications, the prospective customer may well ask the question, "What is the difference in humic acid products?" Since Global Organics is large provider...

Soil Biology

Life in the Soil and Landscape An incredible diversity of organisms make up the soil food web. These organisms range in size from the tiniest one-celled bacteria, algae, fungi, and protozoa, to the most complex nematodes and microarthopods, to the visible earthworms,...

Soil Bioremediation

Throughout history man has expected nature to dispose of whatever material he has buried in the soil. Without the great digestive capacity of soil we would be up to our ears in organic matter. The natural digestive process converts organic matter to reusable and...

Soil Microbes and Nutrient Uptake

Improvement in crop growth obtained from crop and soil management practices is the result of increased activity of microbes in the vicinity of plant roots (the rhizosphere). There is still much unknown in the relationship of roots and microbes because of the...

Soil, Microbes and Water Management

The following research article, developed by BioFlora's team at the Integrated Life Science Research Center, describes how soil structure and stability are critical factors for agricultural water management. Please share it with your PCA or call your BioLynceus®...

Webinar – The Soil Food Web

https://youtu.be/wZOSwgMQKmE Resident expert, Mark Sembach, discusses how BioLynceus® provides organic, sustainable programs to help build the soil food web.

BioLynceus® Turf Products FAQs

Do BioLynceus® products replace commercial fertilizer or can fertilizer usage be decreased?BioLynceus® p roducts promote increased efficiency of commercial fertilizers. We recommend that greens keepers or turf managers continue a balanced fertilizer program until the...

Revegetating Mine Waste Using Bioaugmentation

Revegetation is a powerful tool used to retain mine drainage and stabilize waste rock piles after mining activities. However, promoting plant growth on mine waste rock pilescan be challenging. These environments typically have limited topsoil development and steep...