The World of The World of Organics Organics Ken Quandt, Nature Safe Fertilizers
Transcript
Slide 1
The World of Organics Ken Quandt, Nature Safe Fertilizers
Slide 2
There is a paradigm shift in the turf industry today. Original
School of Thought New School of Thought Thought Provide NPK for
plant deficiencies Provide nutrition to the soil to feed microbes,
which in turn, feed the plant
Slide 3
More emphasis has been placed on the soil health. Healthy soil
leads to a healthier turf!
Slide 4
For the plant, the value of microbes is in their decomposition.
Microbes are are short-lived with an average life span of 20
minutes.
Slide 5
Why Use an Organic Fertilizer? Its the food source for microbes
[ Microbes are 50% Carbon [ As they die, microbes release 20 - 40 %
of their Carbon (and chelated minerals) into the soil [ The rest of
their Carbon is released as CO 2 for plant use
Slide 6
Organic fertility is the supply of soil nutrients in the form
of Carbon. Synthetic fertility differs from Organic fertility in
one way... No Carbon!
Slide 7
Where does Carbon come from? Decaying plants and animals n
Decaying plants and animals n Decaying microorganisms n Organic
matter
Slide 8
Nutrients are tied up so... S P Ca K C P K S S S P P K K N N N
N Microbe Mineralization No burning No leaching No volatilization
No run-off
Types of Organics Sewage Sludges * Microbial Carcasses * 3 - 6%
N * 20 - 30% Amino Acids * Subject to high heat process for
sanitation * Denatured Proteins - Carbon rings held together by
peptide bonds - Less than 50% available * Heavy Metals * No sugars,
starches, carbohydrates, vitamins, enzymes, potash, etc. * Not a
balanced feed
Slide 12
Protein Availability Dependent on solubility of the protein and
the digestibility of the amino acids. Animal feeds are processed to
increase N digestibility. Manures and sludges have the digestible
components removed leaving undigestible material remaining.
Excessive processing temperature for sludge renders protein
denatured and very slowly available. Striated fibers.
Slide 13
Types of Organics Manures * Low N Content 1 - 3% * 6 - 12%
Amino Acids * Most of the food value used by the animal * Extreme
variability in the nutrient content * Composting is not an exact
science * Animal excretes the indigestible and insoluble portions
of their food * No sugars, starches, carbohydrates, vitamins,
enzymes, potash, etc. * Strong odors at times * Litter has an
extremely high C:N ratio
Slide 14
Types of Organics Constructed Ingredients are animal protein
meals, not waste by-products. NOT
Slide 15
Constructed Fertilizers * 5 - 13% N * 30 - 72% Amino Acids *
Vegetable or Animal Meals * Proteins provide slow release N *
Differences in protein qualities * Improperly processed meals are
indigestible by microbes * Much higher degree of consistency in
meal based products
Slide 16
Microbial Activity = Fertilizer Efficiency 100 lbs of dead
microbes 10 LBS OF N 5 LBS OF P 2 O 5 2 LBS OF K 2 O.5 LBS OF Ca.5
LBS OF Mg.3 LBS OF S * From E.C Roberts, The Biology of Soil A
fertilizer factory continually making 10-5-2!
Slide 17
How do you compare Constructed Fertilizer products? * N content
* Digestibility by soil microbes * Ingredients used - Leather Meal
- Acidulated Bone Meal - Form of Calcium (key to good rooting) -
Humus * Supply both plant and soil nutrition * Validation of
performance through university research
Slide 18
If used regularly, organics provide many cumulative benefits: *
Higher rate of photosynthesis due to increase in CO2 * No
flush-starve cycles to slow putting speed and produce thatch *
Reduction of existing thatch by soil microbes * Improved soil
structure * Faster recovery from injury * Enhanced disease
management
Slide 19
Denser Rooting with More Root Hairs Rhizosphere Seedling Root
Hairs Root Hairs - EM
Slide 20
Microbial Interaction Competitive exclusion ~ when beneficial
microbes increase in numbers, pathogens, which are strong only in
stressful situations, decrease in number.
Slide 21
Nature Safe increased total bacterial populations while
decreasing populations of two pathogens. Research Shows - Research
Shows - Dr. George Lazarovits, Agri-Food Canada
Slide 22
Dr. George Lazarovits, Agri- Food Agriculture Canada In our
research, Nature Safe improved bacterial populations while the
synthetic actually decreased populations.
Slide 23
By increasing microbial populations, do we increase pathogens?
No!
Slide 24
Pathogens are opportunistic. n They are good survivors, not
good competitors. competitors. n Beneficial microbes produce
chemicals to inhibit the growth of pathogens. inhibit the growth of
pathogens. n As organics breakdown, the breakdown of nitrogen
derives products lethal to nitrogen derives products lethal to
pathogens. pathogens.
Slide 25
Measuring CO 2 levels validates the increase in microbes
Research by Dr. George Lazarovits, Agri-Food Canada
Slide 26
Nature Safe by itself decreased dollar spot versus other
fertilizers. Dr. Joe Vargas, MSU Research Dollar Spot Research
Slide 27
Rutgers Research Research by Drs. Clarke and Majumdar, Rutgers
University Nature Safe helps improve the efficacy of fungicides
when used in combination.
Slide 28
Nematode Research Research by Dr. Coleman Ward, Auburn
University Research has also shown that Nature Safe worked in
suppressing nematode populations.
Slide 29
Use of Organic Fertilizers Improves Stress Management * Fewer
pathogens * Keeps salt levels lower * Better, more fibrous root
system allows a plant more efficient nutrient and water uptake *
Thicker, denser turf shields soil from heat,keeps it cooler and
reduces need for water * Higher rates of photosynthesis due to
higher CO 2 levels * Less localized dry spot Stress Budget
Slide 30
Organic Expectations Not a quick fix Preventative rather than
curative Cumulative effect of results and benefits Impact on
overall budget
Slide 31
In conclusion, Organic Fertility provides an environment for
efficient fertility as well as healthier soil which results in
healthier plants. In conclusion, Organic Fertility provides an
environment for efficient fertility as well as healthier soil which
results in healthier plants.