Microbial Analysis for Growers

Microbial Analysis for Growers

     One of the best kept secrets in agriculture is that microbes carry out every function growers rely on chemicals to provide.  When you have adequate microbial diversity and density in your soil microbial community, your need for costly inputs can be reduced or eliminated.  

    Whether you are an urban gardener, growing food in containers on your balcony, a farmer planting hundreds of acres for commercial markets, a landscaper managing city parks, or anyone else who works with plants and soils, learning to recognize microbial indicators of soil health can help you grow better quality plants with higher yields and fewer inputs.  

Microbial Analysis for Growers can help you transform your growing practices. Learn:

1. When and why a do it yourself soil test for microbes makes sense.

2. How to choose a microscope suitable for soil testing. 

3. How to classify and identify important soil microbes by general morphotypes.

4. How to use your results to help you grow high quality crops. 

5. How to corroborate your qualitative, visual results with qualitative soil respiration measurements.  

Note:  All the equipment needed to conduct soil biology testing will be described within. It is not necessary to have the equipment on hand to take the course. 

Harness Soil Microbes for Plant Health and Nutrition

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What you will learn

• Use a microscope to determine whether soil microbial density and diversity are adequate to support production of healthy, nutrient dense plants.
• Learn strategies to increase the microbial diversity and density of your soil.
• Understand the nutritional, ecological, and economic benefits of putting trillions of microbes to work in your soil.

Rating: 4.6

Level: Beginner Level

Duration: 3 hours

Instructor: Mary Lucero