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protozoa so that the ecosystem of the soil
can thrive again. Doing LBA treatments
requires not only an understanding of soil
and the biology within the soil, but also the
biology of the plant. In addition, seasonal
rhythms and acute diagnostic skills should
be taken into account with careful precision.
The Historical Evolution of the Liquid
Biological Amendment
The desire to help soil along is not new.
Since the beginning of agriculture, over
10,000 years ago, the use of leachate from
compost piles, along with manures was
incorporated to grow healthier plants. With
the introduction of urea-based fertilizers
in the 1800’s, and the agricultural chemical
revolution of the mid 1900’s, the natural
way of growing plants was seen as outdated.
Surely, humans could create more bountiful
crops and better aesthetically pleasing
landscapes with science!
Agricultural progress using chemistry
was indeed accomplished on a short-term
basis, but the price of success was loss
of microbial populations due to damage
by fertilizer chemicals, which in turn
caused eroding soils, pollution from the
urea-based fertilizers, and ground water
“Emanci p at i on f ro m t h e b o nd a g e of
t he soi l i s n o f re e d o m fo r t h e t ree”
- Rabin dran at h Ta g o re
contamination. In the 1980’s, groups of
microbiologists turned their focus toward
the importance of the network in the
soil food web for restoring soils, limiting
pollution and increasing natural nutrient
cycling along with plant protection. Dr.
Elaine Ingham was one of the first of these
soil microbiologists who stepped out of
academia and started to train practitioners
on the importance of soil microbiology and
how to rebuild it after disturbance.
During the 1990’s, the desire and hunt for
natural means of improving soil fertility
began. Commercial products such as
over-the-counter humic acids and fish byproducts were used to ostensibly increase
microbial populations in the soil with mixed
results; but the need for better organic
products for growing was in demand.
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These products were followed by study of the
composting process and streamlining it and creating
a higher quality material in less time. This higher
quality compost could be spread onto the land or
mixed into soils, which in turn would help increase
organic matter and help microbial populations
network again. However, using large amounts of
compost is not always ideal because of the poor
quality of the compost. The idea of collecting
leachate from compost, or LBAs, was starting to gain
momentum. By th e late 1990’s, the first commercial
compost tea brewers were able to reproduce large
quantities of bacteria by introducing dissolved
oxygen into the brewing solution. Since then, LBA
brewers, or extractors, have gone through multiple
design changes because of technology.
Technology is the Driver of Better Products
The equipment and methods for making LBAs have
made considerable progress in recent years. Today,
there are high-tech stainless steel LBA machines
that have the capability to extract organisms right
out of compost and into a humic and vitamin-rich
solution. Also in this solution are the beneficial soil
and plant microorganisms such as the bacteria,
fungi, protozoa and nematodes in higher quantities.
Current research examines the viability of using
specific composts to reproduce indigenous organisms
for inclusion in LBAs. This process, Ecopiles™, is
under development as a replacement for common
yard waste compost. Ecopiles™ build project-specific
composts from scratch, which then matures with
the new plant palette. As the plants grow, the roots
release exudates, which allow the development
of the most ideal set of organisms that a specific
plant needs. The compost is then placed in the LBA
extractors while tree roots are ground up to release
remaining mychorrizal spores, which, in turn, are
introduced into the new landscape. The selected
indigenous organisms are harvested and applied to
the site.
Assessment is a cornerstone of any soil biology
management plan. To observe what is going on in
the soil, and to make sure the microorganisms are
fruitful and networking as they should, microscopes
are essential. This is not as complex as it seems.
Fortunately, advancements in technology have made
quality microscopes less expensive and microscopy
training is available. Microorganism identification
and quantification gives a clear picture into the
quantities and workings of the microbial world,
making it possible to more thoroughly understand
the connections and soil networking.
Remember the smart phone application about soil
testing protocols considered at the beginning of