There is no doubt that a healthy garden is something in which growers are able to take great pride. From planting to harvest, many home vegetable gardeners are willing to invest hours of labor to have the most successful growing season possible.
While tasks such as weeding and irrigation often take precedent, many are starting to take a closer look into what it takes to create healthy and thriving garden soil.
Learning more about the role of microbes in the soil is just one way to increase the overall health of the garden. Can plants benefit from soil microbes though? Let’s learn more about soil microbes and nutrients.
What Do Soil Microbes Do?
Soil microbes refer to the tiny microorganisms living in the
soil. While most microbes in the soil serve the purpose of decomposition, they
can also play a major role in the growth and development of plants.
Different microorganisms can impact nutrient levels and,
ultimately, the needs of plants in the garden soil. Becoming more familiar with
soil microbes and nutrients will be critical for growers as they work to amend
garden soil for each season’s planting. Learning about the nutrient composition
of soil is simply not enough information to ensure that it is healthy.
How Do Soil Microbes Affect Nutrients?
Soils which have not been tilled frequently are proven to
have greater numbers of organic
matter that supports the activity of soil microbes. Different types of
microbes in the soil, such as bacteria, actinomycetes,
fungi, protozoa, and nematodes all work to serve specific functions.
While some microbes work to make nutrients more readily
available for uptake by the plants, others may work to improve different plant
needs. Mycorrhizae,
for example, is a type of fungi that can improve a plant’s ability to receive
water.
Not only can increasing the numbers of beneficial
microorganisms in the soil improve the overall health of plants, but many
may also fight against pathogens which may harm or cause disease in plantings. Beneficial
nematodes, for example, are microbes in the soil that can help combat
potential threats to plant health.
With more knowledge regarding beneficial microorganisms in
the soil, growers are better able to create and maintain balanced garden
ecosystems.
There is no doubt that a healthy garden is something in which growers are able to take great pride. From planting to harvest, many home vegetable gardeners are willing to invest hours of labor to have the most successful growing season possible.
While tasks such as weeding and irrigation often take precedent, many are starting to take a closer look into what it takes to create healthy and thriving garden soil.
Learning more about the role of microbes in the soil is just one way to increase the overall health of the garden. Can plants benefit from soil microbes though? Let’s learn more about soil microbes and nutrients.
What Do Soil Microbes Do?
Soil microbes refer to the tiny microorganisms living in the
soil. While most microbes in the soil serve the purpose of decomposition, they
can also play a major role in the growth and development of plants.
Different microorganisms can impact nutrient levels and,
ultimately, the needs of plants in the garden soil. Becoming more familiar with
soil microbes and nutrients will be critical for growers as they work to amend
garden soil for each season’s planting. Learning about the nutrient composition
of soil is simply not enough information to ensure that it is healthy.
How Do Soil Microbes Affect Nutrients?
Soils which have not been tilled frequently are proven to
have greater numbers of organic
matter that supports the activity of soil microbes. Different types of
microbes in the soil, such as bacteria, actinomycetes,
fungi, protozoa, and nematodes all work to serve specific functions.
While some microbes work to make nutrients more readily
available for uptake by the plants, others may work to improve different plant
needs. Mycorrhizae,
for example, is a type of fungi that can improve a plant’s ability to receive
water.
Not only can increasing the numbers of beneficial
microorganisms in the soil improve the overall health of plants, but many
may also fight against pathogens which may harm or cause disease in plantings. Beneficial
nematodes, for example, are microbes in the soil that can help combat
potential threats to plant health.
With more knowledge regarding beneficial microorganisms in
the soil, growers are better able to create and maintain balanced garden
ecosystems.