Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Soil Testing and Analysis
Q: What is a biological soil test, and how is it different from a traditional soil test?
A: A biological soil test analyzes the microbial life in your soil, measuring bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and nematodes to assess overall soil health. Traditional tests focus mainly on chemical properties like pH and nutrient levels but don’t account for the living soil ecosystem.
Q: Why is microbial diversity important in soil?
A: A diverse microbial community helps cycle nutrients, improve soil structure, suppress disease, and enhance plant resilience. Healthy microbial life ensures long-term soil fertility with minimal to no reliance on other inputs.
Q: How do I collect a soil sample for testing?
A: We provide guidelines on how to take a representative soil sample from your land. Typically, you’ll need to collect small samples from multiple areas, mix them, and send a portion for analysis.
2. Biological Soil Amendments
Q: What are biological soil amendments?
A: Biological amendments are organic materials, such as high-quality compost and biochar, designed to enhance soil health by adding beneficial microbes, improving soil structure, increasing nutrient retention, increasing CEC, and more.
Q: How does biochar improve soil health?
A: Biochar increases soil’s cation exchange capacity (CEC), helping retain nutrients, improving aeration, and providing habitat for beneficial microbes. It also sequesters carbon, making it an eco-friendly soil amendment.
Q: How often should I apply compost to my soil?
A: Application frequency depends on soil conditions and plant needs. Generally, at the beginning of land restoration, more amendments and/or applications are needed, and over time with the right soil health practices less are needed. Long term, in the best of situations, the work performed is simple maintenance for the system.
3. Inoculation and Monitoring
Q: What does microbial inoculation involve?
A: Inoculation introduces beneficial microbes to soil using compost extracts, compost teas, or direct applications of solid microbial-rich compost and biochar. This helps establish a thriving, self-sustaining microbial ecosystem.
Q: How do you monitor microbial populations after inoculation?
A: We conduct periodic biological soil tests using microscopy to track microbial diversity and ensure that soil health is improving over time.
Q: How long does it take to see improvements in soil after inoculation?
A: Results vary based on initial soil conditions, but microbial populations typically increase within weeks to months. Visible improvements in plant health and soil structure can occur within a growing season.
4. Mineral Soil Balancing
Q: What is mineral soil balancing?
A: Mineral balancing ensures that essential nutrients like calcium, magnesium, potassium, and trace minerals are in the right proportions for plant uptake and soil health. An imbalance in one mineral can limit the availability of others.
Q: How do I know if my soil needs mineral balancing?
A: A soil test will reveal nutrient deficiencies and excesses, helping us recommend targeted amendments to restore balance.
Q: What amendments are used for mineral balancing?
A: We only use USDA Organic Certified mineral amendments. We aim to optimize nutrient availability while also keeping the soil microbiology in mind.
5. Customized Plans
Q: What types of customized soil health plans do you offer?
A: We create tailored solutions for farms, gardens, urban landscapes, and rangelands, incorporating soil testing, microbial inoculation, compost applications, and mineral balancing to meet your land’s specific needs.
Q: Can you help improve soil on a large farm or commercial property?
A: Yes! We work with small farms, large-scale agricultural operations, landscapers, and public land managers to implement regenerative soil management strategies.
How do I get started with a customized plan?
Contact us for a consultation, and we’ll start with a soil assessment to design a strategy that aligns with your goals.