by Deac Jones | May 2, 2018 | Disease Reduction, Organic Matter, Plant Metabolism, Soil Biology
In both animals and plants, susceptibility to disease is the result of metabolic problems. As we mentioned in last week’s newsletter, the overwhelming majority of chemical pesticides are nitrogenous and often chlorinated as well. The traditional balance between...
by Deac Jones | Apr 24, 2018 | Soil Biology, Soil Health
Some fungicides known to be effective in vitro against Erwinia amylovora,the first bacterium proved to be a pathogen of plants,turn out to be wholly ineffective against Fire blight in orchards. What we’re learning is that many anticyptogamics, or anti-fungus agents,...
by Deac Jones | Apr 18, 2018 | Foliar Fertilizers, Micronutrients, Soil Biology, Soil Health
The nutritional balance of the soil and its unique micro community work together to keep plants healthy. It’s no different with human beings – you can take all the supplements in the world, but if you’re not healthy to begin with then they will have a negligible...
by Deac Jones | Apr 12, 2018 | Microbes, Organic Matter, Soil Biology, Soil Health
If our bodies were small enough to enter the tiny passages in the soil, we would discover a world populated by a wild array of creatures, all fiercely competing for every leaf, root, fecal pellet and dead body that reaches the ground. We would also find predators of...
by Deac Jones | Apr 4, 2018 | Carbon Sequestration, Microbes, Soil Biology, Soil Health
Many of our farms have declined to 1 percent or less organic matter in their soils. That’s alarming when the pasture land right next door likely has 5 to 6 percent organic matter. In my past newsletters, I’ve addressed over-tillage, lack of cover crops, and high...