A research report presented at the Sixth International Scientific Conference of the International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements (IFOAM) - University of California, Santa Cruz
August 18, 1986
By: Dr. Allen L. Stout
AgroTech Research Group, Inc.
P.O. Box 65838, Vancouver, WA 98665
The great civilizations of the world were built upon fertile soils with favorable climate and abundant water supplies. Most of these cultural centers died out as their topsoils eroded away (1).
Fertile topsoils are the result of a combination of factors including: parent rock minerals, water, air, organic matter, biological action and favorable climate (2,3).
Most soils contain an abundance of the minerals necessary for crop production, though not in a readily available form. For example, University of Idaho studies show that the top 6 2/3 inches of an acre of soil in the Palouse contains approxiately: 2,700 pounds of nitrogen; 2,500 pounds of phosphorus (P2O5); 44,000 pounds of potassium (K2O); 21,000 pounds of calcium (CaO); 15,000 pounds of magnesium; 3,000 pounds of sulfur; 50,000 pounds of iron; 5,000 pounds of manganese; 200 pounds of zinc; 100 pounds of boron; 100 pounds of copper; and 4 pounds of molybdenum (4).
As a consultant to agricultural producers and companies I developed and helped conduct on-the-farm research programs to analyze the effectiveness of biological soil enhancement products and the conditions affecting their action. Results have indicated that continuing research and development in soil biotechnology to enhance beneficial biological functions in the soil offers great potential for producing profitable and sustainable agricultural systems.
Research with biological fermentation products containing various vitamins, hormones, enzymes and other unidentified growth factors indicated that beneficial biological action can be stimulated in soils to improve residue decomposition and increase the availability of soil and fertilizer nutrients; improve soil pH, tilth, water absorption and retention; and reduce waste of water and fuel and dependence on chemical fertilizers, pesticides and petrochemicals used in agriculture.
The studies were conducted on a large number of farm fields in several states and Canada. Fields were divided into treatments and controls. Controls were prepared according to the standard cropping programs. Treatment areas were prepared with the standard or with reduced fertilizer applications plus the application of 12.8 ounces per acre of a vitamin-hormone bio-catalyst product (produced and marketed by BioPlus Manufacturing, Inc., Hawkins, TX under several product trade names: AgroPlus, BioPlus AP 682, HV-682, MetabAlize Pro, SBA-709, etc.) prior to, during or shortly after planting. Soil analyses were performed by A & L Midwest Agricultural Laboratories, Inc. Paired sample data from the field trials was analyzed by the statistical departments of Ambassador College in Texas, Iowa State University, and Colorado State University using the paired-t correlation.
The results in Table 1 show that soils treated with the vitamin-hormone bio-catylist product had significantly higher available nutrient levels than controls. This effect on nutrient availability resulted in reduced fertilizer requirements and/or increased crop yields (Table 4).
Table 2 shows the effects of the biological treatment on soil hardness, as measured with a soil penetrometer, was a significant reduction in hardness. This effect was noted by many farm operators as a reduction in power and fuel requirements for tillage.
As part of the study, some fields were tested for rate and depth of water infiltration (Table 3). Results showed a significant improvement in both rate and depth of water infiltration in soils treated with the biological preparation. These results corresponded with field observations of reduced water runoff and erosion, and increased irrigation efficiency. Results in Arizona on cotton showed great improvement in residue decomposition with water requirements reduced by 45% resulting in saving of approximately $125 per acre in irrigation costs plus increased yields of up to 30.8%.
Additional studies showed that biological soil treatments had significant effects on crop quality characteristics, including protein, test weight, oil content, and sugar content.
Other noteworthy observations on many of the biologically treated fields were improved weed control (often with reduced amounts of herbicide), and fewer insect and disease problems resulting in lower costs for weed, pest and disease control measures.
The overall net effect of the biological soil treatments on crop production were reduced production costs and increased profitability. Although the overall significance of the biological soil treatments was very positive using paired trials, the data revealed many variations and some negative results indicating the presence of specific limiting or negative conditions in some soils. Many of these conditions were elucidated by follow-up observations and studies.
Major conditions that were observed to be important for obtaining best results from biological soil enhancement products are listed below (5,6).
1. PROPER TILLAGE-SOIL AERATION. Compaction reduces beneficial biological action in soil.
2. RECYCLING NUTRIENTS. Crop residues and organic matter should be returned to the soil as nutrients for microbes, to recycle fertilizer nutrients and to enhance humus formation. Increasing biological action can further deplete soils if organic matter is not replenished. Proper biological action improves humus formation.
3. PROPER WATER MANAGEMENT. Excess water can result in anaerobic conditions inhibiting beneficial aerobic organisms, cause leaching, and decrease availability of soil and fertilizer nutrients. Some anaerobic microorganisms cause disease and loss of soil nitrogen.
4. PROPER MINERAL BALANCE. Mineral imbalance can result in deficiencies or toxicities and adversely affect soil microbial balance. Excess nitrogen, sulfur, or chlorine can leach other nutrients.
5. PREVENTION/CORRECTION OF TOXIC CONDITIONS. Lime can correct toxicity of excess aluminum or iron in low pH soils. Fertilizers and chemicals can have toxic effects on many beneficial organisms. Reduce application rates and use in proper balance to reduce or avoid toxicity.
6. REGULATION OF SOIL TEMPERATURE. Soil temperature has a regulatory effect on soil microorganisms and can be regulated somewhat by management practices.
Products of soil biotechnology should not be considered a panacea to replace good management practices. They can be useful management tools, but to be effective in the long run, they must be used with good management.
Results of research and observations presented indicate that soil biotechnology offers great potential in the development of profitable and sustainable agricultural systems.
Unfortunately, research and development of soil biotechnology have been greatly de-emphasized since the 1950's as a result of the over-promotion of incomplete and non-sustainable chemical technologies in agriculture. Chemical technology alone cannot sustain soil fertility and will only result in increasing problems, much as the exploitive practices of the past were instrumental in the deterioration of past civilizations. This research strongly indicates that greater emphasis on research and development in soil biotechnology would be a positive step in the development of appropriate and sustainable agricultural systems essential to the survival of present and future generations.
1. Lowdermilk, W.C., 1953, Conquest of the Land Through Seven Thousand Years. USDA, SCS Agricultural Information Bulletin #99, Washington D.C.: US Government Printing Office.
2. Soil Improvement Committee, California Fertilizer Assoc., 1975, Ch. 1 Soil - A Medium for Plant Growth, Western Fertilizer Handbook, Danville: The Interstate Printers and Publishers, Inc.
3. Donahue, Roy L., Shickluna, John C., Robertson, Lynn S., 1971, Ch. 5 Soil Formation, Ch. 8 Soil Ecology, Soils - An Introduction to Soils and Plant Growth, 3rd ed., Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall, Inc.
4. Cooperative Extension Service and USDA, 1985, Section D. Fertilizers D6-D7 General Information on Elements Essential for Plant Growth, Soils Handbook, Moscow: University of Idaho, College of Agriculture.
5. Alexander, Martin, 1961, Introduction to Soil Microbiology, New York: John Wiley and Sons, Inc.
6. USDA, 1957, Soil, Washington D.C., US Government Printing Office.
7. See "Keys to Understanding Soil's & Soil Testing...For Sustainable Soil Management" at www.serfpub.com.
EFFECTS OF BIOLOGICAL VITAMIN-HORMONE TREATMENT OF
SOILS ON pH AND ON AVAILABILITY OF NUTRIENTS (Iowa)+
Treatment Controls Difference
Organic Matter 71,800 lbs (3.59%) 63,000 lbs (3.15%) +8,800 lbs (14%)**
Est. Total N 3,590 3,150 +440 (14%)**
Phosphorus (P1) 128.3 86.9 +41.4 (47.6%)**
Potassium 408.2 324.2 + 84.0 (25.9%)**
Magnesium 925.0 896.8 + 28.2 (3.1%)
Calcium 5441 4976 + 465 (9.3%)*
Low pH soils 6.40 pH 6.09 pH + 0.31 (5.1%)**
High pH soils 7.36 pH 7.81 pH - 0.45 (5.8%)**
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+ Results of 30 paired farm field trials
* Significant at the 0.1 level
** Significant at the 0.05 level
EFFECTS OF BIOLOGICAL VITAMIN-HORMONE TREATMENT OF
SOILS ON SOIL HARDNESS +
Treatment Controls Difference
Alberta (17 farm trials)
15 inch depth 92.7 lbs 125.8 lbs -33.1 lbs (35.7%)**
Colorado (20 farm trials)
2 inch depth 18.8 29.8 -11.0 (58.5%)**
4 inch 47.4 62.3 -14.9 (31.4%)**
6 inch 72.6 85.2 -12.6 (17.4%)*
12 inch 92.5 102.3 -9.8 (10.6%)
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+ Measured in pounds of pressure with a soil penetrometer
* Significant at the 0.1 level
** Significant at the 0.05 level
EFFECTS OF BIOLOGICAL VITAMIN-HORMONE TREATMENT OF SOILS
ON WATER ABSORPTION AND PENETRATION +
Treatment Controls Difference
Infiltration time 3.9 minutes 6.4 minutes -2.5 min. (64.1%)**
Infiltration depth
in inches/minute 0.82 inches 0.44 inches +0.38 in. (86.4%)*
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+ Results of 17 paired trials
* Significant at the 0.1 level
** Significant at the 0.05 level
EFFECTS OF BIOLOGICAL VITAMIN-HORMONE TREATMENT OF SOILS
ON CROP YIELDS
Treatment Controls Difference
Corn (25 trials) 156.93 bu. 147.34 bu. +9.59 bu. (6.5%)**
Soybeans (12 trials) 46.31 41.01 +5.3 (12.9%)**
Milo (18 trials) 93.47 84.73 + 8.74 (10.3%)**
Wheat (9 trials) 46.53 41.38 + 5.15 (12.4%)**
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** significant at the 0.05 level
Copyright ©: 1986, Allen Stout, AgroTech Research Group, Inc.; 2007-2010 AgroTech Research Group & Serf Publishing, Inc.