Microbial Assessment
Why
For eons, plants and microbes have been developing the ability to work together to create the environments they need for optimal functioning. Microbes help plants access nutrients and water, communicate, share resources, fend off pests and diseases, and withstand drought and flooding. They are the foundation of a healthy and self-regulating ecosystem. Petroleum-based management practices such as the use of inorganic fertilizer, pesticides, and heavy tilling destroy the soil (and human) microbiomes critical to their regenerative capacity and create the conditions for pathogens to flourish. If you wish to grow plants the way they have been evolving to function, knowing what microorganisms are active in your soil is a good place to start.
What
The Growing Wise lab offers microscope assessment services that quantify the microbial biomass and diversity of your samples. We produce a report and interpret it for you. This will tell us how your soil food web compares to the optimal one for the specific plant you are growing. Data included in the report (biomass is measured by μg/gram of sample): --Bacteria Biomass --Actinobacteria Biomass --Pathogenic Bacteria Presence --Bacteria Diversity --Bacterial-Fungi Biomass Ratio --Oomycete (Disease Causing Fungi) Biomass --Beneficial Fungi Biomass --Protozoa Numbers: Amoeba --Protozoa Numbers: Flagellates --Protozoa Numbers: Ciliates --Nematode Counts: (Beneficial and Pathogenic types)
Price
The cost for each sample analysis is $100 (or less depending on your income), not including shipping from your location to our lab. If you would like GW to come to your property and take samples, there is a $1/mile travel and $10 per area sampled fee. Each plastic bag sent for analysis will be treated as an individual sample. Price per sample decreases as sample numbers increase: 2 samples cost $190 ($95 per sample), 3 for $275 ($91.5 per sample), 4 for $350 ($87.5 per sample), and 5 or more is $80 per sample.
How
Samples can be collected and assessed from lawns, ornamental plantings, meadows, livestock pastures, market gardens, orchards, broad-acre crops, vineyards, composts, manure, forests, and drainage ponds/channels for example.
Example Report
Sample Collection Protocol
The collection process and number of samples taken will depend on what it is that you want sampled. Choose from the following sample collection protocols: (Send an inquiry if unsure)
Non-soils:
Soils: