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How to recycle soil using the right cultures
http://www.maximumyield.com/index.php/features/articles/item/724-it’s-alive-again-conditioning-sterilized-soil
"The process of steam sterilization kills soil pathogens such as soil-borne fungi and bacteria, fungus gnat eggs, snails, other pest insects, weeds and weed seeds. However, the steam is non-discriminating in its killing action, so beneficial insects, fungi and bacteria are also killed."
"One way to re-establish balance after sterilization is to re-introduce beneficial fungi into the soil. Mycorrhizal fungi are symbiotic fungi that grow on the roots of plants, physically protecting them from pathogens with a sock-like layer (or, mantle). The fungi dissolve nutrients in the soil and transport them into the plant roots. In return, the plant provides finished goods in the form of proteins and sugars to the fungi. Mycorrhizae fungi spread out into the soil and in effect extend the root system by up to 100 times."
"Another beneficial fungus to consider using is trichoderma.Trichoderma is similar to mycorrhizae in that they attach themselves to the plant roots and spread out into the soil to dissolve nutrients for the plant. But trichoderma have some other advantages over mycorrhizae. They have as two enzyme systems: cellulose, which breaks down organic matter, and chitinase, which breaks down chitin (a major structural component of fungal cell walls). So, typically in the spring time when temperatures are cooler and the pathogen population is low, trichoderma will break down cellulose materials in the soil like sawdust, bark, leaf litter, dead roots, etc. to provide nutrients to the plant roots. But when the weather warms and pathogenic fungi begin to grow in the soil, trichoderma produces chitinase and actually parasitizes pathogenic soil-borne fungi like pythium, rhizoctonia and others."
"A beneficial bacterium that has gained a lot of attention in recent years is bacillus subtilus, and it is a good biological to add to sterilized soils to regain balance. This beneficial bacterium produces not only enzymes, but antibiotics as well. And bacillus subtilus has a tail (or, flagellum) that makes it mobile when the soil is moist so it can go on seek and destroy missions in your soil to hunt down and destroy soil pathogens."
http://www.maximumyield.com/index.php/features/articles/item/724-it’s-alive-again-conditioning-sterilized-soil
"The process of steam sterilization kills soil pathogens such as soil-borne fungi and bacteria, fungus gnat eggs, snails, other pest insects, weeds and weed seeds. However, the steam is non-discriminating in its killing action, so beneficial insects, fungi and bacteria are also killed."
"One way to re-establish balance after sterilization is to re-introduce beneficial fungi into the soil. Mycorrhizal fungi are symbiotic fungi that grow on the roots of plants, physically protecting them from pathogens with a sock-like layer (or, mantle). The fungi dissolve nutrients in the soil and transport them into the plant roots. In return, the plant provides finished goods in the form of proteins and sugars to the fungi. Mycorrhizae fungi spread out into the soil and in effect extend the root system by up to 100 times."
"Another beneficial fungus to consider using is trichoderma.Trichoderma is similar to mycorrhizae in that they attach themselves to the plant roots and spread out into the soil to dissolve nutrients for the plant. But trichoderma have some other advantages over mycorrhizae. They have as two enzyme systems: cellulose, which breaks down organic matter, and chitinase, which breaks down chitin (a major structural component of fungal cell walls). So, typically in the spring time when temperatures are cooler and the pathogen population is low, trichoderma will break down cellulose materials in the soil like sawdust, bark, leaf litter, dead roots, etc. to provide nutrients to the plant roots. But when the weather warms and pathogenic fungi begin to grow in the soil, trichoderma produces chitinase and actually parasitizes pathogenic soil-borne fungi like pythium, rhizoctonia and others."
"A beneficial bacterium that has gained a lot of attention in recent years is bacillus subtilus, and it is a good biological to add to sterilized soils to regain balance. This beneficial bacterium produces not only enzymes, but antibiotics as well. And bacillus subtilus has a tail (or, flagellum) that makes it mobile when the soil is moist so it can go on seek and destroy missions in your soil to hunt down and destroy soil pathogens."
