"It's All About the Slime"

8 years ago

Excellent little interview with a horticulture extension specialist. Tells the story of how organic matter works in the soil and why compost is important, in terms any gardener can understand.

http://www.waynecojournalbanner.com/news/article_736174e0-f1d9-11e5-a0b3-7b435ec059d4.html

"A single teaspoon of living soil can contain billions of bacteria, protozoa and fungi. When those soil microbes do what they do best—feed, reproduce and live—they produce mucilage or biofilm, which are nice words for slime.

"That slime is absolutely necessary to build good soil structure and maintain living soil."

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Comments (4)

User
8 years ago
The main premise of the article is right on, but the writer provides some questionable recommendations. First, it is worth noting that the article is somehow related to the state of Missouri. What works in Missouri is not likely to work so well in Arizona or Oregon.

But, yes, the goal of a gardener is to cultivate the soil until it becomes the 'chocolate cake' crumbly brown soil that is composed of peds - small balls of soil that are coated with the organic slime.

If a person has clay soil, the addition of humic shale ore fertilizer, such as Zamzow's Huma Green (do a google search) will do the trick. Amazing stuff and it does not require tilling into the soil. Apply it to the surface and allow it to be absorbed. Repeated applications cause the soil to become conditioned deeper and deeper.
nancyjane_gardener
8 years ago
It's all about the slime, bout the slime, bout the slime (sung to all about the base)......Sorry! Nancy
LoneJack Zn 6a, KC
8 years ago
The main premise of the article is right on, but the writer provides some questionable recommendations. First, it is worth noting that the article is somehow related to the state of Missouri. What works in Missouri is not likely to work so well in Arizona or Oregon.

Yes, it was written by a Missouri extension agent and published in a Missouri county newspaper but I don't see much in the article that would not apply universally.

The only recommendation I would question is the addition of 4" of decomposed organic matter "each and every spring". For an established garden that much compost every spring might prove excessive. I go for 1-2" and most beds get that applied in the fall or between spring and fall planted crops.
toxcrusadr
Original Author
8 years ago
I agree, 4" is a LOT and I have never done that except maybe the first application on a new bed in poor soil. I meant to say something about that very point but forgot.

I have not heard of that shale product, idaho_g. I will look it up just out of curiosity. I've had pretty good luck with the compost on this clay over the years, and adding a little silt or sand when I can get my hands on it. And it was awfully cheap to do. :-]