Biological Soil Testing

Healthy soil and compost are rich in beneficial microbes that cycle nutrients, supplying plants with the essential, soluble nutrients they need. For optimal plant or crop growth, these organisms must be present in specific quantities within your soil.

As a Soil Food Web certified lab tech in Thailand, we provide detailed soil biology reports to give you an in-depth understanding of your soil's microbial health.

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The Soil Food Web

The soil food web is a complex system of interrelated organisms, including bacteria, fungi, and larger soil fauna, that work together to break down organic material and cycle nutrients in the soil. This intricate network supports healthy plant growth by enhancing soil structure, fertility, and nutrient availability, leading to robust plants and crops.

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Poor or imbalanced soil organisms can significantly hinder crop growth in several ways

How do imbalanced or poor soil organisms impact the growth of your crops?

Nutrient Deficiency: A lack of diverse and functional soil organisms disrupts the natural processes of nutrient cycling and mineralization.

This means essential nutrients may not be adequately broken down into forms that plants can absorb, leading to nutrient deficiencies.

Reduced Soil Structure: The physical structure of the soil is largely maintained by the activities of soil organisms, including the formation of aggregates which improve soil aeration and water retention.

Poor soil biology can lead to compacted, poorly aerated soil, which negatively affects root growth and water infiltration.

Increased Disease Vulnerability: A healthy soil ecosystem includes beneficial organisms that compete with or inhibit pathogens.

An imbalance can reduce this natural disease suppression, making crops more susceptible to diseases.

Decreased Plant Productivity: Plants rely on symbiotic relationships with soil microbes, such as mycorrhizal fungi, to access nutrients and water.

A reduction in these beneficial organisms can lead to weaker, less productive plants.

What insights can a biological soil assessment provide about your soil?

A soil food web report provides concise details on your soil's ecosystem and health, highlighting the microorganisms essential for soil fertility and plant vitality.

It eliminates the guesswork in organic farming by assessing if your soil's biology supports your chosen crops. Since different plants—like tomatoes, corn, sugarcane, or fruit trees—thrive with specific fungi-to-bacteria ratios, the report evaluates if your soil meets these criteria. It also examines if the diversity and quantity of microorganisms in your soil can adequately cycle the nutrients your plants require.

Who is a soil biological report for?

  • Farmers moving from chemical-based, conventional agriculture to organic methods.
  • Organic farmers facing challenges with low yields and pest problems.
  • Farmers aiming to cut down on input costs by adopting biological farming techniques
  • Compost companies or individual farms that produce compost and seek to understand the fungal to bacterial ratio within their compost.

A soil biological report is the first step toward reducing your fertilizer costs, minimizing pest damage, and improving your crop yield!