Compost and the Soil Food Web

7/30/2019 Compost and the Soil Food Web

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Compost and theSoil Food WebThe Microbes in Your Compost Pile

First Edition

David Dittmar


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Compost & the Soil Food Web

Copyright compostjunkie.com Page 1 of 6

he illustration above is known as the Soil Food Web. Similar to the food chains you

arned about in grade school, the Soil Food Web depicts the interrelationship of

ganisms within, and dependent on, your soil and compost. It is very important to

our composting, and gardening, success that you understand the basics of the Soi

ood Web. So lets begin
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lants = Microbe Farmers

s you can see in the illustration on the previous page, the Soil Food Web starts wit

ants. Plants receive their nutrients from several sources. They can gather nutrient

om the atmosphere (via photosynthesis and the air around them), or from the soil.

As plants grow, they convert the suns energy via photosynthesis intoarbohydrates and oxygen. Some of these carbohydrates, as well as some proteins

e then shuttled down to the plants root zone (the rhizosphere), where they are

ecreted into the soil. These secretions are known as exudates.

Plant exudates attract and feed various soil microbes in the area around the

ants root zone. As these microbes (e.g. bacteria and fungi) grow and multiple, the

tract various predators (e.g. nematodes and protozoa). These predators consume

gest, and excrete the more simple microbes (i.e. bacteria and fungi) and expel theastes into the soil around the plants root zone. These waste products provide a

adily available form of nutrients, which plants quickly take up and utilize. Now for

e amazing part

Depending on the season and which nutrients plants require, they will secrete

pecific exudates to attract specific microbes containing those nutrients. All in all,

ants are literally farming the microbes around their root zone in order to feed

emselves. Isnt that amazing?

As you can now see, ensuring that the right nutrients and diversity of microbes

e present in your soil is tantamount to your gardening success. When gardeners

se pesticides, they are killing their soil microbes and severing the connection

etween their plants and their food supply. Doesnt make much sense, does it?

Were now going to highlight some important facts about four types of microbes

at are typically found in high quality compost and soil.


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acteria

Other than plants, bacteria are the

undation of the Soil Food Web. It is

mportant to feed them properly in your

ompost, and garden soils, since soany other organisms are dependent

pon them.

Adequate moisture levels are a must forCredit: Michael T. Holmes, Oregon State University

e success of bacteria because they use it to take in nutrients, expel wastes,

nd move about your compost pile and garden soils. Bacteria also require

oisture to digest the organic matter in your compost.

Bacteria feed on organic matter (carbohydrates/simple sugars), and store mostthese nutrients inside themselves until they die or they are eaten by a

edator. Bacteria can be thought of as tiny containers of plant nutrients.

What is a bacterias favorite food? Fresh green matter, such as grass

ppings, weeds, and other green foliage. Bacteria love the simple sugars in

ese materials. This is also the reason why we use simple sugars like molasses

our compost tea brews it feeds the bacteria.

Fun Fact The group of bacteria known as actinomycetes produce enzymesat give compost/soil that earthy odor that weve all come to know and love.

efore we go much further we wanted to mention an incredible book that is an

bsolute must for all serious composters and gardeners. The book is called

eaming with Microbes: The Organic Gardeners Guide to the Soil Food

Web, Revised Edition by Jeff Lowenfels and Wayne Lewis.


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ungi

Unlike bacteria, fungi can grow towards

eir food sources, and therefore arent

liant on moisture to move about your

ompost pile and garden soil.

Oftentimes, when people think of fungi,ey think of mushrooms, which are one

the means of fungal reproduction (via

pores).Credit: http://bioweb.uwlax.edu

Fungi feed on more complex carbon materials (e.g. woody structures like

ecaying trees/woodchips) and break it down into simpler sugars and amino

cids. Once broken down, these materials can be consumed by bacteria. Fungi

oduce very strong enzymes in order to successfully break down theseomplex carbon materials. One such carbon material is lignin, better known as

e woody component in plants.

Have you ever noticed white thread-like material in your composting pile? If so,

ey are most likely mycelia, or masses of fungal hyphae. Hyphae are invisible

the naked eye unless they are massed. This is usually a good sign, but may

so indicate low moisture levels in your pile.

Fungi are similar to earthworms in that they help to build soil structure. As fungiow throughout your compost pile, or soil, they create pathways through which

r, water, and microbes can pass. Nature does do her own rototilling.

How do you build fungal-rich soils and compost? 1 - Stop rototilling and

sturbing your soil/compost. Rototilling cuts fungal strands up into little pieces. 2

Reduce the compaction in your soil and compost pile. This is why we

commend including some larger ingredients (e.g. large wood chips) into your

ompost pile.


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rotozoa

Protozoa feed mainly on bacteria and

ome fungi. They are one of the

edators we mentioned on page two of

s document. As protozoa (and the next

oup of organisms called nematodes)ed and excrete bacteria and fungi in

our compost and soil, they release many

the nutrients stored within these

ganisms.

Credit: http://carcd.org

Like bacteria, protozoa do require moisture for transportation.

Although protozoa are not primary consumers of the organic materials in your

ompost, they do eat some, indirectly, when they are consuming the bacteriand fungi in your compost.

There is a simple test to determine whether or not your finished compost or

arden soil has a good supply of protozoa. Since earthworms depend on

otozoa as a primary food source, if you see worms in your finished compost

e or garden soil, you can assume you have enough protozoa to sustain them.

What is the best way to ensure adequate levels of protozoa in your

ompost? Feed the bacteria! If you ensure that your bacteria have a constantpply of simple sugars, youll indirectly increase the number of protozoa in your

e since theyre dependent on bacteria for their food.


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ematodes

Nematodes, like protozoa, feed mainly

n bacteria and fungi.

There are hundreds of thousands of

fferent types of nematodes, including

ot-feeding and predatory. Root-feedingematodes often cause root knots, a

ommon annoyance that avid gardeners

equently encounter.Credit: http://kentsimmons.uwinnipeg.ca

Some predatory nematodes (like the ones you can buy in many garden

enters) feed on protozoa, grubs, slugs, and even other nematodes. Oftentimes,

ardeners see the word predatory and fear the worst, however, more often

an not these are beneficial to have in your compost and garden soil. Ifnything, you should be concerned with the herbaceous nematodes that can

arm your plants.

Pound for pound, beneficial nematodes tend to release more nutrients into

our soil than protozoa.

Good news for composters Some nematodes have been known to consume

nd breakdown organic matter.

How to foster nematodes in your compost and garden soil Avoid

ompaction! Compacted soils greatly reduce nematode numbers.

he above information merely touches on the surface of the Soil Food Web. If youd

ke more specific information about the Soil Food Web and how it relates to your

ompost, please write to us. And rememberwe cant become the Webs biggest

be of compost enthusiasts without your help, so please visit us again soon.
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Compost and the Soil Food Web