OF August September 2021e

August/September 2021 

Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation as an 

Organic Systems-Based Approach Part II 

SPECIAL SECTION: 

Nutrients and Soil Health 

Put Soil Microbes to Work 

Humic Acid Beyond the Marketing 

Mycorrhizal Fungi for Plant Systems: 

The How and the Why 

September 16-17, 2021 - Visalia, California 

Register at progressivecrop.com/conference 

SEE PAGE 24-25 FOR MORE INFORMATION 

Volume 4: Issue: 4 

(Photo by David Norene, Big Time Farms, LLC.)

Blu t o Bttr Oan Pdun 

BET O PGE: 

Stiti so cogim 

Los, in il fe w 

Redon riz eqe 

Acit he moto pt ede 

an cus ehm 

Ines at ta cat so 

Benfia t so y an mit 

Opiz uton h an, d 

gos ror o ste 

MORZE 

PEGI 

ACTE 

BET O MRZA: 

Plas es t 

Plas es riz 

Stite t ow 

Imov sin o fl o des 

Imov rut ra 

Red tasn h 

Imov al roh 

Imov il rre 

Sol on esto d tito 

BET O CAT 

Fre in mos pet nede 

Aci fal g n un bos 

Nitn fiig nis 

Hum ran 

PO: 559-564-1236 

w.MyoAdCo.c 

Cal y o 20% Dist o Y ex Ode 

2 Organic Farmer August/September 2021

4 

10 

14 

20 

26 

IN THIS ISSUE 

Part II: Anaerobic Soil 

DisInfestation in Vegetables 

Improving Understanding 

of Herbicide Drift Symptoms 

on Hemp 

SPECIAL SECTION: 

Nutrients and Soil Health 

Balancing Soil Fertility and 

Nutrient Management for 

Organic Farming 

Humic Acid Beyond 

the Marketing: Origins, 

Research and Effective 

Application 

Mycorrhizal Fungi for 

Plant Systems: The How 

and the Why 

4 

PUBLISHER: Jason Scott 

Email: jason@jcsmarketinginc.com 

EDITOR: Marni Katz 

ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Cecilia Parsons 

Email: article@jcsmarketinginc.com 

PRODUCTION: design@jcsmarketinginc.com 

Phone: 559.352.4456 

Fax: 559.472.3113 

Web: www.organicfarmingmag.com 

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 

& INDUSTRY SUPPORT 

David M. Butler 

University of 

Tennessee, Knoxville 

Taylor Chalstrom 

Assistant Editor 

Oleg Daugovish 

UC Cooperative 

Extension 

Francesco Di Gioia 

Pennsylvania State 

University 

Joseph R. Heckman, 

Ph.D. 

Soil Fertility Extension 

Specialist, Rutgers 

University 

Julie R. Johnson 

Contributing Writer 

Neal Kinsey 

Kinsey Ag Services 

Mitch Lies 

Contributing Writer 

Frank J. Louws 

North Carolina State 

University 

Joji Muramoto 

UC Cooperative 

Extension, UC Santa 

Cruz 

Erin Rosskopf 

USDA-ARS, Fort Pierce, 

Fla. 

Carol Shennan 

UC Santa Cruz 

Eryn Wingate 

Agronomist, Tri-Tech Ag 

Products, Inc. 

Dr. Karl Wyant 

Vice President of 

Ag Science, Heliae 

Agriculture 

30 

34 

38 

Put Soil Microbes to 

Work 

Soil Fertility Considerations 

for Growing Organic 

Tree Crops: Part 1 

California Olive Ranch 

Makes Move into Organic 

14 UC COOPERATIVE EXTENSION 

ADVISORY BOARD 

Surendra Dara 

UCCE Entomology and 

Biologicals Advisor, San Luis 

Obispo and Santa Barbara 

Counties 

Kevin Day 

County Director/UCCE 

Pomology Farm Advisor, 

Tulare/Kings Counties 

Elizabeth Fichtner 

UCCE Farm Advisor, 

Tulare County 

Katherine Jarvis-Shean 

UCCE Area Orchard Systems 

Advisor, Sacramento, 

Solano and Yolo Counties 

Steven Koike 

Tri-Cal Diagnostics 

Jhalendra Rijal 

UCCE Integrated Pest 

Management Advisor, 

Stanislaus County 

Kris Tollerup 

UCCE Integrated Pest 

Management Advisor, 

Parlier 

Mohammad Yaghmour 

UCCE Area Orchard Systems 

Advisor, Kern County 

42 

California Comeback 

Plan Proposes Millions in 

Funding for Cannabis 

38 

The articles, research, industry updates, 

company profiles, and advertisements in this 

publication are the professional opinions of 

writers and advertisers. Organic Farmer does 

not assume any responsibility for the opinions 

given in the publication. 

August/September 2021 www.organicfarmermag.com 3

ANAEROBIC SOIL DISINFESTATION AS AN 

ORGANIC SYSTEMS-BASED APPROACH 

Part 2: ASD Implementation Strategies for Different Regions in the U.S. 

By JOJI MURAMOTO | University of California Cooperative Extension, University of California Santa Cruz 

FRANCESCO DI GIOIA | Pennsylvania State University 

DAVID M. BUTLER | University of Tennessee, Knoxville 

OLEG DAUGOVISH| University of California Cooperative Extension 

FRANK J. LOUWS | North Carolina State University 

ERIN ROSSKOPF | USDA-ARS, Fort Pierce, Fla. 

and CAROL SHENNAN | University of California Santa Cruz 

Rice bran application using a manure spreader for ASD at an organic strawberry 

field in Watsonville, Calif. (photo by J. Muramoto.) 

(This is the second in a two-part series 

on ASD. To read the previous article, 

please refer to the June/July 2021 issue of 

Organic Farmer magazine.) 

Anaerobic soil disinfestation 

(ASD) is a series of biological and 

chemical processes that occur 

when soil is made anaerobic with irrigation 

after a carbon amendment has 

been incorporated. But, like all biological 

processes, environmental conditions 

affect if and how rapidly the processes 

occur, which means that ASD does not 

work in all situations. Soil temperature, 

moisture, type and amount of carbon 

added all impact ASD effectiveness. 

Furthermore, the conditions needed 

for ASD to be effective depend on the 

specific pathogen(s) you are trying to 

control. So, while there are general 

principles to follow, specific ASD management 

guidelines need to be worked 

out for each region and pathogen. 

Here, we provide a summary of current 

knowledge for regions across the U.S. 

ASD in California 

In 2003-04, ASD was shown to be 

successful at suppressing Verticillium 

wilt in strawberries at the UCSC Center 

for Agroecology and Sustainable Food 

Systems. By 2010, a bed-treatment ASD 

system using 6 to 9 ton/ac rice bran 

as a carbon source was developed for 

control of V. dahliae (see Part 1 of this 

article in the June/July 2021 issue for 

details of typical steps for ASD implementation.) 

Work has since expanded 

to address control of other strawberry 

pathogens, and field trials for a variety 

of tree crop nurseries show promising 

results. 

Commercial application of ASD began 

in 2011 and has been increasing. In 

2019, 1,700 acres of mainly organic 

strawberries and cane berries were 

treated with ASD. Some organic strawberry 

nurseries also use a broadcast flat 

ground version of ASD. Rice bran has 

been the most popular carbon source 

used, but other options include wheat 

bran and waste materials like grape 

pomace, coffee grounds and wheat 

Midds (wheat millfeed). 

Benefits of ASD in California: 

• ASD suppresses Verticillium wilt in 

strawberries with our region’s late 

summer-fall soil temperatures (65 to 

75 degrees F). 

• Six to nine tons/acre of rice bran 

provides 70 to 100 lb/acre of slow-release 

plant-available nitrogen in the 

first six months, and a season-long 

supply of phosphorus, thereby 

reducing or eliminating the need for 

pre-plant fertilizers. Other materials 

with lower nitrogen content may 

require pre-plant fertilizer. 

• Rice bran-based ASD provides fruit 

yields equivalent to fumigation, but 

see below for exceptions. 

Continued on Page 6 


Organic 

Almonds 

Made Easy 

With the Super High Density Hedged System 

Harvest Direct From 

the Tree at Hull Split! 

This reduces the amount 

of time hulls are open and 

will potentially eliminate 

aflatoxins and crop 

damage due to pest and 

diseases. 

Eliminate the Need for 

Weed Control! 

By harvesting off the 

ground, weed management 

becomes less 

important making it easier 

to grow Organic Almonds 

Super High Density 

Almond Advantages 

TOTAL MECHANIZATION 

From the moment of planting 

HARVEST OFF THE TREE 

1 pass using over-the-row harvester! 

HIGH YIELD FOR GROWERS 

EARLY ENTRY INTO PRODUCTION 

(Almost full production in Year 3) 

LESS LABOR 

LESS WATER NEEDED TO GROW 

ALMONDS 

MEETS 

Current 800 acre SHD Almond orchard 

being planted in Kern County! 

(Picture taken January 2021) 

The SHD Hedged System is grown on size a controlling rootstock called Rootpac 20. 

Scan to Watch Our Video 

For more information, please contact: 

Grower Relations Manager 

Grower Relations Representative 

Melissa Steidlmayer 

Serving Stanislaus to North Counties 

(530) 812-3398 

msteidlmayer@agromillora.com 

Omar Navarro 

Serving Merced to South Counties 

(559) 470-4914 

onavarro@agromillora.com 


Farmers in a focus group assessing production of organic okra 

using ASD in Marion County, Fla. (photo by E. Rosskopf.) 

View of a cover crop trial conducted in 2019 (photo by F. Di Gioia.) 

Sudan grass and rice bran (in sandbags) as carbon sources for ASD 

in an organic field at the Center for Agroecology and Sustainable 

Food Systems, UC Santa Cruz (photo by J. Muramoto.) 

ASD experiment conducted using buckwheat and sugarcane molasses 

as carbon sources in the summer of 2019 using a movable 

high tunnel structure (photo by F. Di Gioia.) 

Continued from Page 4 

• Cover crop or crop residues can 

partially substitute for rice bran, 

reducing the cost of ASD, while still 

providing effective control. 

• Addition of rice bran reduces 

the bulk density of clay soils and 

improves water infiltration and salt 

leaching. 

Limitations of ASD in California: 

• High soil temperatures (>86 degrees 

F) are required for ASD to suppress 

Fusarium wilt of strawberries. If 

ASD is applied to a Fusariuminfested 

field in the fall, it can 

increase disease severity because 

at lower temperatures, Fusarium 

feeds on the rice bran before the 

anaerobic and beneficial bacteria are 

able to. 

• Summer ASD using clear mulch to 

raise soil temperature and strong 

anaerobic conditions are needed to 

control Fusarium wilt. 

• Temperature and anaerobic thresholds 

for ASD to suppress charcoal 

rot (Macrophomina phaseolina) are 

not established, but are likely higher 

than for Verticillium. 

• The cost of rice bran is increasing 

($350 to $380/ton in 2021), but less 

expensive materials look promising. 

• ASD is not a silver bullet and should 

be used in combination with other 

tactics such as crop rotation and use 

of resistant cultivars. 

ASD in Florida 

Considerable work has been done on 

ASD in Florida for vegetables and cut 

flowers. Early research established that 

ASD using clear plastic mulch effectively 

controlled Fusarium oxysporum, 

root-knot nematodes, Phytopathora 

capsici and grass weeds in pepper/eggplant 

double crops. Using clear mulch 

is an issue since it must be painted or 

replaced for the crop cycle as temperatures 

under clear mulch are too high. 

Subsequent work in tomato, however, 

showed that opaque totally impermeable 

film (TIF) could be successfully 

used for ASD. Research is underway 

on ASD for strawberry with promising 

results. 

Several commercial organic producers 

are using ASD for growing organic 

tomatoes, mixed specialty vegetables 

and cucumbers. Originally, sugarcane 

molasses was used as the carbon source 

for ASD, but cover crops, mustard seed 

meal, wheat and rice bran, corn gluten, 

citrus and beet molasses, and composted 

algae have all been investigated. So 

far, the combination of pelleted poultry 


' …THE 

CONDITIONS 

NEEDED FOR ASD 

TO BE EFFECTIVE 

DEPEND ON 

THE SPECIFIC 

PATHOGEN(S) YOU 

ARE TRYING TO 

CONTROL.' 

litter and molasses is the most effective 

approach. 

Benefits of ASD in Florida 

• ASD consistently controls numerous 

soilborne plant pathogens, 

including root-knot nematode, and 

reduces weed pressure. 

• A limitation for some is the use of 

plastic mulch at all. Different types 

of coverings that may be more 

sustainable are being investigated. 

Southeastern U.S. 

Research on ASD has focused on 

warm-season vegetables and cut flowers 

(TN), and recently strawberries (NC, 

TN). For warm-season vegetables, 

ASD is used to control southern blight 

(Sclerotium rolfsii) and Fusarium wilt 

(F. oxysporum) and is applied in early/ 

mid-spring for open field production, 

and at variable times for protected culture. 

Strawberries are planted in the fall 

and removed in mid-June, providing an 

ideal time with high summer temperatures 

for ASD just before planting. The 

major focus for strawberries is control 

of black root rot (BRR) caused by a 

complex of Rhizoctonia and Pythium 

species. BRR can suppress yields by 

20% to 40%. 

Many agricultural by-products and 

plant residues can be used with ASD. 

One good option is a mixture of dry 

molasses, soybean hulls and wheat 

bran. This mix provides sufficient 

decomposable organic compounds 

to drive fermentation, a moderate 

C:N ratio that simplifies crop fertility 

management, is widely available and 

improves physical properties of highclay 

soils typical in the region. Generally, 

by-products that have small particle 

sizes, contain decomposable organic 

compounds and are locally available 

for low cost will work for ASD. Crop 

and cover crop residues also work, but 

particle size and decomposability vary 

depending on mowing/chopping equipment, 

crop species and growth stage. 

On-farm studies have been conducted 

with organic and conventional growers, 

but commercial adoption is limited 

to organic fresh-market high tunnel 

tomato production. 


• For farmers who already use organic 

amendments, it fits easily into their 

production systems. 

• ASD improves plant nutrition, 

results in higher fruit yields and 

maintains or improves quality. 

• Compared to fumigation for tomatoes, 

ASD provided greater returns 

despite higher application costs. 

INCREASE YIELD AND CROP QUALITY 

WITH SEAVOLUTION G ® 

Seavolution G ® is an organic soluble microgranular formulation, based 

on the marine algae, Ascophyllum nodosum, obtained through specific 

extraction processes. Seavolution G is able to regulate plant metabolic 

activity, enhancing plant growth and productivity 

For more information contact Valagro representative, David Lewis at 

(559)-730-6075 or visit www.valagrousa.com 

Limitations of ASD in Florida 

• ASD requires a large quantity of 

organic amendments. For growers 

who have not used organic amendments, 

the logistics of applying 

material to large acreage is a barrier 

to widespread adoption. 

SCAN ME 

• Some pathogens, like 

Macrophomina, may require use of 

clear mulch during ASD to raise 

soil temperatures. Current research 

is addressing this question and the 

quantity of inputs needed for ASD 

in strawberry. 


information is available on the NC 

State strawberry grower portal.) 

• Planting date is critical for strawberries. 

Planting two weeks late can 

reduce yields by 50%. If excessive 

rain events occur, there may not be 

time to do ASD prior to planting. 

• Cost of carbon inputs, transportation, 

labor and management can 

be higher than other less intensive 

systems. 

Northeastern U.S. 

Research on ASD began in 2019 in 

Pennsylvania for controlling northern 

root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne 

hapla), tomato white mold (Sclerotinia 

sclerotiorum), Verticillium and Fusarium 

wilt, especially in high tunnel vegetable 

systems where diseases are more 

severe than in open fields. Questions 

being addressed are how to integrate 

ASD into current production systems, 

what the best times for application 

are and what locally available carbon 

sources are effective for ASD. 

Example of on-farm ASD application in a Pennsylvania high tunnel: a) application 

of chicken manure; b) preparation of feed-grade sugarcane molasses mixed with 

irrigation water (1:1 v:v) and c) application on top of the bed; d) molasses and 

chicken manure being incorporated in the soil; e) preparation of raised beds with 

TIF and two drip lines per bed; and f) installation of ORP sensors to monitor soil 

redox potential during the ASD treatment (photo by F. Di Gioia.) 


Benefits of ASD in the Southeast 

• ASD suppresses various soilborne 

pathogens and enhances vegetable 

yields. 

• Beneficial biocontrol and biostimulant 

soil fungi are enhanced 

post-ASD, including populations of 

Trichoderma spp. and colonization 

of crop roots by mycorrhizal fungi. 

• ASD suppresses BRR and improves 

strawberry yield, performing 

similarly to fumigation. 

• There is good evidence of winter 

annual weed suppression by ASD. 

Limitations of ASD in the Southeast 

• For open-field vegetables, ASD done 

in early/mid-spring will not control 

Fusarium because soil temperatures 

are too low, but in high tunnels 

or greenhouse systems, there are 

options for ASD when soil temperatures 

are higher. 

• ASD is knowledge and management 

intensive. Variables to manage 

include type and amount of carbon 

to add, methods of incorporation 

and timing of application. 

• Crop fertility management must be 

adjusted depending on the nitrogen 

content of the carbon source 

used (detailed plant management 

ASD is being tested by high tunnel 

fresh-market tomato growers looking 

to improve soil health and manage 

soilborne pathogens. However, there is 

limited information available on how 

to optimize ASD for these systems. Recent 

work found that a buckwheat cover 

crop could be effective either as the sole 

carbon source for ASD or in combination 

with molasses. Other work is 

testing fresh vegetable residues, brewer’s 

spent grain, wheat Midds, spent 

mushroom compost and grape pomace 

as carbon sources, with wheat Midds 

showing particular promise. 

Benefits of ASD in the Northeast 

• ASD addresses emerging soilborne 

pathogens, enhances soil health and 

provides nutrients to the following 

crop. 

• It can be integrated with other 

biological strategies such as cover 

crops and grafted plants. 

Limitations of ASD in the Northeast 


• The main limitation is the short 

window of time available for 

application of ASD in typical crop 

rotations. Based on soil temperatures, 

the best times to apply ASD 

are late summer to early fall after an 

early tomato crop. However, ASD 

cannot be done immediately before 

establishing the tomato crop due to 

low soil temperatures (

IMPROVING 

UNDERSTANDING 

OF HERBICIDE DRIFT 

SYMPTOMS ON HEMP 

Research to document symptoms should help 

improve diagnostics and avoid confusion. 

By MITCH LIES | Contributing Writer 

Two UCCE researchers have documented 

herbicide drift symptoms on hemp for several 

commonly used herbicides in an attempt 

to educate growers and potentially forestall 

unfounded accusations. 

crop has many uses, including as a food 

product, in textiles and biofuels, but it 

is the medicinal properties of hemp-derived 

cannabidiol (CBD) that is the 

most sought after. 

an abiotic issue is the culprit, according 

to Light. Biological organisms, such as 

insects and diseases, move in a nonlinear 

pattern and typically are not 

associated with drift, she said. 

UCCE Farm Advisor for Sutter, 

Yuba, and Colusa counties Sarah 

Light and UCCE Weed Specialist 

Brad Hanson simulated the drift symptoms 

in the 2019 project, photographed 

the affected plants and published their 

work in a May 2021 UC ANR publication. 

Light said when asked why the pair 

pursued the project. “It wasn’t a response 

to something that happened. It 

was just a way to provide a tool so if 

drift does happen, growers know what 

it looks like, and to make sure there aren’t 

any unfounded accusations against 

our existing growers who are managing 

their commodities. 

“We have a new crop in the landscape,” 

she added. “It is high value. We have 

our existing growers who are managing 

their crops, and we want to be able to 

protect everybody from any issues.” 

Hemp production was legalized in the 

U.S. under the 2018 Farm Bill. According 

to CDFA, there are now more 

than 550 registered hemp growers in 

the state and more than 50,000 acres 

registered for hemp production. The 

Scott Bowden, deputy ag commissioner 

for Sutter County, who is in charge of 

pesticide use enforcement, said that to 

date, there hasn’t been a complaint of 

herbicide drift on hemp in the county. 

But he is concerned, nonetheless. 

“I’ve been waiting since 2019 for drift 

incidents,” he said, “but we haven’t 

gotten any complaints yet. Which isn’t 

to say that it hasn’t happened; we just 

haven’t had any complaints.” 

Bowden believes one reason why 

involves the timing of herbicide use in 

rice, a dominant crop in the county, in 

relation to when hemp is transplanted. 

“They plant the crop [hemp] after 

July, after the rice herbicides have been 

used,” Bowden said. “That has really 

helped keep drift issues down. 

“A big reason we have not had any drift 

complaints is because we have professionally 

trained and licensed applicators 

who spray for a living, and no one 

wants to drift onto any other crops,” he 

added. 

Proper Diagnosis Critical 

Typically, when drift is misdiagnosed, 

“Certainly, if you had one hemp plant 

damaged in the middle of your field, 

that is never going to be a drift issue,” 

Light said. “Drift issues would likely 

be confused with a nonbiological issue, 

like say soil compaction on a field edge. 

“Diagnostics is really a complex, very 

nuanced thing,” Light added. “And yet 

proper diagnostics is critical for any 

pest management program.” 

In the demonstration project, Light and 

Hanson transplanted hemp plants on 

July 25. Three weeks later, they applied 

low-rate treatments of several herbicides 

to the foliage. They then photographed 

the plants over a two-week 

period. 

“In a more typical drift situation, symptoms 

may be less dramatic than those 

documented in this publication,” the 

researchers wrote, “while direct applications 

of full rates may cause even 

more severe symptoms (including plant 

death).” 

The researchers applied 19 commonly 



#KLR_1 aka “Cherry Limeade Hemp” 

Equatorial Champion 

Cultivated in Jamaica, Haiti, Colombia, 

Hawaii, Mexico, Thailand, and all of 

North America 

High Heat/High Humidity Survivability 

Boutique Smokeable Flower 

Global Provider since 2017 

High CBD 

Minor Cannabinoid CBG 

Disease/Insect Resistant 

High Yield for Biomass/Extraction 

Certified Organic OTCO 

Buy seeds at www.klrfarms.com Check us out at @KLR_Farms 

Pictured: KLR#1 flower on October 18, Albany, Or. 



used herbicides, including glyphosate, 

paraquat, glufosinate, saflufenacil, 

carfentrazone, oxyfluorfen and propanil. 

In the document, they ran two 

dozen pictures of hemp affected by 

herbicide drift at different durations 

after application. 

The publication also includes descriptions 

of the damage and explanations 

for what happened within the plant 

to cause the damage. Paraquat, for 

example, the researchers wrote, is a 

postemergence contact herbicide that 

disrupts energy flow during photosynthesis 

and can cause injury within 

hours after application. Symptoms of 

paraquat damage include chlorosis, 

a yellowing of leaf tissue due to low 

chlorophyll, or necrotic (dead) spots associated 

with individual spray droplets, 

the researchers wrote. 

In general, the symptoms documented 

in the project are similar to herbicide 

symptoms in other crops, according to 

an email response from Hanson. 

“There was nothing unexpected observed,” 

Hanson said in answering 

whether researchers encountered any 

surprises. “Herbicide symptoms are 

pretty consistent across crops and the 

trends toward recovery (or not) were 

consistent with what you’d expect from 

other crops.” 

The researchers did not carry the plants 

to maturity in the project. 

Many Forms of Drift 

Pesticide drift can take several forms, 

according to the California Department 

of Pesticide Regulation (DPR), 

including appearing as a cloud of dust, 

or it can be invisible and odorless. Drift 

also isn’t limited to the period during 

or immediately after an application, 

according to DPR. 

“Days or even weeks after application, 

pesticides can evaporate (volatize) into 

a gas,” DPR writes in a document on 

drift. 

While some drift, particularly small 

amounts, is unavoidable, DPR notes 

that drift can be minimized by taking 

steps, such as ensuring equipment and 

application techniques minimize drift 

and applying pesticides only when 

conditions warrant, such as when wind 

speeds are low. 

DPR also advises applicators to follow 

label directions when applying products 

as an additional means to avoid 

issues with drift. 

While as of mid-June, Bowden said 

he had yet to field a complaint about 

herbicide drift onto hemp in Sutter 

County, he was concerned that issues 

could occur this summer. A county 

ordinance has now banned hemp producers 

from producing the crop within 

a certain distance of population centers, 

an ordinance that is expected to push 

hemp producers further into agricultural 

production areas, making drift 

issues more likely to occur. 

Superior Mating Disruption 

for the Two Key Pests 

Facing the Nut Industry 

ISOMATE Mist NOW 

225+ days of Navel Orangeworm 

disruption in Almonds, Pistachios 

and Walnuts 

ISOMATE CM Mist Walnut Plus 

Innovative Technology for 

180+ days of Codling Moth 

disruption 

® 

He is encouraging producers to open 

lines of communication in hopes of 

avoiding issues with drift. “We are 

trying to encourage grower-to-grower 

contact,” he said. “That way, they can 

let their neighbor know when they are 

going to spray, and a hemp grower can 

do things like cover intake fans in cases 

where hemp is grown in a greenhouse. 

“That is the best situation,” he said. 

“Whether it is drift between a rice grower 

and a hemp grower or a residential 

homeowner and a hemp grower, if you 

can open up those lines of communication, 

that is a much easier way to get 

things done than going through our 

office.” 

The project report can be viewed at anrcatalog.ucanr.edu, 

publication No. 8689. 

Reliable People. Reliable Products. 

Jeannine Lowrimore 

www.pacificbiocontrol.com 

Northern California 

ISOMATE ® is a registered trademark of Pacific Biocontrol 209.603.9244 

Christeen Abbott-Hearn 

Central and Coastal California 

559.334.7664 

Comments about this article? We want 

to hear from you. Feel free to email us at 

article@jcsmarketinginc.com 


The Grower’s Advantage 

Since 1982 

Effective Plant Nutrients and Biopesticides 

to Improve Crop Quality & Yield 

ORGANIC 

® 

ORGANIC 

® 

® 

Approved for Use on All Crops 

Plant Nutrients & Adjuvants 

Herbicide EC 

Botector ® 

Biofungicide 

® 

GARGOIL 

INSECT, MITE & DISEASE CONTROL 

Blossom Protect 

Bactericide 

For more information, call (800) 876-2767 or visit www.westbridge.com 


BALANCING SOIL FERTILITY 

AND NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT 

FOR ORGANIC FARMING 

By JOSEPH R. HECKMAN, PH.D. | Soil Fertility Extension Specialist, Rutgers University 

SPECIAL SECTION: Nutrients and Soil Health 

Sept. 

16-17, 2021 

Compost operation/demonstration at the Rodale Institute in Pennsylvania. Organic growers must keep detailed records of imported compost or 

source materials used in making compost (all photos by J.R. Heckman.) 

Organic farming has a long 

philosophical and historical 

focus on building soil fertility. 

Specifically, the USDA National 

Organic Program (NOP) requires 

organic farmers to “select and 

implement tillage and cultivation 

practices that maintain or improve 

the physical, chemical and biological 

condition of soil and minimize soil 

erosion,” “manage crop nutrients 

and soil fertility through rotations, 

cover crops and the application of 

plant and animal materials” and to 

“manage plant and animal materials 

to maintain or improve soil organic 

matter content in a manner that does 

not contribute to contamination of 

crops, soil or water by plant nutrients, 

pathogenic organisms, heavy metals 

or residues of prohibited substances.” 

For agriculture in general there has 

been a shift away from a singular 

focus on building up the nutrient 

supplying capacity of soils and prevention 

of soil fertility exhaustion towards 

a broader focus on comprehensive 

nutrient management 

planning to deal with excess supplies 

of certain nutrients. Much of the 

nutrient management emphasis has 

been on nitrogen (N) and phosphorus 

(P), and the environmental and 

water quality concerns associated 

with both nutrients. 

Balancing Mineral Nutrients 

A fundamental principle of sustainable 

agriculture that applies to all 

farming systems is a need to balance 

mineral nutrient inputs and outputs 

over the long term. Development of 

a sustainable nutrient management 

plan for any given farming operation 

or land area requires quantitative 

information on imports and exports 

of mineral nutrients contained in 

composts, manures and fertilizers 

along with crop yields and sales 

records for agricultural products. 

Published book values are often used 

to account for nutrient content of 

manures and composts, but because 

they can be highly variable, a lab 

analysis of the specific material is 

preferable. Major agricultural commodities 

exported from a farm may 

be from crops such as grains, forages, 

fruits, vegetables and fibers, or from 

animal products such as meat, milk 

or eggs. Nutrient leaching, runoff 

and erosion are also a kind of export 

or soil fertility loss growers should 

strive to minimize. 

The mineral nutrient content of 

harvested agricultural products 

could be measured in each specific 

instance for comprehensive nutrient 

management planning, but at the 

present time and for practical purposes 

are usually based on reference 

book values. With respect to mineral 

content, it might be assumed that 

“corn is corn” or that “milk is milk”; 

however, these may be false assumptions 

since some research suggests 

local soil fertility conditions and 

production systems may influence 

the nutrient content. 

Organic growers must keep certain 

types of production records for 

purposes of their annual review for 

inspection and organic certification. 

Likewise, organic growers must 

keep detailed records of imported 

compost or source materials used 

in making compost. They must also 

document use of approved organic 

fertilizers and application rates. 

These same production input and 

sales records can also be very useful 

for the purpose of nutrient management 

planning in organic farming 

operations. 

SEE PAGE 14 24-25 FOR MORE Organic INFORMATION Farmer August/September 2021

Given the limited reliability of reference 

values for purposes of nutrient 

management planning, keeping records 

of soil test results and tracking 

changes in values over a period of 

several years can be an alternative 

way to evaluate the sustainability of 

a nutrient management program. If 

soil fertility values over a period of 

several years are trending downward 

or upward beyond recommended 

optimum soil test levels, this can 

alert organic farmers to necessary 

adjustments in nutrient management. 

The way a farm conducts operations 

related to production of crops and 

livestock can 

create its own 

challenges. 

For example, 

in some 

regions, large 

volumes of 

manure are 

produced by 

conventional 

concentrated animal feeding operations 

(CAFO). Such manures are 

sometimes made into compost and 

used on organic farms. Repeated use 

and application of CAFO-sourced 

manures or compost can result in 

accumulation of certain nutrients 

from manures beyond local soil/ 

COMPOST RATES: 10, 25, AND 50 TONS/ACRE 

A look at different rates of compost. 

crop production demand. 

The excess nutrient accumulation 

problem is not limited to organic 

farming operations. This also can 

happen on conventional farms that 


LET MILLER’S ORGANICS BOOST 

YOUR PRODUCE PERFORMANCE 

Non-ionic adjuvant designed to 

improve the contact, wetting 

and adhesion of agrochemicals 

onto the plant surface 

Proprietary blend of organic acids 

that sequester and release soil 

nutrients while leaching sodium 

away from the root rhizosphere 

BENEFITS OF MILLER’S ORGANIC COMPLIANT SYSTEM 

ENHANCES INITIAL PRODUCT 

DEPOSITION AND COVERAGE 

CITOLEAF ® 

Natural sea plant extract fertilizer 

which is fortified with proprietary 

yeast extract to strengthen crop 

plant resistance or recovery 

TM 

BioVive 

Unique balanced profile blend 

of vegetable derived amino 

acids designed to improve root 

development and crop protection 

IMPROVES EFFICACY OF CROP 

PROTECTION PROGRAMS 

BRINGING QUALITY AMERICAN FORMULATED PRODUCTS TO THE FARMING COMMUNITY FOR OVER 80 YEARS 


MILLERCHEMICAL.COM 

INFO@MILLERCHEMICAL.COM 

800.233.2040 

MILLERCHEMICAL 

@MILLERCHEMICAL 

MILLERCHEMICALFERTILIZER 

Always read and follow label directions. Not all products are registered in all states. Check registration in your state before using. THERE ARE NO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR 

PURPOSE. Refer to the Miller Chemical & Fertilizer, LLC Standard Conditions of Sale for the only express warranties applicable to Miller Chemical & Fertilizer, LLC products. Products incorporating Miller Chemical & Fertilizer, 

LLC products are not warranted by Miller Chemical & Fertilizer, LLC. Nu-Film ® , CITOLEAF ® , BioVive and C.F.O. are used, applied for, or registered as trademarks of Miller Chemical & Fertilizer, LLC. 




STOCKPILE OF MATURE COMPOST 

Stockpile of compost at the Ag Choice composting facility 

in Sussex County, New Jersey. 

utilize manures without consideration of nutrient balance. 

This ecological problem stems in part from a geographical 

separation of grain and forage production and its export 

to animal feeding operations where manures accumulate 

beyond the nutrient needs of local soils. 

To the extent that organic livestock farms are pasture-based 

and feed minimal amounts of imported 

organic feeds, these organic operations tend to avoid 

this nutrient imbalance problem. Products such as hay, 

where the whole aboveground biomass is harvested, 

tend to export the greatest amount of nutrients from a 

field. Unlike machine harvest, grazing the same field 

with cows to produce milk or meat recycles much of the 

nutrients in place and exports much less nutrients from 

the farmland. Farming systems that emphasize grazing 

also tend to be effective at building the soil N fertility 

and reduce the need to import off farm N fertility. 

When organic dairies rely heavily on a mix of perennial 

legumes and grass forage, this minimizes the need to 

produce corn or other N-demanding grain crops. An 

organic dairy with a well-designed crop rotation can 

easily be managed to be self-sufficient with respect to N 

by recycling on-farm nutrient sources and by drawing 

upon the unlimited supply of N from the atmosphere. 

Other nutrients, such as P and K, can also be recycled 

on-farm. However, P and K may become deficient unless 

nutrient exports in the form of livestock products are 

balanced with imports. 

Organic dairies are generally less focused on high milk 

volume per cow and more concerned about sustaining 

Contact us to see how we can help! 

(559)584-7695 or visit us as www.superiorsoil.com 

Serving California since 1983 


herd health, decreasing production cost 

by feeding pasture and forages in place on 

concentrates and internalizing farm nutrient 

cycling. Leguminous crops are an important 

feature of crop rotation on organic farms. 

Nutrient export from farms marketing 

forages through sales of milk, meat or eggs is 

only a small fraction of what would leave the 

farm gate by direct sales of the hay or grains 

by farms without livestock. Organic feed, especially 

grains, tend to be expensive. Organic 

dairies are typically managed to supply as 

much of the livestock feed as possible and 

from greater reliance on forages. In contrast, 

in conventional agriculture, large numbers of 

animals are often raised in confinement and 

fed relatively inexpensive commodity grains 

that may be imported from a great distance 

beyond the local region. 

The transition of some conventional farms to the 

organic system has created new markets or outlets Nitrogen 

for an overabundance of poultry and other manure types Phosphorus 

from CAFOs. Whenever crop rotations and cover crops 

Potassium 

fail to fully deliver the amount of N needed and because 

organic farming prohibits direct use of synthetic commercial 

N sources, organic growers of grains and vegetables Calcium 

Sulfur 

often look towards manures and composts as a source Magnesium of 

supplemental N. 

The use of manures or compost made from conventional 

livestock operations as a N source (much of it originating 

as synthetic N fertilizers) in organic farming 

has sometimes been described as “repackaged” N 

when used in organic vegetable farming. 

Nutrient Management Planning 

Soil fertility recommendations provided by soil testing 

laboratories and nutrient management advisors 

are often prescriptive for simple chemical carriers of 

specific nutrients. Since some commercial fertilizer 

sources are classified as prohibited substances by the 

NOP, nutrient management can be a complex problem 

in certified organic farming. 

The challenges and complexity of nutrient management 

planning are illustrated in an example of using 

a 5 ton/acre application of poultry manure as fertilizer 

(Table 1). Although organic farmers would not grow 

a monoculture of corn after corn, it is interesting 

to note how many years of grain harvest would be 

involved in utilization of each individual nutrient. 

For the major nutrients, about three to five harvests 

of corn for grain would utilize the applied NPK. In 

contrast, it would take more than 80 years of grain 

harvest to utilize the manganese or copper applied 

Nutrient 

N 

P 

K 

S 

Mg 

Ca 

Fe 

Zn 

B 

Mn 

Cu 

359 

172 

188 

75 

40 

205 

6.5 

3.1 

0.26 

3.4 

2.2 

108 

Table 1: Typical nutrient content of broiler litter manure (single application 

at rate of five tons/acre) and number of years of corn grain harvest to utilize 

Nutrient Uptake lbs./acre 

applied nutrients. 

Nitrogen 

Phosphorus 

Potassium 

Sulfur 

Calcium 

Magnesium 

Nutrients 

Applied 

Per Acre 

Grain (175 bu/acre) 

Nutrient Removal 

lbs/acre/year 

126 

Boron 

from that same 13 poultry manure. Copper 

173 

Iron 

0.37 

When the whole aboveground biomass is harvested instead 

of grain or seed, 12 nutrient removal Manganese typically occurs 0.30 quicker. 

If, for example, 20 a hay crop was Zinc grown and harvested 0.13 after 

the poultry 14 litter manure application, most the of the N 

and K would be utilized in less than two years instead of 

the three to five years for corn grain. 

33 

40 

8.8 

12.9 

2.3 

0.29 

0.22 

0.049 

0.040 

0.027 

Nutrient Uptake and Removal in lbs./acre 

51 

9 

34 

4 

2 

4 

Boron 

Copper 

Iron 

Manganese 

Zinc 

Years 

Required For 

Removal 

3.3 

5.3 

4.7 

8.4 

3.1 

88 

22 

14 

5 

84 

84 

0.05 

0.05 


0.024 

0.014 

0.09 

0.044 

0.072 

Manure composts must be used with consideration of nutrient 

balance in mind. 



Cu 2.2 0.027 84 


Nitrogen 

Phosphorus 

Nitrogen 

Potassium 

Phosphorus 

Sulfur 

Potassium 

Calcium 

Sulfur 

Magnesium 

Calcium 

Magnesium 


Nutrient Uptake lbs./acre 

It should be noted that crop nutrient 

uptake and removal are two different 

parameters. This is illustrated with 

data for sweet corn presented in 

Tables 2 and 3. The values given in 

Table 2 show quantity of various nutrients 

taken up by the vegetative biomass 

of a sweet corn crop. Although 

the nutrients are taken up from the 

soil by the crop, sweet corn biomass 

is generally chopped and left behind 

as residue on the field. Consequently, 

the nutrients are recycled in place on 

the field. 

The values given in Table 3, however, 

show the quantity of various 

nutrients taken up by the marketable 

sweet corn ears that are harvested. 

Because the ears are going to market, 

the nutrients contained within are 

removed and exported from the field. 

Nutrient 126 Uptake lbs./acre Boron 

13 

126 

173 

13 

12 

173 

20 

12 

14 

20 

Copper 

Boron 

Iron 

Copper 

Manganese 

Iron 

Zinc 

Manganese 

NitrogenNutrient Uptake 51 and Removal Boron in lbs./acre 

Phosphorus 

Nitrogen 

Potassium 

Phosphorus 

Sulfur 

Potassium 

Calcium 

Sulfur 

Magnesium 

Calcium 

14 

9 

51 

34 

9 

4 

34 

2 

4 

4 

2 

Zinc 

Copper 

Boron 

Iron 

Copper 

Manganese 

Iron 

Zinc 

Manganese 

0.05 

0.05 

0.05 

0.37 

0.05 

0.30 

0.37 

0.13 

0.30 

0.13 

Table 2: Nutrient uptake in sweet corn biomass without the marketable ears. This 

data set is based on a plant population of 23,231 plants per acre. 

Nutrient Uptake and Removal in lbs./acre 

Magnesium 

4 

Zinc 

0.024 

0.014 

0.024 

0.09 

0.014 

0.044 

0.09 

0.072 

0.044 

0.072 

Table 3: Nutrient uptake and removal by sweet corn harvest. This data set is based off 

of a yield of 18,400 marketable ears with an average ear size of 0.82 pounds per ear. 

Thus, how a crop is harvested or 

taken from a field matters in terms of 

nutrient management. Imagine, for 

example, if a corn crop was harvested 

as silage or feed rather than just for 

ears or grain. Although not normally 

done in the case of sweet corn, in 

such case the values shown in Tables 

2 and 3 would be combined to calculate 

nutrient removal. 

Beyond sweet corn, nutrient removal 

amounts for a wide range of harvested 

crops can be found by web searching 

for extension publications. 

Nutrient management planning has 

typically been primarily focused 

on managing N, P, and K, but with 

increasing attention focus on sustainability, 

micronutrients could 

also become a concern. In the case of 

micronutrient fertilization, organic 

and conventional agriculture have 

much in common. Many of the same 

micronutrient fertilizer sources are 

permitted in organic as in conventional 

agriculture. The main stipulation 

for organic systems is that plant 

or soil diagnostics is a requirement 

to document a need for a particular 

micronutrient fertilizer application 

before it may be used. However, 

micronutrient inputs that come from 

manures and composts are generally 

not given the same attention as specific 

micronutrient fertilizer products. 

Soil fertility management in organic 

agriculture is not a separate activity 

but rather is an integral part of the 

whole-farm system. Thus, nutrient 

management advisors are challenged 

to balance nutrient inputs and ratios 

from complex source materials of 

variable composition and variable 

rates of availability for crop and livestock 

nutrition. The type of bedding 

material used for livestock greatly 

influences the composition of animal 

manures and the carbon to nutrient 

ratio. 

Bedding materials often contain 

high levels of carbon relative to N 

or P. Wood shavings or straw bedding 

materials typically have C:N 

ratios well above 30. A wide carbon 

to nutrient ratio can temporarily 

reduce availability of N or P in soil. 

Decomposition of these materials in 

soil means that microorganisms will 

seek to satisfy their own need for N 

in competition with crops. 

Composting of the manure is one 

way to work around this problem. 

Compost made according to the 

organic program standards for turnings 

and temperatures is designed to 

protect against foodborne pathogens 

when used as a soil fertility amendment 

in vegetable production. 

However, compost should not be 

used as a primary N source for vegetable 

production. Only about 10% of 

the N contained in compost might be 

available to a crop in the first grow- 


ing season. Organic growers who 

have repeatedly used heavy application 

rates of compost often find 

that soil test P levels soon become 

elevated beyond the optimum range. 

Excessive soil fertility P levels draw 

the attention and environmental 

concern of nutrient management 

planners. 

An accounting for a balanced flow of 

nutrients onto and from an organic 

farm operation is not a simple 

process. But it is manageable with 

knowledge about the composition 

and flow of soil fertility inputs. 

Equally important is the type of 

cropping system, including the 

types of crops grown, how they 

are harvested, the long-term crop 

rotation, the inclusion of cover crops, 

livestock integration and time. 

As previously mentioned, regular 

soil sampling and record keeping 

Organic growers who have repeatedly used heavy application rates of compost 

often find that soil test P levels soon become elevated beyond the optimum range. 

can be used to track soil fertility 

trends in farm fields. Organic growers 

should be striving for improving 

soil fertility and soil health while at 

the same time sustaining nutrients 

Helping Farmers Grow NATURALLY Since 1974 

FEATURING: 

levels in an optimum range for crop 

production. 


to hear from you. Feel free to email us 

at article@jcsmarketinginc.com 


Office: 559-686-3833 Fax: 559-686-1453 

2904 E. Oakdale Ave. | Tulare, CA 93274 

newerafarmservice.com 



Humic Acid 

Beyond the 

Marketing: 

Origins, Research and 

Effective Application 

By ERYN WINGATE | Agronomist, Tri-Tech Ag Products, Inc. 

Almost every fertilizer retailer 

carries humic acid. It is 

sold as a soil conditioner and 

fertilizer additive in hundreds of 

commercial products, and the total 

market value is expected to surpass 

$1 billion annually by 2024 (Pulidindi 

and Pandey 2017). Retailers claim 

that their products improve many 

aspects of soil health, yet researchers 

continue debating humic substances’ 

chemical structure and influence on 

soil chemistry and biology. University 

research, manufacturer trials and 

grower demos show yield and growth 

improvements after humic acid applications, 

but results are inconsistent 

and leave farmers wondering if they 

should skip the amendments altogether. 

Understanding how humic 

acids work will help agronomists 

determine when they have the highest 

potential to significantly improve 

crop quality or yield. 

Humic acid products vary in source, 

manufacturing method and concentration, 

but they share common 

chemical characteristics and promote 

plant growth in similar ways. 

The amendments mimic some of 

the beneficial properties provided 

by soil organic matter. Manufacturers 

extract humics from leonardite, 

lignite, peat or other sources using 

processes similar to those researchers 

use to isolate humic substances in 

soil samples. Leonardite and lignite 

are ancient organic matter deposits 

that mineralized into rock formations 

over millions of years. Humic 

and fulvic acids derived from rock 

or peat approximate stable organic 

matter formed in biologically healthy 

soils. 

Soil scientists study organic matter 

by classifying its components and 

exploring how each part influences 

the system. Researchers describe 

organic matter in several ways, but 

one useful model classifies it into 

four distinct categories: living organisms, 

fresh residue, actively decaying 

organic matter and stabilized 

organic matter. Together, the active 

and stable organic matter fractions 

comprise “humus”, the dark brown 

or black sticky substance characteristic 

of the most fertile soils. 

Actively decaying organic matter 

includes familiar organic molecules 

such as carbohydrates, amino acids, 

proteins, fatty acids, microbial metabolites 

and cellular structures. The 

active fraction supplies energy and 

nutrients to support continued microbial 

growth and nutrient cycling. 

Microbial exudates such as globulin 

support soil aggregation and structure. 

Humic Substances 

The stabilized organic matter fraction 

includes complex carbon 

compounds called “humic substances” 

that resist microbial decomposition. 

Humic substances’ molecular 

structures remain elusive, but we 

Humic acid products vary in source, manufacturing 

method and concentration, but they share common 

chemical characteristics and promote plant growth 

in similar ways (courtesy Stevenson 1982.) 

know that they are very reactive 

and form colloidal structures with 

minerals and clay particles. Scientists 

divide humic substances into three 

subcategories based on solubility in 

acid or alkaline solution. Humin is 

insoluble in acid and base, humic 

acid dissolves in alkaline solution 

but precipitates at low pH, and fulvic 

acid is soluble in both acidic and 

basic solutions. Humic and fulvic 

acids originate in soil, but they are 

extracted and defined by procedures 

that likely alter their form and characteristics. 

Laboratory extractions 

are the best method scientists have to 

differentiate humic components and 

study individual effects on nutrients, 

microbes and plants. 

Research shows that humic substances 

provide much of the enhanced 

nutrient availability, water holding 

capacity and aggregate stability 

observed in soils with high organic 

matter. Ideally, most loamy soils 

should contain between 3% to 5% organic 

matter, but heavily farmed land 

often contain less than 1%. Though 

organic matter represents a small 

fraction of total soil weight, it has a 

disproportionately large impact on 

soil properties. Dropping from 4% to 

1% organic matter represents a severe 

decline in health metrics leading to 

compaction, oxygen depletion, poor 

water and nutrient use efficiency, and 

more. 






Applying humic and fulvic acids at 

common label rates won’t drastically 

improve soil structure or water holding 

capacity, but it may restore some 

of the other beneficial properties 

lost with declining organic matter. 

Humic and fulvic acid amendments 

benefit crops primarily by increasing 

nutrient uptake and preventing 

heavy metal toxicity. The products 

might also influence soil microbiology, 

but effects vary and remain 

difficult to predict in the field. 

Humic substances increase nutrient 

availability by binding with essential 

nutrients and delivering them 

to roots in bioavailable form. Like 

clay particles, humic molecules have 

negatively charged sites that attract 

and hold positively charged cations 

like iron (Fe 2+ , Fe 3+ ), zinc (Zn 2+ ) and 

potassium (K + ). While clay only has 

cation exchange capacity, humic 

substances can bind with anions as 

well. Nitrate (NO 3 

2- 

), borate (H 2 

BO 3- ) 

and other negatively charged nutrients 

easily leach down below the root 

zone unless held in place by organic 

matter. 

Agricultural crops’ micronutrient demand 

often exceeds the plant-available 

supply in soils with low organic 

matter and suboptimal pH. Micronutrient 

deficiencies reduce chlorophyll 

formation, stunt growth and 

weaken plant defense mechanisms. 

Iron, zinc, boron and other micronutrients 

dissolve in soil solution 

within a narrow pH and concentration 

range. Iron, in particular, has 

low solubility and precipitates easily 

in most agricultural soils. In natural 

ecosystems, plants obtain most of 

their iron from organic complexing 

agents like siderophores, organic 

acids and humic substances (Chen et 

al. 2004). In agriculture, growers use 

chelating agents such as EDTA and 

EDDHA to keep iron and other micronutrients 

in plant-available form. 

Understanding how humic acids work will 

help agronomists determine when they 

have the highest potential to significantly 

improve crop quality or yield (photo by 

David Norene, Big Time Farms, LLC.) 

Complexing Agent 

Humic and fulvic acid products 

provide an alternative complexing 

agent to organic farmers. Chen et 

al. 2001 showed higher chlorophyll 

concentration in ryegrass when iron 

and zinc fertilizers were applied with 


Soil Organic Matter 

Living Organisms: 

Biomass 

Identifiable Dead Tissue: 

Detritus 

Nonliving Nontissue: 

Humus 

Humic Substances 

NonHumic Substances 

Insoluble 

Extract with alkali 

(NaOH) 

Soluble 

Adapted From The Nature ad Properties of 

Soils, 14 th Edition 

humic or fulvic acid versus mineral 

application alone. Humic and fulvic 

acids did not significantly increase 

chlorophyll production without the 

added micronutrients. 

These results indicate that humic substances 

promote growth primarily 

through increasing nutrient availability, 

not through direct growth-stimulating 

effects. However, some 

researchers have observed increased 

biomass and yield even when humic 

or fulvic acids were added to a complete 

fertilizer program that already 

provided nutrients in plant-available 

form. Studies demonstrating 

enhanced crop growth beyond that 

attributed to optimal nutrient supply 

suggest that humic and fulvic acids 

work synergistically with fertilizers. 

Humic and fulvic acids appear to 

increase the plant’s capacity to take 

up nutrients, and with more essential 

elements, crops can support more 

growth and heavier fruit set. Fertilization 

and humic applications together 

increase crop production more 

than either one alone, especially in 

hydroponic systems, substrate, sand 

or soils with low organic matter. 

Humic substances can also support 

crop health on soils with heavy metal 

contamination. The same mechanism 

that complexes and delivers micronutrients 

can also hold metals and other 

contaminants when their concentration 

in soil solution is too high. 

Humin 

Highly condensed, 

Complexed with clays 

Humic Acids 

Dark brown to black, 

high molecular weight 

(up to 300,000) 

Humic and fulvic acids bind with 

contaminants shifting the equilibrium 

towards lower levels in solution. 

When applied at a high enough rate, 

humic acids can prevent crops from 

absorbing toxic levels of cadmium, 

zinc, manganese and other elements. 

Whether applied via fertigation or 

foliar spray, humics can improve 

micronutrient uptake and enhance 

crop growth. Dose response studies 

show that humic and fulvic acid application 

rates optimize crop growth 

between 100 and 300 mg/L. Higher 

concentrations may decrease yield 

by interfering with other nutrient 

complexing agents in the soil or 

fertilizer solution. Use the percentage 

of humic or fulvic acid in the product 

to calculate the optimum application 

rate. Consult your advisor when 

applying products that contain other 

biostimulants in addition to humic 

substances. Label rates may reflect 

the combined effects of multiple 

active ingredients. 

Humic and fulvic acids benefit crops 

thanks to their high reactivity and affinity 

for complexing nutrients. These 

amendments benefit crops most in 

arid regions where the soil has low 

organic matter and high pH. They 

can also improve crop growth in very 

sandy soils, substrate, and hydroponics. 

Applying humic and fulvic acids 

with iron, zinc, copper, and other nutrients 

helps farmers prevent nutrient 

Fulvic Acids 

Yellow to red, 

Lower molecular weight 

(2,000 – 3,000) 

Scientists divide humic substances into three subcategories based on solubility in acid or alkaline solution. Humin is insoluble in 

acid and base, humic acid dissolves in alkaline solution but precipitates at low pH, and fulvic acid is soluble in both acidic and 

basic solutions. 

Precipitated 

Treat with Acid 

(pH 1.0) 

Soluble 

deficiencies and improve overall crop 

health and vigor. 

References 

Essington, Michael E. Soil and Water Chemistry 

an Integrative Approach. CRC Press 

2004. Print. 

Lyons G, Genc Y. Commercial Humates in 

Agriculture: Real Substance or Smoke and 

Mirrors? Agronomy. 2016; 6(4):50. https:// 

doi.org/10.3390/agronomy6040050 

Magdoff, Fred and Weil, Ray R. Soil 

Organic Matter in Sustainable Agriculture. 

Chapter 4: Stimulatory Effects of Humic 

Substances on Plant Growth. CRC Press 

2004. Print. 

Pukalchik, Maria, et al. Outlining the Potential 

Role of Humic Products in Modifying 

Biological Properties of the Soil—A Review. 

Frontiers in Environmental Science. 2019; 

https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/ 

fenvs.2019.00080 

Pulidindi, K., and Pandey, H. (2017). Humic 

Acid Market Size By Application (Agriculture, 

Ecological Bioremediation, Horticulture, 

Dietary Supplements), Industry Analysis 

Report, Regional Outlook (U.S., Canada, 

Germany, UK, France, Spain, Italy, China, 

India, Japan, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, 

Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, GCC), 

Growth Potential, Price Trends, Competitive 

Market Share & Forecast, 2017–2024 

Stevenson, F. J. 1982. Humus chemistry: 

genesis, composition, reactions. John Wiley 

& Sons, New York, NY. pp. 26–54. 









MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI 

FOR PLANT SYSTEMS: 

THE HOW AND THE WHY 

By TAYLOR CHALSTROM | Assistant Editor 

Mycorrhizal fungi cannot survive without establishing an interaction with the plant (photo courtesy UC ANR.) 

Dig up the roots of a healthy 

plant system and you’ll find 

an array of webbed filaments 

attached to the roots and soil. Those 

are mycorrhizal fungi, and they’re 

constantly at work promoting root 

system growth, nutrient efficiency 

and water absorption. 

Mycorrhizal fungi are critical for the 

health of organic and conventional 

planting systems, fostering an important 

symbiotic relationship with 

the plant. But how do these fungi 

work and why do they work? 

Symbiosis with the Plant 

Mycorrhizal fungi and plants work 

together in the soil in symbiosis, 

where both the fungi and the plant 

interact with and benefit from each 

other. Historically, this relationship 

was hypothesized to have formed as a 

result of aquatic plants transitioning 

to terrestrial systems and accessing 

nutrients in rock substrates and/or 

soils. 

“The plant gets nutrients and water, 

and the fungus gets carbon,” said Dr. 

Cristina Lazcano, assistant professor 

of soils and plant nutrition at UC 

Davis. “The fungus actually cannot 

survive without establishing this 

interaction with the plant. It needs 

to colonize a plant to produce spores 

and the next generation [of fungi].” 

Dr. Lazcano said that the symbiotic 

interaction between the plant and 

mycorrhizal fungi is normally established 

when there is a need from the 

plant. “The interaction is expensive 

for the plant,” she said, noting that 

the plant will not interact with the 

fungi if it doesn’t need to. “The plant 

needs to pay back the fungus in the 

form of carbon that the plant photosynthesizes.” 

Plants typically need to interact with 

mycorrhizae when there is low soil 

nutrient availability, according to 

Dr. Lazcano. She said that grower 

practices such as over-fertilizing to 

counter low nutrient levels in the 

soil will create a poor environment 

for mycorrhizal colonization. 

“If the grower adds a lot of nutrients, 

plant-available phosphorus and 

nitrogen will decrease colonization 

rates by mycorrhizae,” she said. “It’s 

better to keep fertilizer inputs low 

or use organics. That will promote 

colonization by mycorrhizae.” 

Dr. Lazcano noted that tillage also 

affects colonization rates of mycorrhizae. 

“Tillage obviously disrupts 

the soil and breaks the hyphae, which 

are the cells of the fungi, so it reduces 

colonization rates. 

“Using cover crops, keeping living 

plants in the soil also helps that mycorrhizal 

population stay alive and 

active,” she continued. “So, in general, 

the management that is recommended 

to increase soil health will also 

help with improving colonization 

rates for mycorrhizae.” 



WE WILL PUMP YoU UP 

with our mycorrhizal products 

POWER UP YOUR PLANTS 

Ask us about our other soil care products. 

• BACTERIAL Inoculants • Soil Products • Biological Food Products 

• Micro Nutrients • Foliar Nutrients 

Contact Us Today at 1-800-279-9567 

callnrg.com 





What Should Growers Know? 

A general misconception about mycorrhizal 

fungi is that simply inoculating 

a field with a product to boost 

mycorrhizal presence in the soil will 

automatically provide benefits. In 

reality, there are multiple aspects of 

the soil web that must work together 

for any benefit to be reaped from this 

fungus. 

John Andreas of Soil and Crop Inc. 

said that good foundational nutrition, 

organic matter, minerals and 

accessibility to these is the best thing 

a grower can do to stimulate healthy 

mycorrhizal growth. 

“Some people fall into the trap that 

all I have to do is put that [mycorrhizae] 

out and everything is going 

to be amazingly different, you know, 

‘silver bullet’ mentality, and that’s 

just not the case,” Andreas said. 

“It’s a powerful tool, but not standing 

on its own two legs. It’s just kind of a 

cornerstone product.” 

CCA and SSp. Rich Kreps said that 

mycorrhizal fungi are regional, and 

the location of a soil and its available 

nutrients need to be considered when 

applying a mycorrhizal product. 

“Whatever is in your field is not the 

same as in Sequoia Park. If you live 

in Madera, it’s not the same as what 

you’ll find in McFarland. 

“Mycorrhizae is definitely species-specific 

to a specific area in 

most parts,” he continued. “So, what 

you’ve got to do is you’ve got to 

increase your soil health to let the 

mycorrhizae do what it’s supposed to 

do. By increasing other forms of soil 

microbiota, you’re going to increase 

the propagation of the native mycorrhizae 

in your soil.” 

Post-Harvest Fertilization 

Feeding the soil microbiome after harvest helps build humus. 

Soon the soil life won’t be fed from the plants’ photosynthesis. 

So apply a carbon-based fertilizer like Pacific Gro. 

Soil tilth will improve, soil life will continue to grow, and 

Next year’s crop will enjoy a faster, vigorous start. 

Provides calcium, salmon oil, amino acid nitrogen and 

chitin in a liquid foliar and soil fertilizer. 

O Helps microbes feed and defend the crop 

O Builds healthy fungal populations 

O Delivers plant-available calcium 

Produced by Creative AG Products Inc. 

www.pacificgro.com 503-867-4849 

“Some people fall 

into the trap that 

all I have to do is 

put that [mycorrhizae] 

out and everything 

is going to be 

amazingly different, 

you know, ‘silver 

bullet’ mentality, 

and that’s just 

not the case.” 

– John Andreas, Soil and Crop Inc. 

Sterile soils lack of microbiota, which 

consist of organisms such as bacteria, 

archaea, protists, fungi and 

viruses, will not be able to propagate 

mycorrhizae well. To get an idea of 

what a given soil’s biology looks like, 

Kreps recommends conducting 

a soil respiration test, where soil 

is incubated at 68 degrees C with 

a moisture content of 72% for 24 

hours. 

“The offcasting of CO 2 

that comes 

out of that is going to be indicative 

of what your [soil] biology 

looks like,” he said. “If your soil 

is sterile, you’re not going to get 

much CO 2 

produced off of that 

ground. 

“Increasing soil organic matter 

is going to greatly enhance the 

ability for soil biology then to 

flourish.” 

Kreps warned that an anaerobic 

soil environment can be a major 

detriment to soil biology, including 

mycorrhizae. “You don’t 

want to go anaerobic for way too 

long,” he said. “That always has 

detriments; it may encourage 

detrimental diseases like pythium, 

phytophthora and fusarium. 

That’s never beneficial.” 





IMAGINATION 

INNOVATION 

® 

SCIENCE IN ACTION 


 

 

 

 



PUT SOIL MICROBES TO WORK 

Opportunities for Organic Growers to 

Supercharge Their Crop Nutrient Programs 

Boosting your soil microbiome with a food source can help accelerate their activity in the soil and release more nutrients for the crop to use as a 

result. 

By DR. KARL WYANT | Vice President of Ag Science, Heliae Agriculture 

In the March 2021 issue of Organic 

Farmer, Lloyd et al. 2021 discussed 

nutrient release rates from commonly 

found organic fertilizers with 

a focus on plant-available nitrogen. 

Nitrogen (N) is well known for driving 

crop yield and quality goals and 

is widely used by organic farmers of 

all types. However, organic growers 

uniquely rely on materials that are 

derived from complex plant and 

animal byproducts and meet their 

crop nutrient goals through composts, 

manures and specialty liquid fertilizers 

derived from grocery store waste, 

soy hydrolysate, corn steep liquor, etc. 

This approach contrasts with conventional 

fertilizer sources that are manmade 

and easily dissolved as a simple 

salt in water. Thus, organic farmers 

rely on nutrients that are bound to 

complex carbon molecules to drive 

crop production. 

A key point made in the article is 

that soil microbes are critical players 

for “releasing” the nutrients that are 

applied with composts, manures and 

other organic sources. Very briefly, 

nutrients (e.g., nitrogen) stored 

on organic fertilizer materials are 

primarily released when a microbe 

decomposes, or consumes the carbon 

structures as a food source, and liberates 

the nutrients for the plants to use 

in a process called mineralization. If 

the organic fertilizer material is not 

acted upon by the microbes, the plant 

will not benefit from the bound nutrients 

within a reasonable timeframe 

(Figure 1, see page 32). 

Organic fertilizer sources contain a 

mix of carbon and plant nutrients. In 

most cases, the nutrients must be first 

“unlocked” from the fertilizer source 




MICROBIAL CONTROL OF NUTRIENT AVAILABILITY 

A good question here is: “How do I 

ensure I am getting the maximum 

crop nutrient benefit from my organic 

fertilizer program? The answer? Put 

your soil microbes to work. 


Carbon Bound Nutrients 

Soil Microbiome 

(Bacteria and Fungi) 

YOU ARE 

WHAT YOU EAT 

Not all microbial foods pack the same 

nutritional punch. This table summarizes a 

few of microbial food sources and what 

they are made of. Also included is a brief 

note on using living microbial inoculants 

in the field as the products are popular in 

organic farming. 

by soil microbes to allow for plant uptake. 

Plant Available Nutrients 

Controlled by: 

Nutrient Release Rate 

One challenge in organic MICROALGAE 

production is ensuring that 

Microalgae is a good food source for 

nutrient release rates from microbes the fertilizer and has excellent macromolecule are in line 

with plant demands. If the diversity microbes for feeding are many failing different to species keep 

belowground. Macromolecule diversity 

up with the crop, nutrient 

refers 

deficiencies 

to the mix of carbohydrates, 

can result. 

proteins, 

of N and in lipids a compost in each food application 

source. 

For 

example, only 5% to 20% 

is immediately plant available MOLASSES (Vogtmann et al. 1993). 

Of course, these release rates Molasses vary is mostly depending sugar and only on feeds organic a 

fertilizer source, local climate select group and of time microorganisms of year. that These can 

use sugar as food source. However, it can 

facts also demonstrate that be easily organic sourced fertilizer in the marketplace. sources are 

prone to nutrient demand 

SEAWEEDS/KELPS 

lags. If only 5% to 20% of your 

compost N is plant available Seaweeds in the are a poor first microbial year, then food source up to 

95% will only be available due at to some the high time ash and later structural down content the 

of the product. Ash and structural components 

road! This lag in nutrient availability 

are inedible to 

can 

most 

cause 

microbes. 

serious 

The 

challenges when trying to remaining meet market microbial food demands in seaweed and is 

annual contracts. 

mostly carbohydrates and sugars, which 

feeds only a select group of microbes. 

Seaweeds are much better at stimulating 

the biological processes of the plant. 

HUMIC ACID 

Humic acids are a poor microbial food 

source as much of the product is inedible 

due to high ash content. Furthermore, the 

quality of humic acids as a food source is 

poor (high C:N ratio). Humic acids are 

excellent at capturing and holding onto 

nutrients in the root zone. 

MICROBIAL INOCULANTS 

These products add a particular species or 

group of species to the soil from an external 

source. Growers can select the species 

or group of species and derive specific 

functional benefits (e.g., phosphate solubilizing 

bacteria, free living nitrogen fixers, 

etc.) on their farm. A challenge for all 

living microbial inoculants is maintaining 

a living culture so the bacteria or fungi can 

go to work due to their sensitivity to heat, 

cold, drought, etc.. 

Temperature, moisture 

Food Availability 

Figure 1: In organic production and other farming systems that depend on plant nutrients 

attached to a carbon source (e.g., compost, manures, teas, blends, etc.), microbes 

must actively process the inputs before the plants can get access to the nutrients. 


The next section describes how microbes 

serve as an important mediator 

between the organic nutrient 

source and the end destination in a 

crop system: the plant. We will walk 

through how microbes are crucially 

linked to your soil fertility and crop 

performance and discuss the ways you 

can “manage” your microbes to help 

your fertilizer program work more 

efficiently. 

Sleepy Microbes 

Studies show that most of your soil microbiome (e.g., soil 

fungi and bacteria) can go dormant when things do not 

go their way. Case in point, many microbes go to sleep 

when they are hungry. This “sleep” phase is a key survival 

mechanism for microbes. However, your plants cannot 

access the nutrients they need from the organic fertilizer 

program when their partner, the microbes, go dormant. 

Research consistently shows that dormant soil microbes 

respond readily to a food source and, when fed properly, 

can then go to work decomposing and synergizing with 

your choice of organic fertilizer. 

“Manage” your microbes by providing them with a food 

source. A microbial population that is abundant and 

diverse in the soil can act upon your fertilizer input program, 

which can drive a more consistent nutrient release 

rate for the crop. 

Manage Your Microbes 

Manage my what? Ag scientists and growers alike are just 

beginning to tap into the potential of a better managed 

soil microbiome. Organic growers in particular have 

consistently reported improvements in crop performance 

when adding a microbial food source to the crop production 

plan. There are many options to wake up your 

microbes and put them to work on your farm, particularly 

if you are using organic fertilizers (Sidebar, see page 

33). Reviewing your choices with a trusted advisor is a 

great way to find the microbial food that best suits your 

operation and logistics. 

Organic farming, or any type of farming that sources 

plant nutrients from carbon-bound materials like 

compost and manures, is uniquely positioned to improve 

crop yield by ‘waking up’ the soil microbiome with a 

labile food source. A well fed and robust microbial com- 


Organic growers in particular have consistently reported improvements 

in crop performance when adding a microbial food source to the crop 

production plan. 

munity has the expanded potential to process your organic 

inputs and can help ensure your crop is getting the nutrients 

it needs to achieve your unique yield and quality goals. 

Dr. Karl Wyant currently serves as the Vice President of Ag 

Science at Heliae ® Agriculture where he oversees the internal 

and external PhycoTerra ® Branded Product trials, assists 

with building regenerative agriculture implementation and 

oversees agronomy training. 

References 

Soil Microbes in Organic Cropping Systems 101 - http://eorganic.org/ 

node/34601 

How Much N Can You Expect from Organic Fertilizers and Compost? 

- https://organicfarmermag.com/2021/03/how-much-n-can-you-expect-from-organic-fertilizers-and-compost/ 

Additional Resources 

Soil Health Institute Blog - https://soilhealthinstitute.org/resources/ 

PhycoTerra® Blog - https://phycoterra.com/blog/ 

Comments about this article? We want to hear from you. Feel free 

to email us at article@jcsmarketinginc.com 

YOU ARE 

WHAT YOU EAT 

Not all microbial foods pack the same 

nutritional punch. This table summarizes a 

few of microbial food sources and what 

they are made of. Also included is a brief 

note on using living microbial inoculants 

in the field as the products are popular in 

organic farming. 

MICROALGAE 

Microalgae is a good food source for 

microbes and has excellent macromolecule 

diversity for feeding many different species 

belowground. Macromolecule diversity 

refers to the mix of carbohydrates, proteins, 

and lipids in each food source. 

MOLASSES 

Molasses is mostly sugar and only feeds a 

select group of microorganisms that can 

use sugar as food source. However, it can 

be easily sourced in the marketplace. 

SEAWEEDS/KELPS 

Seaweeds are a poor microbial food source 

due to the high ash and structural content 

of the product. Ash and structural components 

are inedible to most microbes. The 

remaining microbial food in seaweed is 

mostly carbohydrates and sugars, which 

feeds only a select group of microbes. 

Seaweeds are much better at stimulating 

the biological processes of the plant. 

HUMIC ACID 

Humic acids are a poor microbial food 

source as much of the product is inedible 

due to high ash content. Furthermore, the 

quality of humic acids as a food source is 

poor (high C:N ratio). Humic acids are 

excellent at capturing and holding onto 

nutrients in the root zone. 

MICROBIAL INOCULANTS 

These products add a particular species or 

group of species to the soil from an external 

source. Growers can select the species 

or group of species and derive specific 

functional benefits (e.g., phosphate solubilizing 

bacteria, free living nitrogen fixers, 

etc.) on their farm. A challenge for all 

living microbial inoculants is maintaining 

a living culture so the bacteria or fungi can 

go to work due to their sensitivity to heat, 

cold, drought, etc.. 


PULLQUO 

‘A microbial 

abundant a 

can act upo 

program, w 

nutrient rel 

‘One challen 

duction is e 

release rates 

source are i 

mands.’ 



Soil Fertility Considerations for 

Growing Organic Tree Crops 

By NEAL KINSEY | Kinsey Agricultural Services 

There is a rule all growers 

should seriously consider: “You 

can’t properly manage what you 

don’t correctly measure.” When it 

comes down to growing tree crops 

organically, there are so many soil 

types and so many different trees 

used for different purposes that most 

growers are led to believe that there 

can be no basic program to use for 

growing trees. So, perhaps the first 

question that needs to be answered 

is can a basic fertility program for 

growing trees in general even be 

properly established, let alone correctly 

measured? 

Every organic grower would likely 

agree with the concept that soil 

biology, the plant roots and all that 

supports them is the foundation for 

growing organically. What type of 

soil environment works best in such 

cases? 

To answer that, consider what the 

most important needs for life are 

where trees are concerned. 

Basic Tree Needs 

What is needed for life itself? Four 

needs to consider are proper shelter, 

food, water and air. But to supply 

air, water, “food” and even proper 

shelter for the roots of trees, what is 

necessary? 

Of these needs what should be 

considered as the order of least importance 

for trees? Physical shelter 

would likely be the least important 


Even though trees grow with air all around them, sufficient air in the soil is still a critical factor 

(photo by Caleb Adams, Nichols Farms.) 




Soils closer to the ideal physical structure are also those that are closest to ideal in 

nutrient availability (courtesy Rex Dufour, NCAT.) 


requirement for trees growing in 

their proper habitat. Food is necessary, 

but not as essential as water 

in terms of which one trees can go 

without for the longest time. But of 

these four needs, air is the need that 

takes on the most importance for 

life itself. Air provides the oxygen 

we need and the carbon dioxide that 

plants need. When we lose access 

to fresh air, life will cease in a very 

short time. 

And even though trees grow with air 

all around them, sufficient air in the 

soil is still a critical factor. Without 

proper soil aeration, the microbes 

and other soil organisms cannot 

function as they should to provide 

nutrients from the soil to the trees. 

So, the point here is that without 

the proper amount of air in the soil, 

trees do not function as well as they 

should. 

Textbooks on soil fertility report that 

based on physical structure, the ideal 

soil contains 45% minerals, 5% organic 

matter, 25% water and 25% air. 

And when soils measure up to those 

numbers, anyone who recognizes the 

best soils will agree that such is the 

case. But most soils throughout the 

world do not have those most favorable 

conditions. 

In fact, most sandy soils, just left as 

they are, have too much air space, 

which adversely affects water holding 

capacity. Such soils need more water 

and less air to be most effective. On 

the other hand, clay soils tend to 

hold too much water and not enough 

air to be most effective for growing 

trees or any other types of plants. 

These are not ideal soils with a good 

balance of air and water. And in such 

cases, there are only two real choices: 

grow trees and let them do the best 

they can, or change the air to water 

relationships based on the measured 

needs of each soil. 

There is only one way to effectively 

change the amount of pore space in 

each soil. That method is to establish 

a more desirable physical structure 

by the use of the proper nutrients 

that affect the porosity (air to water 

relationship) of each soil. 

There are four principal elements 

that exert the most influence upon 

the relationship of air to water in 

soils where trees or other plants 

typically grow. These four elements 

are calcium, magnesium, potassium 

and sodium. 

Of the four, calcium is the key 

element for increasing soil porosity. 

Calcium causes the clay particles 

to clump up or flocculate, which 

increases the pore space in the soil 

that determines the general balance 

between air and water. Magnesium, 

potassium and sodium do the opposite 

job in the soil. All three will 

disperse the clay particles in the soil 

and cause a reduction in pore space. 

For sandy soils, maximize magnesium 

and potassium to excellent 

levels, which will reduce air space 

and increase water holding capacity. 

For clays, we need to maximize 

allowable calcium which increases 

pore space and maximizes aeration 

needed for the biology to function 

best there. 

In effect, this means using soil chemistry 

to correctly feed the soil what 

it needs which naturally regulates 

the space needed for air and water 

in each soil. Therefore, the use of 

soil chemistry to supply the right 

amount of missing nutrients that 

help feed the plants is the correct 

way to achieve the ideal physical 

structure, which then provides the 

best balance of air and water in each 

soil. What this does is to effectively 

build the most conducive environment 

for soil organisms which are 

the key to nutrient uptake by trees 

and all other plants. 

Ideal Soils 

The ideal soil is described in terms of 

its physical condition. The physical 

condition determines how well the 

biology of the soil can do what is 

needed for the plants. The solid portion 

of an ideal soil has roughly 45% 

minerals and 5% humus. The other 

half of an ideal soil is pore space. 

Half of that pore space should ideally 

be filled by water and the other half 

with air. However, that physical condition 

is influenced by the chemistry 

of the soil, which can be measured 

using specifically designed soil tests 

to do so. 

There are always certain parameters 

that must be met to have the most 

ideal physical structure, which then 

enables any soil to do its best. That 

structure is determined by the nutrient 

makeup of each soil. When the 


soil nutrients are properly provided, 

the physical structure will be closest 

to ideal. Or in other words, the soils 

closer to the ideal physical structure 

are also those that are closest to ideal 

in nutrient availability. Soils cannot 

have one without the other. When 

accurately measured, the physical 

structure backs up the ideal nutrient 

level, and the ideal nutrient level of 

the four elements that principally affect 

soil structure will only be there 

in the right proportions when the 

physical structure is also correct. 

The question posed at the beginning 

of this article was can a fertility 

program for trees in general even be 

properly established? The answer is 

provided by studying the nutrient 

makeup of what is defined as the 

ideal soil. 

Since trees are grown on all types 

of soils, from very light sands to 

very heavy clays, and for so many 

different purposes, how can anyone 

possibly establish what provides the 

best fertility for trees? In such cases, 

perhaps too many people try to put 

the cart before the horse. For fertility 

considerations, first concentrate on 

general principles of fertility that all 

trees need, then on any additional 

specifics for different varieties and 

purposes. 

Test where the very best trees of each 

type grow, where their growth is just 

average and where the worst problems 

with growth occurs. See what 

the best has in terms of nutrient 

levels that the others do not. Then 

begin to correct and build the soil to 

reflect the levels that grow the best 

trees. If the correct type of materials 

is used to build fertility levels in each 

soil, then as the soil test numbers 

get closer to those where the best 

trees grow, they begin to do better. 

In other words, the closer those soils 

begin to conform to what is needed, 

the closer the trees will perform as 

the better ones do. 

There is good reason as to why 

trees do well on some soils and not 

on others. Two clients who grow 

English walnuts, one from central 

California and one from northern 

California, provide a good example 

to help illustrate this point. Both 

clients wanted to grow more walnuts, 

but had stopped planting 

because the soils that were left were 

classified as unsuitable for growing 

walnuts. Both were familiar enough 

with the fertility program so that 

when it came to advice on the proper 

approach, their confidence was sufficient 

to follow through. So, when 

it was shown that manganese was 

the most critical deficiency on those 

soils when compared to soils that 

grew profitable walnuts, though each 

had very different soils, each applied 

a sufficient amount of manganese 

along with the normally needed fertility. 

The soils previously considered 

as unsuitable grew excellent walnuts, 

with top yield performance from the 

trees. 

A basic fertility program for trees 

should be considered as follows. 

First provide adequate amounts of 

N, P, K and S for producing the crop. 

Next, measure and correct the needed 

levels of calcium and magnesium. 

Then, build the essential micronutrients 

to reach the minimum requirements. 

Once these needs have been 

satisfied, then consider the special 

needs for growing trees that set 

them apart from other crops. 

This topic will be addressed in 

Growing Organic Tree Crops - Part 

2 in the next issue. 

Neal Kinsey is owner and president 

of Kinsey Agricultural Services, a 

consulting firm that specializes in 

restoring and maintaining balanced 

soil fertility for attaining excellent 

yields while growing highly nutritious 

food and feed crops on the land. Call 

573-683-3880 or see www.kinseyag. 

com for more information. 




Fortify cell wall 

structure 

Improve 

Abiotic Stress 

Defense 

Call to learn more: 

(208) 678-2610 

@redoxgrows 

redoxgrows.com 



CALIFORNIA OLIVE 

RANCH MAKES MOVE 

INTO ORGANIC 

MARKET 

By JULIE R. JOHNSON | Contributing Writer 

One of the projects the California Olive Ranch found successful on its test-acreage in Oroville, Calif. was sheep grazing to keep down weeds 

and provide natural fertilizer in its move towards becoming certified organic (all photos courtesy C. Handy.) 

It was with three goals in mind that 

California Olive Ranch decided to 

transform and dedicate its olive 

acreage in Oroville, Calif. to certified 

organic. 

The olive oil production operation is 

award winning on the international 

level, with a domestic market that 

reaches across the nation. 

With super-high-density olive orchards 

in Dunnigan, Artois, Oroville 

and Corning, the company is known 

for having one of the oldest super-high-density 

orchards in the world, 

established in 1999. 

“Our varieties are mainly Arbequina 

and Arbosana, and we have a processing 

plant and cold press mill in Artois,” 

said Clayton Handy, the company’s 

agronomist, who is in the process of 

earning his Master’s Degree in Agronomy/Regenerative 

Agriculture from 

California State University, Chico. 

California Olive Ranch CEO Michael 

Fox and the company’s board made 

the decision to use the Oroville site as 

“test acreage” in the move from conventional 

growing practices to certified 

organic. 

Handy is on the forefront of this transition 

as he is passionate about allowing 

the soil and trees to work symbiotically 

as nature intended. 

“We started the three-year process to 

become certified organic in 2020,” he 

said. “The company had organic production 

previously, moved away from 

that practice, but made the decision to 

start back up.” 

Holistic Approach 

Handy explained the test-acreage in 

Oroville has three prime objectives: to 

regenerate the soil and produce organically 

grown olives which are pressed 

into organic olive oil. 

A third goal is what Handy refers to 

as a holistic approach and creating a 

self-sufficient system. 

“It’s really a theory right now, but one 

we would like to prove as beneficial 

both to the orchard and financially,” he 

added. 

The theory goes as such, according 

to Handy: a great harvest can be the 

by-product of a very healthy, symbiotic 

tree/soil system. 

“This system is one that requires much 

less input from the grower because the 

relationship between tree and soil is 

regenerative, constructive and co-beneficial,” 

he said. 

Transition to Certified Organic 

California Olive Ranch is just starting 

the five-step process of transitioning to 

organic olives. The USDA organic label 

is backed by a certification system that 

verifies farmers or handling facilities 

located anywhere in the world comply 

with the USDA Organic Regulations. 

Certification entails the five steps of 

first developing an organic system plan 

and second implementing that plan 

and having it reviewed by USDA. 

Third is to receive a comprehensive 

“top to bottom” inspection on-site by a 

certifying agent. 

The fourth step is having a certifying 

agent review the inspection report and 

finally receiving a decision from the 

certifier. 

“If an operation complies with the rules, 

the certifying agent issues an organic 

certificate listing products that can be 

sold as organic from that operation,” 

according to the USDA. 

Handy’s olive-growing philosophy 


aligns with organic and regenerative 

production, Handy said. 

“I’m excited to see where this effort 

goes,” he added. 

A certified organic orchard is limited 

on what products can be used to 

control weeds and pests. Products are 

required to be certified by the Organic 

Materials Review Institute (OMRI), an 

international nonprofit organization 

that determines which input products 

are allowed for use in organic production 

and processing. 

“For our Oroville orchards, that means 

instead of spraying our tree strips for 

weed control, we are using cover crops 

and rotary spring-arm mowers,” Handy 

said. “In addition, chemical fertilizers 

are out, and the company is using fish 

emulsifier through fertigation as its 

fertilizing agent.” 

He goes on to explain, “We almost want 

organic to be a by-product of a very 

healthy system, so our primary objective 

is overall soil health.” 

The Oroville orchard’s soil has undergone 

testing to see where its biology 

levels currently stand. 

“We need to know how well we are 

doing in quantity and diversity of the 

microbes in our soil, also the fungal 

to bacteria ratio. We need an overall 

baseline on how we are doing,” Handy 

said. “We are hoping in time to see an 

increase in biology within the soil.” 

Biology in the soil will work for you, he 

goes on to say, as there are a handful 

of bacteria that can fix atmospheric 

nitrogen, all day long. 

“But are they in your soil,” Handy 

asks. “Biology in the soil can help place 

all the plant’s needful nutrients into 

the plant, we know that, but in most 

conventional ag systems, we are lacking 

that soil biology because we spray 

pesticides and herbicides and put on 

synthetic nitrogen that is hot and burns 

a lot of the biology out of the soil.” 

Plants as autotrophs make an abundance 

of photosynthate that has simple 

carbohydrates and proteins, and much 

of that is released into the soil via the 

roots. 

“Root exudates contain the simple 

carbohydrates and proteins and does 

so in order to feed the microbiology in 

the soil, and in return, the microbiology 

can make available the nutrients 

that are needed by the plant,” Handy 

explained. “In fact, there is a chemical 

signal found in the exudates that the 

bacteria and fungus can respond to 

and know what nutrient to provide 

back to the tree. This happens in nature 

constantly, but the challenge we have in 

conventional ag today is that the natural 

system has been weakened.” 

This weakness, said Handy, comes 

about from deep ripping of the soil, 


Thinking 

of Olives? 

World Leader in Olives 

Super High Density Varieties 

Arbosana, Arbequina & Koroneiki 

EXCLUSIVE PATENTED VARIETIES 

Improved Genetics for Super High Density: 

Lecciana, Sikitita & Oliana 

(Other varieties also available) 

For More Information Contact 

Melissa Steidlmayer 

Grower Relations Manager | Agromillora Nursery 

(530) 812-3398 

www.agromillora.com 

msteidlmayer@agromillora.com 

Also serving your Walnuts, 

Pistachios, SHD Almonds 

& SHD Prune Needs! 


Cover crops also help break up the soil 

and help with water absorption. 

“You can think of each blade of grass as 

being a straw and providing a vehicle, 

a pathway for water infiltration and 

absorption into the ground,” Handy 

said. “In time, you can really increase 

your water infiltration. We don’t want 

anything to sheet off or suffer erosion.” 

In-row cover crop growing at the California Olive Ranch olive oil orchard test-acreage in 

Oroville, Calif. 

He goes on to say that the more you can 

increase life in the soil, the higher and 

faster the infiltration rates. 


fumigating, spraying and applications 

of fungicides, herbicides and synthetic 

fertilizers. 

“The more we do these practices, the 

more we are chained to them because 

it creates a system void of microbes,” 

he added. “I like to call them trees on 

life-support.” 

Cover Crops 

California Olive Ranch is working to 

regain the natural biology, both in 

diversity and quantity. 

“We can do that by increasing the 

amount of green cover on our fields. 

So, we plant a very diverse cover crop, 

diversity being a key,” Handy said. 

According to Dr. Christine Jones, soil 

ecologist and cover crop specialist and 

founder of Amazing Carbon in Australia, 

multi-species covers in orchard and 

vineyard inter-rows provide the perfect 

vehicle to capture and store soil carbon, 

increase water-use efficiency, improve 

the nutrient density, flavor and keeping 

qualities of produce and reduce the 

incidence of pests and disease. 

“Dr. Jones’ suggestion in cover crop 

diversity is eight-plus species,” Handy 

added. “That includes nitrogen fixers, 

other broadleaves and grasses.” 

This year is the second year the Oroville 

test-acreage has been planted in diverse 

cover crop. 

“We planted in the fall in anticipation 

MyAgLife 

“For us, this is still all in theory as this 

Da 

is only the second year we are implementing 

these practices,” Handy said. 

“But we have seen the studies, and we 

know there are things we can do to 

increase soil health, and soil health is 

determined by the amount of biology 

you have working for you in the system. 

To have that, you need carbon, and 

in order to have carbon, you need a 

source.” 

of a good rainy season so we have a 

good stand of cover crop,” Handy said. 

“That is one thing we can do to increase 

biology.” 

In addition, the ranch is working to 

maximize the plant matter on top of 

the soil. 

“That plant matter will eventually become 

carbon, and releases an abundance 

of root exudates into the soil, 

what is referred to as liquid carbon, and 

we want that in the soil, in the system,” 

Handy explained. 

The ranch tries to stall mowing until 

the cover crop reaches ‘boot-stage’ to 

maximize growth. 

“What you see on top is what you would 

see in the ground,” Handy added. “This 

adds organic material, and that breaks 

down into organic matter to feed the 

soil. As you increase organic matter, 

you also increase water retention. The 

formula is something like for every 1% 

increase in organic matter, you have 

25,000 gallons of water retention.” 

In a study at UF/IFAS Extension, the 

research team said just like a sponge, 

soils with high organic matter and 

aggregates can absorb and hold water 

during rainfall events and deliver it to 

plants during dry spells. 

USDA Natural Resources Conservation 

Service states that “for every 1% 

increase in soil organic matter, U.S. 

cropland could store the amount of 

water that flows over Niagara Falls in 

150 days.” 

For the test-acreage, that means cover 

crop and compost. 

“Those are the two primary sources of 

carbon. We put on 2 tons of vegetative 

compost per acre. We also did a trial of 

sheep grazing on 20 acres of the Oroville 

acreage, and we found it to be very 

successful,” Handy said. 

The sheep program provided two-fold 

benefits through grazing and natural 

fertilizers from the ruminants. Handy 

said they plan on increasing the sheep 

grazing program due to its success in 

the trial. 

“Although what we are working towards 

right now is just in theory, if we are going 

to go the organic route, we are going 

to go the route of a holistic system 

approach where we specifically look 

at the system as a whole to increase its 

overall health, to decrease the need for 

input and increase the quality of the 

overall product,” Handy said. 





Scan to Download 

ily News Report 

Subscribe at MyAgLife.com or 

Download the MyAgLife App to Play in Your Vehicle 


CALIFORNIA COMEBACK 

PLAN PROPOSES MILLIONS 

IN FUNDING FOR CANNABIS 

By TAYLOR CHALSTROM | Assistant Editor 

A main goal of Governor Newsom’s California Comeback Plan is 

to transition cannabis businesses into the regulated market and 

provide a reduction in barriers to entry for small businesses. 

A 

new state-level proposal looks 

to provide a $100 million General 

Fund in grant funding for local 

governments to complete environmental 

studies, license reviews and mitigate 

environmental impacts for cannabis. 

The plan, proposed by Governor Newsom 

on May 14, 2021, is being labeled 

the “California Comeback Plan” and 

supports a broader effort to transition 

cannabis businesses into the regulated 

market, a reduction in barriers to entry 

for small businesses and a sustainability 

pilot program. The plan also 

proposes a Deputy Director of Equity 

and Inclusion to lead state efforts to 

address the impacts of the War on 

Drugs and allocates nearly $630 million 

in cannabis tax funds to public health, 

environmental protection and public 

safety initiatives. 

Transfer to Regulated Market 

It has been historically difficult for 

cannabis licensees to transfer from a 

provisional license to the regulated 

market due to disruption of California’s 

environmental commitments. 

Currently, about 82% of licensees are 

provisionally licensed. Thus, a program 

that targets jurisdictions that have high 

numbers of provisional licensees across 

the supply chain is necessary. 

The program, called the Local Jurisdiction 

Assistance Grant Program, will 

provide funds intended to aid locals in 

more expeditiously reviewing provisional 

licensee local requirements for 

cannabis, notably those related to the 

California Environmental Quality Act. 

These funds can be passed through to 

licensees for things such as mitigation 

measures, including those related to 

water conservation. The state can more 

rapidly transition provisional licensees 

to annual state licenses once these 

requirements are met. 

“This grant funding aims to serve local 

governments and a significant portion 

of the provisional license population, 

including a number of small businesses 

and equity operators,” said Nicole Elliott, 

Governor Newsom’s Senior Advisor 

on Cannabis. “We are committed to 

maintaining stability across the cannabis 

supply chain, supporting our local 

partners and transitioning provisional 

licenses into annual licensure more 

swiftly without sacrificing California’s 

environmental commitments.” 

The funding Governor Newsom’s 

plan is proposing, calculated based on 

provisional licenses issued by the state, 

would be divided into three categories: 

▶ 

▶ 

▶ 

Category 1 – 25%: top eight jurisdictions 

allowing cannabis cultivation. 

Category 2 – 25%: top eight jurisdictions 

allowing manufacturing 

and the top 8 jurisdictions allowing 

all other cannabis activities, except 

events. 

Category 3 – 50%: additional funding 

for jurisdictions that qualify for 

Category 1 or 2 and are also implementing 

local equity programs. 

The provisional license plan is currently 

set to end on January 1, 2022, while 

the California Comeback Plan proposes 

allowing provisional licenses to 

be issued till June 30, 2022. The catch 

is that licensees looking to continue 

holding a provisional license past the 

current end date comply with explicit 

environmental requirements laid out 

in the Governor’s plan. Additionally, 

the plan mandates the Department of 

Cannabis Control to specify through 

regulation what progress is required 

to maintain a provisional license. The 

licensee can continue to maintain a 

provisional license as long as measureable 

progress is being made to achieve 

annual licensure. 

Sustainable Pilot Program 

The California Comeback Plan also 

proposes $9 million in funding for 

a Sustainable California Grown 

Cannabis pilot program, which will 

incentivize licensed outdoor cannabis 

growers to participate in the collection 

of data to benchmark best practices 

that reduce the environmental impact 

of cannabis water and energy use, pest 

management and fertilizer practices, 

and to enhance soil health. 

The purpose of the pilot program is to 

establish science-based data for the 

future inclusion of cannabis in current 

and future state and national voluntary 

programs to advance environmental 

stewardship and to develop and 

advance Best Management Practices 

for Sustainable Cannabis Growing. 

However, some California growers are 

skeptical of the plan’s agenda. 

Justin Eve, owner of 7 Generations 

Producers and a USDA-certified organic 

cannabis grower, believes that the 

program will appeal more to pharmaceutical 

companies as an incentive than 

it will to agricultural cannabis growers. 

“We see this carrot that they’re waving,” 

he said. “Here’s some free money or a 

way to be sustainable or whatever that 

is, but we ultimately know that the 


only people that will hold up to their 

regulations that they’re imposing will 

be these larger corporations and big 

pharma. They’re not telling people what 

their true intentions are.” 

Eve noted that pharmaceutical companies 

have been trying to push California 

away from industrial cannabis 

production and that the state is missing 

a key opportunity for agriculture. “I 

think [it’s a] great program, but the unfortunate 

thing is that they’re putting 

so much emphasis on pharmaceuticals 

that they’re missing the opportunity of 

how this crop could be so much more 

than just a drug to get everyone high 

recreationally.” 

New Position Opens 

The California Comeback Plan proposes 

an additional position within the 

Department of Cannabis Control, a 

Deputy Director of Equity and Inclusion, 

to serve as the lead on all matters 

of the Department pertaining to the 

implementation of the California 

Cannabis Equity Act. The Equity Act 

provides funding for local jurisdictions 

to develop and operate local cannabis 

equity programs that focus on the 

inclusion and support of individuals in 

California’s legal cannabis marketplace 

who are from communities negatively 

or disproportionately impacted by 

cannabis criminalization. 

The Deputy Director of Equity and 

Inclusion would be the Department 

liaison for local equity programs created 

to support and reduce barriers to 

entry for those negatively impacted by 

the War on Drugs and would also work 

directly with the Department Director 

to further incorporate equity and 

inclusivity into policies and operational 

activities throughout the Department. 

Updated Tax Allocations 

More than $629 million in cannabis 

tax funding will be available for public 

health, environmental protection 

and public safety initiatives, a 41.9% 

increase from the Governor’s Budget 

estimates in January, according to 

the Plan. 60% ($377.5 million) of the 

tax funding will go toward education, 

prevention and treatment of youth 

substance use disorders and school 

retention; 20% ($125.8 million) will 

go toward clean-up, remediation and 

enforcement of environmental impacts 

created by illegal cannabis cultivation; 

and another 20% will go toward public 

safety-related activities. 

The Department of Cannabis Control 

was formed on July 1, 2021, and 

combines the cannabis licensing and 

regulatory functions performed by 

the Department of Consumer Affairs’ 

Bureau of Cannabis Control, the 

California Department of Food and 

Agriculture’s CalCannabis Cultivation 

Licensing Division and the California 

Department of Public Health’s Manufactured 

Cannabis Safety Branch. 





INCREASE 

YIELD 

WITH A 

25% LIQUID 

ORGANIC 

CALCIUM 

SCAN ME 

SUSTAINABLE. COMPATIBLE. PLANT AVAILABLE. 

480-361-1300 | WWW.FERTICELLUSA.COM

OF August September 2021e

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?