“The growth of this bacteria is facilitated by high temperatures,” says Miranda Meehan, North Dakota State University Extension livestock environmental stewardship specialist. “The hot, dry conditions we experience in the summer months are perfect for the production of cyanobacteria.”
Pond scum generally isn't looked upon kindly. But new research shows that inoculating crop soils with microalgae known as cyanobacteria can offer several benefits, including naturally fertilizing the soil, replenishing its store of organic matter and binding soil particles together so that they're less prone to erosion, says the Agricultural Research Service (ARS).
While agricultural production around the world struggles with declining soil health, Australian researchers are investigating production of a sustainable organic nitrogen fertilizer made from aquatic cyanobacterial biomass — ideally suited for badly degraded areas reliant on chemical fertilizers, says Flinders University.
With a little time investment and a cheap source, soils and crops can benefit from biosolids, compost, biochar, sea plant extracts and other natural products.
While no-tillers typically enjoy a reduction in fuel, machinery costs and labor when compared to their conventional-tillage neighbors, fertilizing their soils and crops isn’t getting any cheaper.
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On this episode of Conservation Ag Update, brought to you by Martin-Till, Brian and Darren Hefty, fourth-generation farmers and hosts of Ag PhD, share tips for treating tar spot in corn.
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