ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOUSE, Alta. – Members of the Grey Wooded Forage Association hope bacteria will replace chemical fertilizer and cultivation as a way to rejuvenate their soil.
On July 16, a specially designed compost loaded with bacteria and fungi, selected for Jan and Rick McGlone’s hay field, was shoveled out of a mini-bulk bag onto a corner of the field.
Over the next few months and years, the group will continue to take soil samples and monitor the hay land to see if biology will do what chemicals couldn’t.
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“What we’re hoping to achieve is improve the health of the soil and reduce compaction,” said Albert Kuipers, manager of the association.
Jan McGlone, a member of the forage association, said one of the group’s goals is to do the experiments that mainstream organizations shy away from, including applying bacteria and fungi-laden compost to the soil.
“We thought it would be an excellent trial to do. If it works, it will be a lot cheaper than prepared fertilizer,” said McGlone.
“There are some that are skeptical, but also there is a sense of anticipation to see what happens.”
The theory behind the trial is that beneficial bacteria, fungi, protozoa and nematodes live in soil and compost.
Top dressing fields with the fungi-rich compost or compost tea creates a better soil by adding more life forms to improve the productivity of the field.
Over time, McGlone hopes the bacteria in the compost will slowly spread across the field and improve the soil texture, increase its ability to absorb the high levels of rainfall in the area and increase the field’s productivity.
“Once we get the cycle going, the field will develop a healthy population of bacteria and it will become sustainable,” she said of the field that has either been pastured or hayed in the 14 years the couple has owned the land.
Kuipers said they chose to use compost over compost tea because the grey wooded soil was low in organic matter, not just healthy bacteria.
In June, Kuipers sent a soil sample to Bodycote Lab, formerly Norwest Labs in Edmonton and the Soil Foodweb Canada lab in Vulcan, Alta., for analysis.
Bodycote’s report showed the field was low in nitrogen and potassium and had marginal phosphorus.
The Soil Foodweb analysis showed the field was low in active bacteria and fungi and recommended adding a balanced compost of fungi and bacteria.
While it’s difficult to measure any results so far, Kuipers believes small differences are starting to appear. The clover patches seem dark and richer than patches in the non-test area. Conclusive results will likely appear first in future soil tests.
About $1,200 has been spent so far for the compost, shipping, courier bills and other expenses.
McGlone said it sounds like a lot of money, but it may be inexpensive if the compost doesn’t have to be applied every year.
