What tests to order

Active Bacterial/Active Fungi

Active Bacterial/Active Fungi measure the numbers and biomass of bacteria and fungi that are actively feeding and reproducing.

These tests measure the numbers and biomass of bacteria and fungi that are actively feeding and reproducing. Active bacteria and fungi rapidly enhance soil structure, nutrient retention, disease suppression and residue/pollutant decomposition. If your soil is deficient in disease suppression, you need to know whether it is because bacterial activity or fungal activity is lacking. If water puddles on the soil surface, perhaps the reason is that soil structure is not being maintained. If the roots of your plants only grow a short distance into the soil, it is a clear indication that the soil is compacted, and lacks oxygen. Bacteria and fungi need to grow into that soil, and open up the hallways and passages ways to let water flow into the soil as well as allow oxygen to move into the soil.

These tests are used to determine:

• Is nitrogen being retained against leaching or volatilization losses at this time?
• Is this soil dominated by the influence of fungi or bacteria at this time?
• Is there a decent food supply to support other types of microbes in the foodweb that feed upon bacteria or fungi?
• Did a product cause a bloom of bacteria or fungal activity that is useful and worthwhile?
• Did an application of a herbicide or other pesticide to soil stimulate or kill either bacteria or fungi?

what tests to order >