This contribution is brought to us vis RQS & Luke Sumpter
The term microbe is used to describe microscopic organisms that cannot be seen by the naked eye, such as forms of bacteria, viruses, and fungi. When it comes to soil and plant health, it appears microbes are absolutely key. Us humans sometimes like to take an isolationist approach to things, separating parts of nature from one another in order to obtain a greater understanding of their functions and characteristics.
However, in doing so, we often underestimate just how connected the web of life really is, and how organisms depend on each other and sometimes form vital symbiotic relationships to assist in one another’s survival.
This kind of symbiotic relationship very much exists within the soil between microorganisms and plants, and such interconnectedness can be utilized by cannabis growers in order to build healthy soils and to grow plants full of vitality.
This quote by soil microbiologist and soil biology researcher Dr. Elaine Ingham details the importance of healthy soils teeming with microorganisms, “If we want clean water, we have to get the biology back in our soils. If we want to grow and harvest crops, we have to build soil and fertility with time, not destroy it. The only way to reach these endpoints is to improve the life in the soil”.
Plants and microbes: a symbiotic alliance
Although plants don’t have brains and, as far as we know (although we could be wrong), are not conscious, they do have chemical mechanisms that allow them to alter and shape their external environment, with a lot of this magic occurring within the soil. Sometimes, soil is seen as a mere source of nutrients for the plants that inhabit it, but it’s actually been discovered that it is a complex and mind-blowing ecosystem buzzing with microbial life.
Plants and microbes aren’t just minding their own business within the soil environment, they actively interact and even work together to make life slightly easier and boost the chances of survival. Microbial activity can enhance the growth of plants by way of various mechanisms, including changing hormonal signaling, repelling or outcompeting pathogenic microbes, and boosting the bioavailability of nutrients.
Nutrient uptake
All of these mechanisms are advantages to cannabis growers, especially those who are raising their crop outdoors where conditions are harsher and biodiversity is much, much greater. Most cannabis growers will be aware of the nutrients nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK)—the three macronutrients required by plants in order to ensure healthy and proper growth.
Soil microbes can be of great assistance to plants in helping free up nutrients within soil to make them easier to absorb. Soil microbes can metabolize locked-up nutrients such as NPK, which are bound within inorganic molecules, and make them more available for plants to utilize.
Various microbes within the soil, such as some bacteria and fungi, have the ability to break down these forms of nutrients, and in doing so, release them into a form that plants can benefit from. It has been reported that these microbial allies are key drivers of plant growth within natural settings. It’s clear that both the indoor and outdoor cannabis grower could benefit massively from microbes within their soil.
How the bond is made
This relationship is by no means all give and no take. The plants benefit from more access to vital nutrients, but the microbes also receive something in return. Plant roots release a variety of substances into the soil, called exudates. Some of these exudates include sugars, amino acids, and organic acids, which microbes can use as a source of nutrition.
These exudates effectively contribute to the establishment of the microbiome of roots. These nutrients may also attract pathogenic microbes, but some beneficial microbes even have defense mechanisms against these to offer in return.
Mycorrhizae
Perhaps the most interesting of all of the plant/microbe alliances is that of plants with fungi. A type of fungi, known as mycorrhizal fungi, are known to bind with plant roots. The underground portion of fungi, which can be seen as roots, are called mycelium. The mycelium of mycorrhizal fungi act as extensions of a plant’s roots, allowing it to absorb nutrients from a larger area than it could cover with its roots acting alone.
Mycorrhizal fungi form this alliance with plants by surviving off of sugary plant exudates. In return, the fungi provide additional moisture and nutrients gathered from the soil via the mycelium.
Mycorrhizal fungi are found in two primary types; ectomycorrhiza live on the outside of roots as sheaths, whereas endomycorrhiza actually live within the plant itself. As a cannabis grower looking to utilize the power of fungi to boost the nutrient uptake in your plants, you should be aware that the addition of excess fertilizers and the use of fungicides can damage and reduce the effectiveness of these organisms.
Beneficial Bacteria: Rhizobacteria
Several species of bacteria are also an important component of the soil food web. Not only do they play a key role in the food chain and the recycling on nutrients, but they also interact directly with plant roots to provide impressive benefits.
Easy Roots Rhizobacteria introduces numerous species of such beneficial bacteria and algae into the growing medium. They help plants uptake nutrients and fend off pathogens. The bacterial species produce growth promoters that play important roles in fixing nitrogen from the atmosphere and making key nutrients available to cannabis plants.
These microscopic guys also help decompose organic matter and liberate nutrients that plants can then absorb easily. What’s more, after living a purposeful life of batting away bad microbes and freeing up nutrients, these little fellas die and release even more plant-nourishing goodness into the root zone.
The algal component of the mix helps maintain the health of the good bacteria. These organisms protect bacteria from fertilizer irritation and pH fluctuation while supplying plants with 60 key trace elements required for optimal physiological function.
Root defense
Mycorrhizal fungi go above and beyond their ability to provide plants with additional nutrition. They can also act to protect plants against types of nematodes. Nematodes are microscopic worm-like creatures, with thousands of them occupying only a handful of soil. There are over 20,000 documented nematode species, making them the most numerically abundant animals on Earth.
Some nematodes may be beneficial to your cannabis plants, which we will explore later on. However, some of them can be rather detrimental. Plant-parasitic nematodes will feed on the roots of your cannabis plants, affecting their health and growing potential.
2 years ago
