Hi Everyone,

In this “how to do it” episode, you will discover how to use an invaluable tool called the MicroBIOMETER.

One of the pitfalls of embracing a more biological approach in your farming enterprise is monitoring your progress. This is not a problem with mineral nutrition, as there are soil tests, leaf tests, and in-field monitoring meters that can help increase your mineral management precision.

However, microbe management has been a different story. You brew some dirty water or apply some bugs in a jug and hope there is some value.

Well, now you can measure that invisible workforce, you can measure microbial biomass and remove the guesswork. This enables you to check out the potency and benefits of composts, compost extracts, multi-species cover crops, and, of course you can benchmark your soil.

This much-needed technology, costing around $300, allows you to test the size of your existing microbial workforce and then monitor the efficacy of your soil restoration projects.

I have found it to be a wonderful paradigm shifter. When walking paddocks around the world, I can ask growers to show me their best and worst paddocks. Everyone has that super productive field and that paddock that underproduces and loses money. Many of these growers have never before thought about soil microbes as being a chief driver of their profitability. Hence, they are curious to see the results.

When the good paddock measures 800 on the MicroBiometer and the bad paddock just 150, there is this penny-dropping recognition. “Oh my Goodness, it’s the microbes that are making my money!” Then you are often more motivated to look after this invisible army.

The MicroBIOMETER does more than measure your workforce and chart the benefits of your regenerative projects; it also reports your fungi-to-bacteria ratio.

This is a critically important ratio, as it relates directly to crumb structure, gas exchange, mineral delivery, and infiltration in your soil. You will typically find that your all-important fungi have been compromised, and you will see exciting improvements when you address that shortage.

I’m hoping you will get excited at the potential of introducing this monitoring tool into your Nutrition Farming journey.

Warm regards,

Graeme Sait

CEO

Nutri-Tech Solutions

microBIOMETER®

A fast, reliable tool for in-field measurement of the microbial activity of soils, composts and compost teas.

Microbial biomass is the best single indicator of soil health (Doran, 2000) – poor fertility soils have very low microbial populations while highly fertile, productive soils have high microbial populations. The ability to conveniently measure microbial biomass gives farmers the power to monitor and track the effects of farming practices, in particular to determine the value of different soil amendments and the efficacy of different cover crops. The microBIOMETER® enables consumers to easily test the quality (microbial counts) of commercial and DIY microbial inoculums, to enable informed comparison and determine potential efficacy. The results are extremely accurate and reproducible, while being considerably faster and less expensive than laboratory testing. This tool has the added benefit of allowing on-farm testing, eliminating the effect of transit time/conditions on microbial levels. 

Benefits

• Convenient, easy-to-use and accurate tool to accurately measure soil, compost or compost tea (or specialist inoculum brews) microbial biomass in 10 minutes.
• Microbial biomass is a key indicator of soil health and fertility, directly correlating with crop quality and production.
• A fraction of the cost of a laboratory analysis.
• An essential tool for regenerative farmers to ensure their farming practices are positively affecting microbial activity.
• Smartphone app to digitally analyse and store readings for tracking soil health. Note: Smartphone required (not included).
• Refill kits available (10 tests).

You can place your order online below, email sales@nutri-tech.com.au or phone on 07 5472 9900.